Shloka 26

Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Rule

Devanagari script

*प्रकृतय ऊचुः यः पुत्रो गुणसम्पन्नो मातापित्रोर्हितः सदा सर्वं सो ऽर्हति कल्याणं कनीयानपि स प्रभुः //

Transliteration

*prakṛtaya ūcuḥ yaḥ putro guṇasampanno mātāpitrorhitaḥ sadā sarvaṃ so 'rhati kalyāṇaṃ kanīyānapi sa prabhuḥ //

Translation

The ministers said: “That son who is endowed with virtues and is ever devoted to the welfare of his mother and father deserves every blessing and prosperity; even if he is the younger, he is fit to be the lord.”

Word by Word

• prakṛtayaḥ: the ministers/subjects (royal functionaries)

• ūcuḥ: said

• yaḥ: who

• putraḥ: son

• guṇa-sampannaḥ: possessed of virtues, well-qualified

• mātā-pitroḥ: of mother and father

• hitaḥ: beneficial, devoted to the good

• sadā: always

• sarvam: all, everything

• saḥ: he

• arhati: deserves, is worthy of

• kalyāṇam: welfare, auspicious good, prosperity

• kanīyān api: even if younger

• saḥ prabhuḥ: he (is) the master/lord, fit to rule

Speaker

• Prakṛtayaḥ (the ministers / royal councillors)

Entities Mentioned

• Prakṛtayaḥ (ministers)
• Putra (son)
• Mātā
• Pitā

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Niti
• Succession
• FilialDuty
• VirtueEthics

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on ethical legitimacy—prosperity and authority belong to the virtuous son devoted to his parents, even if he is younger.

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

It frames dharmic eligibility for leadership and inheritance around character: virtue (guṇasampannatā) and constant service to parents (mātāpitror hitaḥ sadā). This supports Rajadharma where ministers endorse rule by merit rather than mere seniority.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple, or ritual procedure is referenced here; the takeaway is moral qualification for authority—auspicious outcomes (kalyāṇa) follow filial duty and virtue.