Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Rule

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच ब्राह्मणप्रमुखा वर्णाः सर्वे शृण्वन्तु मे वचः ज्येष्ठं प्रति यतो राज्यं न देयं मे कथंचन //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca brāhmaṇapramukhā varṇāḥ sarve śṛṇvantu me vacaḥ jyeṣṭhaṃ prati yato rājyaṃ na deyaṃ me kathaṃcana //

Translation

Yayāti said: “Let all the social orders, headed by the brāhmaṇas, listen to my words. Since the kingship is directed toward the eldest, I must not give it to anyone else, under any circumstances.”

Word by Word

• ययातिः (yayātiḥ): Yayāti

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• ब्राह्मण-प्रमुखाः (brāhmaṇa-pramukhāḥ): headed by the brāhmaṇas

• वर्णाः (varṇāḥ): the social orders/classes

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• शृण्वन्तु (śṛṇvantu): let them hear

• मे (me): my

• वचः (vacaḥ): words

• ज्येष्ठं (jyeṣṭham): to the eldest/firstborn

• प्रति (prati): toward/with regard to

• यतः (yataḥ): because/since

• राज्यं (rājyam): kingship/sovereignty

• न (na): not

• देयम् (deyam): to be given

• मे (me): by me

• कथंचन (kathaṃcana): in any way/under any circumstances

Speaker

• King Yayāti

Entities Mentioned

• Yayāti
• Brāhmaṇas
• Varṇas

Tags

• Dynasties
• Succession
• Rajadharma
• Kingship
• SocialOrder

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on royal succession norms within the dynastic narrative, emphasizing who should receive kingship.

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

It reflects rājadharma in practice: a king publicly declares a lawful succession principle (favoring the eldest) before the community (varṇas led by brāhmaṇas), implying governance should follow recognized norms and be accountable to ethical oversight.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the only implied ‘ritual’ element is the formal public proclamation before the social orders, a courtly/legal convention rather than architectural instruction.