Shloka 94

Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas

Devanagari script

सह सप्तर्षिभिर्ये तु तत्र ये च व्यवस्थिताः ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशः शूद्रा बीजार्थे य इह स्मृताः कार्तयुगभवैः सार्धं निर्विशेषास्तदाभवन् //

Transliteration

saha saptarṣibhirye tu tatra ye ca vyavasthitāḥ brahmakṣatraviśaḥ śūdrā bījārthe ya iha smṛtāḥ kārtayugabhavaiḥ sārdhaṃ nirviśeṣāstadābhavan //

Translation

And those who were established there together with the Seven Ṛṣis—remembered here as the “seeds” (origins) of the brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, and śūdra orders—became, in that Kṛta Yuga, without distinction among themselves.

Word by Word

• सह (saha): together with

• सप्तर्षिभिः (saptarṣibhiḥ): with the Seven Sages

• ये (ye): who

• तु (tu): indeed/but

• तत्र (tatra): there

• ये (ye): who

• च (ca): and

• व्यवस्थिताः (vyavasthitāḥ): stationed/established

• ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशः (brahma-kṣatra-viśaḥ): brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas

• शूद्राः (śūdrāḥ): śūdras

• बीजार्थे (bījārthe): as ‘seeds’/as causal origins

• यः/ये (yaḥ/ye): who

• इह (iha): here (in this account)

• स्मृताः (smṛtāḥ): remembered/recorded

• कृतयुगभवैः (kṛta-yuga-bhavaiḥ): belonging to the Kṛta Yuga

• सार्धम् (sārdham): along with/together

• निर्विशेषाः (nirviśeṣāḥ): without differentiation

• तदा (tadā): then

• अभवन् (abhavan): became/were.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) relaying the Purāṇic account (likely within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Saptarishis
• Brahmana
• Kshatriya
• Vaishya
• Shudra
• Krita Yuga

Tags

• KritaYuga
• VarnaOrigins
• Saptarishis
• Manvantara
• PuranaCosmology

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it reflects a post-creation (or renewed-age) condition: in the Kṛta Yuga the foundational “seeds” of the four varṇas existed, yet society functioned without sharp distinctions—an early-age harmony often contrasted with later decline.

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

It implies that in the ideal early age, conduct (dharma) was less dependent on rigid social differentiation; for kings and householders, it points toward governance and living rooted in common virtue and restraint rather than exploitative hierarchy.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-building rule appears in this verse; its ritual takeaway is conceptual—early-yuga ritual and social life are portrayed as unified and less segmented by varṇa-specific specialization.