Shloka 103

Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas

Devanagari script

क्रमेण परिवृत्तास्ता मनोरन्तरमुच्यते युगाख्यासु तु सर्वासु भवतीह यदा च यत् //

Transliteration

krameṇa parivṛttāstā manorantaramucyate yugākhyāsu tu sarvāsu bhavatīha yadā ca yat //

Translation

As they revolve successively in due order, this is called the interval of a Manu (a Manvantara). And within all the named Yugas, whatever occurs here does so at the proper time and in its proper measure.

Word by Word

• krameṇa: in sequence, step by step

• parivṛttāḥ: having turned/revolved, cyclically repeated

• tāḥ: those (cycles/periods)

• manu-antaraṃ: the interval/period of a Manu, Manvantara

• ucyate: is called

• yuga-ākhyāsu: in the periods designated as Yugas

• tu: indeed/but

• sarvāsu: in all

• bhavati: happens/comes to be

• iha: here (in this world/order)

• yadā: when

• ca: and

• yat: what/that which (as appropriate).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (context: time-cycles and Manvantara reckoning)

Entities Mentioned

• Manu
• Manvantara
• Yuga

Tags

• Manvantara
• Yuga
• Cosmic Time
• Puranic Chronology
• Creation Cycles

FAQs

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

It emphasizes cyclical cosmic order: ages (Yugas) and Manu-periods (Manvantaras) recur in sequence, implying that dissolution and renewal occur according to fixed time-law rather than randomness.

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

By framing events as time-bound (yadā…yat), it supports the Matsya Purana’s ethic that dharma must be practiced appropriate to one’s era and circumstance—kings and householders should act in harmony with the yuga’s conditions while upholding enduring principles.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu rule is stated, but the principle of ‘proper time and proper measure’ underlies ritual timing (muhūrta, kalā) and proportional canons used in Puranic temple architecture: actions succeed when performed in the right temporal and quantitative order.