Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Rule

Devanagari script

*शौनक उवाच एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिः काव्यं स्मृत्वा महाव्रतम् संक्रामयामास जरां तदा पुत्रे महात्मनि //

Transliteration

*śaunaka uvāca evamuktaḥ sa rājarṣiḥ kāvyaṃ smṛtvā mahāvratam saṃkrāmayāmāsa jarāṃ tadā putre mahātmani //

Translation

Śaunaka said: Thus addressed, that royal sage—remembering the great vow taught by Kāvya—then transferred his old age to his noble-minded son.

Word by Word

• शौनक उवाच (śaunaka uvāca): Śaunaka said

• एवम् (evam): thus

• उक्तः (uktaḥ): spoken to/addressed

• स (sa): he

• राजर्षिः (rājarṣiḥ): royal sage/kingly seer

• काव्यम् (kāvyam): Kāvya (Śukra), the preceptor

• स्मृत्वा (smṛtvā): having remembered

• महाव्रतम् (mahāvratam): the great vow/solemn observance

• संक्रामयामास (saṃkrāmayāmāsa): caused to pass over/transferred

• जराम् (jarām): old age/decay

• तदा (tadā): then

• पुत्रे (putre): to the son

• महात्मनि (mahātmani): to the great-souled/noble one.

Speaker

• Śaunaka

Entities Mentioned

• Śaunaka
• Rājarṣi (royal sage/king)
• Kāvya (Śukra)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Royal Dharma
• Vows
• Genealogy
• Ethical Narrative

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it focuses on a dynastic-ethical motif where a kingly sage transfers the condition of old age, highlighting karmic and narrative mechanisms rather than cosmic dissolution.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It reflects themes of Rajadharma and succession: the ruler acts according to a remembered vow/discipline (mahāvrata) associated with a preceptor (Kāvya), implying that kingship and life-stages are governed by vows, counsel, and responsibility toward lineage.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the ritual element is the ‘mahāvrata’—a solemn observance—invoked as the operative principle behind the extraordinary transfer of old age.