HomeMatsya PuranaAdh. 142Shloka 2

Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

*सूत उवाच पृथिवीद्युप्रसङ्गेन मया तु प्रागुदाहृतम् एतच्चतुर्युगं त्वेवं तद्वक्ष्यामि निबोधत तत्प्रमाणं प्रसंख्याय विस्तराच्चैव कृत्स्नशः //

*sūta uvāca pṛthivīdyuprasaṅgena mayā tu prāgudāhṛtam etaccaturyugaṃ tvevaṃ tadvakṣyāmi nibodhata tatpramāṇaṃ prasaṃkhyāya vistarāccaiva kṛtsnaśaḥ //

Sūta said: “Earlier, in connection with the earth and the heavenly worlds, I had already spoken of it. Now I shall explain to you this caturyuga. Listen attentively as I set forth its measure—fully, in due detail, and by proper enumeration.”

sūtaḥ uvācaSūta said
sūtaḥ uvāca:
pṛthivī-dyu-prasaṅgenain the context of earth and heaven (the celestial realms)
pṛthivī-dyu-prasaṅgena:
mayāby me
mayā:
tuindeed/for
tu:
prākearlier
prāk:
udāhṛtamstated/explained
udāhṛtam:
etatthis
etat:
caturyugamthe cycle of four yugas
caturyugam:
tunow/indeed
tu:
evaṃthus/in this manner
evaṃ:
tatthat (teaching)
tat:
vakṣyāmiI will explain
vakṣyāmi:
nibodhataunderstand, listen carefully
nibodhata:
tat-pramāṇamits measure/standard of duration
tat-pramāṇam:
prasaṃkhyāyaby counting/enumerating accurately
prasaṃkhyāya:
vistārātin detail/at length
vistārāt:
ca evaand indeed
ca eva:
kṛtsnaśaḥcompletely, in full.
kṛtsnaśaḥ:
Suta (Sūta Ugraśravas)
SutaPrithivi (Earth)Dyu (Heaven)Caturyuga
CosmologyYugaTimeCyclesPuranicChronologyEnumeration

FAQs

It does not describe pralaya directly; it introduces a systematic explanation of cosmic time (the caturyuga), which is the chronological framework within which creation, preservation, and dissolution narratives are timed.

By announcing the yuga framework, it implies that dharma and social duties are understood relative to time: royal policy and household conduct are traditionally adjusted according to the moral and spiritual conditions of each yuga.

No specific vastu or ritual rule appears in this verse; its practical significance is foundational—ritual calendars, donations, and observances in Purāṇic tradition are often contextualized within yuga-based chronology.