Shloka 1
Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas
*सूत उवाच अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि द्वापरस्य विधिं पुनः तत्र त्रेतायुगे क्षीणे द्वापरं प्रतिपद्यते //
*sūta uvāca ata ūrdhvaṃ pravakṣyāmi dvāparasya vidhiṃ punaḥ tatra tretāyuge kṣīṇe dvāparaṃ pratipadyate //
Sūta said: “Now, further, I shall again declare the prescribed order and rule of the Dvāpara age. When the Tretā-yuga comes to its end, the Dvāpara-yuga begins.”
FAQs
This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it frames cyclical cosmic time by stating the orderly transition from Tretā-yuga to Dvāpara-yuga.
By introducing the “vidhi” (regulations) of Dvāpara-yuga, it signals that dharma-practice is yuga-specific; kings and householders are expected to follow the duties and norms appropriate to the age being described next.
No direct vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the verse serves as a transition into Dvāpara-yuga ordinances, which may later include ritual standards as part of yuga-dharma.