Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

शुभाः प्रकृतयस्तेषां धर्मा वर्णाश्रमाश्रयाः संकल्पितेन मनसा वाचा वा हस्तकर्मणा त्रेतायुगे ह्यविकले कर्मारम्भः प्रसिध्यति //

Transliteration

śubhāḥ prakṛtayasteṣāṃ dharmā varṇāśramāśrayāḥ saṃkalpitena manasā vācā vā hastakarmaṇā tretāyuge hyavikale karmārambhaḥ prasidhyati //

Translation

Ihre Wesensart ist glückverheißend, und ihre Pflichten ruhen auf den Ordnungen von varṇa und āśrama. Im Tretā-Yuga, solange es noch unverdorben ist, wird jedes Beginnen wirksam—sei es durch einen im Geist gefassten Entschluss, durch das Wort oder durch Taten der Hand.

Word by Word

• śubhāḥ: auspicious, virtuous

• prakṛtayaḥ: natures, dispositions

• teṣām: of them

• dharmāḥ: duties, righteous norms

• varṇa-āśrama-āśrayāḥ: grounded in the varṇa-and-āśrama system

• saṃkalpitena: determined/formed by resolve

• manasā: by the mind

• vācā: by speech

• vā: or

• hasta-karmaṇā: by action of the hand (physical deed)

• tretā-yuge: in the Tretā age

• hi: indeed

• avikale: unimpaired, uncorrupted

• karma-ārambhaḥ: commencement/undertaking of action

• prasidhyati: succeeds, becomes effective, is accomplished.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Tretā-yuga
• Varṇa
• Āśrama
• Dharma

Tags

• Yuga-Dharma
• Varṇāśrama
• Ethics
• Karma
• Matsya Purana Teachings

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it explains yuga-specific dharma, emphasizing that in the (unimpaired) Tretā-yuga actions succeed readily even when initiated by intention, speech, or physical effort.

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

It frames duty as varṇāśrama-based discipline and highlights accountability across mind, speech, and deed—guiding rulers and householders to cultivate pure intention, truthful speech, and righteous action, especially when initiating any undertaking.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the relevant takeaway for ritual/works is that successful performance begins with saṃkalpa (resolve), then proper verbal formulation (mantra/command), and finally correct manual execution.