Shloka 22

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

द्वे सहस्रे द्वापरं तु संध्यांशौ तु चतुःशतम् सहस्रमेकं वर्षाणां कलिरेव प्रकीर्तितः द्वे शते च तथान्ये च संध्यासंध्यांशयोः स्मृते //

Transliteration

dve sahasre dvāparaṃ tu saṃdhyāṃśau tu catuḥśatam sahasramekaṃ varṣāṇāṃ kalireva prakīrtitaḥ dve śate ca tathānye ca saṃdhyāsaṃdhyāṃśayoḥ smṛte //

Translation

The Dvāpara Yuga is said to be two thousand (divine) years, with its twilight portions (sandhyā and sandhyāṃśa) totaling four hundred. Kali Yuga is proclaimed to be one thousand years, and for it the twilight and the twilight’s fraction are remembered as two hundred and another two hundred.

Word by Word

• द्वे (dve): two

• सहस्रे (sahasre): thousands

• द्वापरम् (dvāparam): Dvāpara Yuga

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• संध्यांशौ (saṃdhyāṃśau): the twilight-portions (yuga-sandhyā components)

• चतुःशतम् (catuḥśatam): four hundred

• सहस्रम् (sahasram): one thousand

• एकम् (ekam): one

• वर्षाणाम् (varṣāṇām): of years

• कलिः (kaliḥ): Kali Yuga

• एव (eva): alone/indeed

• प्रकीर्तितः (prakīrtitaḥ): is declared

• द्वे शते (dve śate): two hundreds

• च (ca): and

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• अन्ये (anye): another (two hundred)

• संध्या (saṃdhyā): twilight (opening junction)

• संध्यांशयोः (saṃdhyāṃśayoḥ): of the twilight-fraction/closing junction

• स्मृते (smṛte): are stated/remembered

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Dvapara Yuga
• Kali Yuga
• Sandhya
• Sandhyamsha

Tags

• Yuga
• Cosmology
• Timekeeping
• Manvantara
• Purana

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it provides the time-measurements of Dvāpara and Kali Yugas (including their junction periods), which are used in Purāṇic cosmology to situate cycles of creation, maintenance, and dissolution in vast chronological frameworks.

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

By defining the yuga context—especially Kali’s shorter span and its junction periods—the text frames why dharma-protection becomes more urgent in later ages; kings and householders are expected to uphold order and ethical conduct with greater vigilance as time declines.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated; however, yuga-measurements are often used to time rituals, calendrical observances, and Purāṇic chronologies that can govern when major consecrations or commemorative rites are ideally performed.