Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Rule

Devanagari script

*शौनक उवाच प्रतिपेदे जरां राजा ययातिर्नाहुषस्तदा यौवनं प्रतिपेदे स पूरुः स्वं पुनरात्मनः //

Transliteration

*śaunaka uvāca pratipede jarāṃ rājā yayātirnāhuṣastadā yauvanaṃ pratipede sa pūruḥ svaṃ punarātmanaḥ //

Translation

Śaunaka said: Then King Yayāti, the son of Nahuṣa, took old age upon himself; and Pūru, in turn, regained his own youth once again.

Word by Word

• शौनकः (śaunakaḥ): Śaunaka

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• प्रतिपेदे (pratipede): took on/accepted/obtained

• जराम् (jarām): old age, decrepitude

• राजा (rājā): the king

• ययातिः (yayātiḥ): Yayāti

• नाहुषः (nāhuṣaḥ): descendant/son of Nahuṣa

• तदा (tadā): then

• यौवनम् (yauvanam): youth

• प्रतिपेदे (pratipede): obtained/regained

• सः (saḥ): he

• पूरुः (pūruḥ): Pūru

• स्वम् (svam): his own

• पुनः (punaḥ): again

• आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ): of himself/for himself (i.e., his own state).

Speaker

• Śaunaka

Entities Mentioned

• Śaunaka
• Yayāti
• Nahuṣa
• Pūru

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Kingship
• Ethics
• Self-sacrifice

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to a dynastic-ethical narrative highlighting the moral consequences of desire and the transfer of conditions (youth/old age) within a royal lineage.

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

It frames kingship and household life in terms of responsibility and succession: Yayāti accepts the burden of old age, while Pūru’s regained youth underscores filial duty, self-sacrifice, and the ethical ideal of supporting one’s father and lineage.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, iconography, or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; its significance is genealogical and ethical rather than architectural.