Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Forest-Renunciation, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

पूर्णं सहस्रं वर्षाणाम् एवंवृत्तिर् अभून्नृपः अम्बुभक्षः स चाब्दांस्त्रीन् आसीन् नियतवाङ्मनाः //

Transliteration

pūrṇaṃ sahasraṃ varṣāṇām evaṃvṛttir abhūnnṛpaḥ ambubhakṣaḥ sa cābdāṃstrīn āsīn niyatavāṅmanāḥ //

Translation

如是行持，王历满一千年；复又唯以水为食，三年如一，严摄其语与意，令之不放逸。

Word by Word

• pūrṇam: complete, full

• sahasram: a thousand

• varṣāṇām: of years

• evam-vṛttiḥ: such a mode of living/observance

• abhūt: became/was

• nṛpaḥ: the king

• ambu-bhakṣaḥ: living on water alone

• saḥ: he

• ca: and

• abdān: years

• trīn: three

• āsīt: remained/was

• niyata-vāk-manāḥ: with speech (vāk) and mind (manas) disciplined/controlled

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana account of Manu’s tapas; within the broader Manu–Matsya Pralaya frame)

Entities Mentioned

• King (Manu)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Tapas
• Manu
• Vrata
• Self-control

FAQs

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

It highlights the preparatory austerity and inner discipline of the king (Manu) in the Pralaya setting—suggesting that spiritual readiness and restraint precede the great cosmic crisis rather than describing the flood mechanics directly.

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

It presents a royal ideal of dharma: a ruler strengthens authority through tapas—regulated living, fasting/limited intake, and control of speech and mind—showing that governance is grounded in self-mastery.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the emphasis on vrata-like discipline (ambu-bhakṣa, vāk-manas-niyama) as a purificatory observance within the Matsya Purana’s broader ritual ethos.