Shloka 4

Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas

Devanagari script

प्रध्वंसश्चैव वर्णानां कर्मणां तु विपर्ययः यात्रा वधः परो दण्डो मानो दर्पो ऽक्षमा बलम् //

Transliteration

pradhvaṃsaścaiva varṇānāṃ karmaṇāṃ tu viparyayaḥ yātrā vadhaḥ paro daṇḍo māno darpo 'kṣamā balam //

Translation

There will be the ruin of the social orders (varṇas), and the proper duties (works) will be turned upside down. Expeditions will become slaughter; excessive punishment will prevail; and pride, arrogance, and intolerance will be taken as strength.

Word by Word

• प्रध्वंसः: destruction/ruin

• च एव: and indeed

• वर्णानाम्: of the varṇas (social orders)

• कर्मणाम्: of duties/acts

• तु: but/indeed

• विपर्ययः: reversal, perversion

• यात्रा: journey/expedition (campaign)

• वधः: killing, slaughter

• परः: excessive, extreme

• दण्डः: punishment, coercive rule

• मानः: self-importance, pride

• दर्पः: arrogance, haughtiness

• अक्षमा: intolerance, unforbearance

• बलम्: strength, power

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu on the marks of decline

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Varna
• Danda

Tags

• Kali-yuga
• Rajadharma
• Social decline
• Dharma reversal
• Governance

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic dissolution (Pralaya); it describes social dissolution—dharma collapses as varṇa-duties are ruined and values become inverted.

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

It warns rulers against “paro daṇḍa” (excessive coercion) and against treating pride and intolerance as power—true rajadharma preserves order through measured justice and restraint.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct vastu/ritual rule is stated; the significance is ethical: when dharma is reversed, even rituals and social institutions lose their proper intent and become distorted.