Shloka 17
Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas
व्याकुलो द्वापरेष्वर्थः क्रियते भिन्नदर्शनैः द्वापरे संनिवृत्ते ते वेदा नश्यन्ति वै कलौ //
vyākulo dvāpareṣvarthaḥ kriyate bhinnadarśanaiḥ dvāpare saṃnivṛtte te vedā naśyanti vai kalau //
In the Dvāpara age, the meaning of the sacred teaching becomes confused, being construed through divergent viewpoints. When that Dvāpara has passed, then in the Kali age the Vedas indeed decline and disappear from practice.
FAQs
This verse does not describe cosmic Pralaya directly; it describes a “dharma-pralaya” in society—how Vedic meaning and authority decline across the Yugas, culminating in Kali where Vedic practice and understanding are said to wither.
It implies that in later ages rulers and householders must protect dharma by relying on disciplined study, qualified teachers, and consistent practice, since competing interpretations can confuse scriptural meaning and weaken Vedic observance.
No direct Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is that Kali Yuga requires greater care in preserving correct Vedic recitation, interpretation, and ritual continuity amid doctrinal divergence.