Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Manvantaras

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच मन्वन्तराणि यानि स्युः कल्पे कल्पे चतुर्दश व्यतीतानागतानि स्युर् यानि मन्वन्तरेष्विह //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca manvantarāṇi yāni syuḥ kalpe kalpe caturdaśa vyatītānāgatāni syur yāni manvantareṣviha //

Translation

Sūta said: In each Kalpa there are fourteen Manvantaras; among them, some have passed and some are yet to come—these Manvantara cycles are described here.

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ uvāca: Sūta said

• manvantarāṇi: the Manvantara periods (reigns of Manus)

• yāni: which

• syuḥ: are/occur

• kalpe kalpe: in each Kalpa (aeon/day of Brahmā)

• caturdaśa: fourteen

• vyatīta: passed/elapsed

• anāgatāni: not yet come/future

• syuḥ: are

• yāni: which

• manvantareṣu: in the Manvantara cycles

• iha: here (in this narration/text)

Speaker

• Suta

Entities Mentioned

• Suta
• Manvantara
• Kalpa
• Manu

Tags

• Manvantara
• Kalpa
• Cosmology
• Time-cycles
• Genealogy

FAQs

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

It frames cosmic time as repeating kalpas, each containing fourteen manvantaras; this is the chronological scaffold used in Purāṇic accounts of creation, preservation, and periodic dissolution between cycles.

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

Indirectly: by situating human lineages and dharma-teachings within specific manvantaras, the text implies that royal and household duties are taught and renewed in each era under different Manus.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None explicitly in this verse; it functions as a cosmological heading that can contextualize later ritual calendars and era-based prescriptions, but it does not state any Vāstu or ritual rule itself.