Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

षट्त्रिंशत्तु सहस्राणि वर्षाणां मानुषाणि च षष्टिश्चैव सहस्राणि संख्यातानि तु संख्यया दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु प्राहुः संख्याविदो जनाः //

Transliteration

ṣaṭtriṃśattu sahasrāṇi varṣāṇāṃ mānuṣāṇi ca ṣaṣṭiścaiva sahasrāṇi saṃkhyātāni tu saṃkhyayā divyaṃ varṣasahasraṃ tu prāhuḥ saṃkhyāvido janāḥ //

Translation

Thirty-six thousand human years—and additionally sixty thousand more—are reckoned by calculation; those skilled in enumeration declare that this amounts to one thousand divine years.

Word by Word

• ṣaṭ-triṃśat: thirty-six

• tu: indeed

• sahasrāṇi: thousands

• varṣāṇām: of years

• mānuṣāṇi: human (pertaining to humans)

• ca: and

• ṣaṣṭiḥ: sixty

• ca eva: also indeed

• sahasrāṇi: thousands

• saṃkhyātāni: counted, computed

• tu: indeed

• saṃkhyayā: by number/calculation

• divyam: divine, celestial

• varṣa-sahasram: a thousand years

• tu: indeed

• prāhuḥ: they say/declare

• saṃkhyā-vidaḥ: those who know numbers (calculators/astronomers)

• janāḥ: people.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, time-measure discourse context)

Entities Mentioned

• Divine years (divya-varṣa)
• Human years (mānuṣa-varṣa)
• Saṃkhyāvidaḥ (calculators/astronomers)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Time
• Yuga-calculation
• Puranic chronology
• Saṃkhyā

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it establishes a technical conversion between human-year counts and “divine years,” a framework used elsewhere to narrate vast cosmic cycles that include creation and dissolution.

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

Indirectly: by teaching standardized time-reckoning, it supports dharma in practice—ritual calendars, vows, and royal/household observances depend on correct computation of sacred time scales.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu rule is stated, but the time-calculation is relevant to ritual timing (muhūrta, calendrical reckoning) that often accompanies temple consecrations and major rites referenced across the Matsya Purana.