Shloka 38

Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas

Devanagari script

नाधीयते तथा वेदान् न यजन्ते द्विजातयः उत्सीदन्ति तथा चैव वैश्यैः सार्धं तु क्षत्रियाः //

Transliteration

nādhīyate tathā vedān na yajante dvijātayaḥ utsīdanti tathā caiva vaiśyaiḥ sārdhaṃ tu kṣatriyāḥ //

Translation

The twice-born no longer study the Vedas, nor do they perform sacrifices; and the Kṣatriyas too decline, along with the Vaiśyas.

Word by Word

nanot

adhīyate(they) study/recite (the sacred learning)

tathālikewise

vedānthe Vedas

nanot

yajante(they) sacrifice/perform yajña

dvijātayaḥthe twice-born (Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya)

utsīdantifall into ruin/decline

tathā ca evaand likewise indeed

vaiśyaiḥwith the Vaiśyas

sārdhamtogether/along with

tuand/indeed

kṣatriyāḥthe Kṣatriyas (warrior-rulers).

Speaker

Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, describing dharma-decline)

Entities Mentioned

VedasDvijati (twice-born)KshatriyaVaishyaYajna

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic pralaya; it describes a moral and social decline (dharma-kṣaya) where Vedic study and yajña fade, leading to the weakening of the social order.

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

It warns that when the twice-born abandon Vedic learning and sacrifice, the Kṣatriya’s stabilizing role also deteriorates. For kings, it implies protecting dharma by supporting education, rites, and proper livelihood; for householders, it stresses maintaining svādhyāya (study) and yajña as pillars of social health.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual point is central: the cessation of yajña (sacrificial worship) is presented as a key symptom of decline. No specific Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated in this verse, but it indirectly underscores the broader Purāṇic emphasis on sustaining ritual institutions.