Shloka 9

Matsya Purana — Manvantaras

Devanagari script

मनुष्या वर्तमानास्तु युगसंध्यांशकेष्विह देवासुरप्रमाणं तु सप्तसप्ताङ्गुलं क्रमात् //

Transliteration

manuṣyā vartamānāstu yugasaṃdhyāṃśakeṣviha devāsurapramāṇaṃ tu saptasaptāṅgulaṃ kramāt //

Translation

Humans living now, in these transitional junctures of the yugas, are measured in relation to the standards of the gods and the asuras; their scale is set forth step by step as “seven and seven” aṅgulas.

Word by Word

• मनुष्याः (manuṣyāḥ): human beings

• वर्तमानाः (vartamānāḥ): presently existing/now living

• तु (tu): but/indeed

• युगसंध्या-अंशकेषु (yuga-saṃdhyā-aṃśakeṣu): in the fractional portions of the yuga-junctions (transitional periods)

• इह (iha): here/in this context

• देव-असुर-प्रमाणम् (deva-asura-pramāṇam): the measure/standard pertaining to gods and asuras

• तु (tu): indeed

• सप्त-सप्त-अङ्गुलम् (sapta-sapta-aṅgulam): seven and seven aṅgulas (a fixed unit-count)

• क्रमात् (kramāt): in order/gradually/stepwise.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Manu (Vaivasvata Manu)
• Devas
• Asuras

Tags

• Pramāṇa
• Iconography
• Yuga-sandhi
• Aṅgula
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it situates present-day humans in yuga “transition” phases and gives a technical proportional measure (pramāṇa) used for comparative standards.

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

Indirectly, it supports correct standards used in ritual and public works—kings and householders sponsor images, temples, and rites that require precise pramāṇa (canonical measurements).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse uses the aṅgula-based pramāṇa system—core to Vāstu and pratima-making—indicating a fixed stepwise unit (“seven and seven aṅgulas”) for proportional calculation.