Shloka 37

Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas

Devanagari script

पुष्ये भवन्ति जन्तूनां लोभो मोहश्च सर्वशः संक्षोभो जायते ऽत्यर्थं कलिमासाद्य वै युगम् //

Transliteration

puṣye bhavanti jantūnāṃ lobho mohaśca sarvaśaḥ saṃkṣobho jāyate 'tyarthaṃ kalimāsādya vai yugam //

Translation

When the time called Puṣya prevails, greed and delusion arise among living beings on every side; and upon the advent of the age of Kali, intense agitation and turmoil come to be.

Word by Word

• puṣye: in (the time/period called) Puṣya

• bhavanti: arise/come to be

• jantūnām: of living beings/creatures

• lobhaḥ: greed

• mohaḥ: delusion

• ca: and

• sarvaśaḥ: everywhere/on all sides

• saṃkṣobhaḥ: agitation/commotion/inner turmoil

• jāyate: is born/arises

• atyartham: exceedingly/intensely

• kalim: Kali (the Kali age)

• āsādya: having reached/upon the arrival of

• vai: indeed

• yugam: the age/epoch

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this Kali-yuga section)

Entities Mentioned

• Kali-yuga
• Puṣya

Tags

• Kali-yuga
• Dharma
• Moral decline
• Human psychology
• Yuga-lakshana

FAQs

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

This verse is not describing cosmic dissolution (pralaya); it describes yuga-lakṣaṇa—psychological and social deterioration (greed, delusion, agitation) that characterizes the onset of Kali-yuga.

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

It signals that in Kali-yuga rulers and householders must counter greed and delusion through restraint, truthful conduct, fair judgment, and disciplined charity—otherwise society falls into saṃkṣobha (unrest) and instability.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-ritual rule is stated here; the takeaway is contextual—ritual and governance in Kali-yuga require heightened purity, self-control, and ethical safeguards because minds are easily disturbed.