Shloka 15
Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas
एकमाध्वर्यवं पूर्वम् आसीद्द्वैधं तु तत्पुनः सामान्यविपरीतार्थैः कृतं शास्त्राकुलं त्विदम् //
ekamādhvaryavaṃ pūrvam āsīddvaidhaṃ tu tatpunaḥ sāmānyaviparītārthaiḥ kṛtaṃ śāstrākulaṃ tvidam //
Formerly the Adhvaryu tradition—the ritual procedure of the Yajurvedic priest—was one and unified; later, however, it became twofold. Through interpretations that were merely generalized or even contrary in meaning, this body of ritual teaching has become confused and entangled.
FAQs
This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it explains how a once-unified ritual tradition later split and became confused through conflicting interpretations—an indirect sign of decline in clarity across ages.
It implies that rulers and householders should rely on competent priests and well-grounded ritual lineages, because careless or contradictory interpretations can disorder religious practice and social dharma.
The significance is ritual: it concerns the Adhvaryu’s procedural śāstra and how divergent readings produced confusion—highlighting the need for precise transmission of rites (a principle also valued in temple ritual administration).