Shloka 99

Matsya Purana — Characteristics of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas

Devanagari script

वनानां प्रथमं वृष्ट्या तेषां मूलेषु सम्भवः एवं युगाद्युगानां वै संतानस्तु परस्परम् //

Transliteration

vanānāṃ prathamaṃ vṛṣṭyā teṣāṃ mūleṣu sambhavaḥ evaṃ yugādyugānāṃ vai saṃtānastu parasparam //

Translation

By the first rainfall, forests arise first—sprouting from their very roots. In the same way, from one age to the next, the succession of the yugas proceeds in mutual continuity.

Word by Word

वनानाम्of the forests

प्रथमम्first/at the outset

वृष्ट्याby rain/through rainfall

तेषाम्of them

मूलेषुin the roots

सम्भवःarising/origination

एवम्thus/in the same manner

युग-आदि-युगानाम्of the yugas beginning with (one) yuga and leading to the next/of successive yugas

वैindeed

संतानःcontinuity/lineage/series

तुand/but

परस्परम्from one to another/mutually/in succession

Speaker

Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

Yugas

FAQs

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

It emphasizes cyclical regeneration: just as rain revives growth from roots, cosmic time renews itself as yugas arise one after another in an unbroken sequence.

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

By highlighting continuity and orderly succession, it supports the ethical idea that kings and householders should preserve stability (dharma) across generations—maintaining institutions so society flows from one “age” to the next without rupture.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the takeaway is conceptual—ritual and temple traditions are to be preserved as continuous lineages (paramparā), mirroring the yuga-to-yuga continuity described.