Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

प्रयुतं तु तथा पूर्णं द्वे चान्ये नियुते पुनः षण्णवतिसहस्राणि संख्यातानि च संख्यया त्रेतायुगस्य संख्यैषा मानुषेण तु संज्ञिता //

Transliteration

prayutaṃ tu tathā pūrṇaṃ dve cānye niyute punaḥ ṣaṇṇavatisahasrāṇi saṃkhyātāni ca saṃkhyayā tretāyugasya saṃkhyaiṣā mānuṣeṇa tu saṃjñitā //

Translation

A prayuta (ten thousand) is taken as complete; and again, two niyutas (two hundred thousand) together with ninety‑six thousand are reckoned by calculation. This is declared to be the human-number (mānuṣa-saṃjñā) for the measure of the Tretā-yuga.

Word by Word

• प्रयुतम्: ten thousand (prayuta)

• तु: indeed/and

• तथा: thus

• पूर्णम्: complete/full

• द्वे: two

• च: and

• अन्ये: other/additional

• नियुते: niyutas (hundred-thousands)

• पुनः: again

• षण्णवतिसहस्राणि: ninety-six thousand

• संख्यातानि: counted/reckoned

• च: and

• संख्यया: by calculation/according to number

• त्रेतायुगस्य: of the Tretā-yuga

• संख्यैषा: this number/this measure

• मानुषेण: in human (reckoning)

• तु: indeed

• संज्ञिता: is named/declared

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Tretā-yuga
• Mānuṣa (human reckoning)
• Prayuta
• Niyuta

Tags

• Yuga
• CosmicTime
• PuranicChronology
• Numbers
• Manvantara

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it establishes a precise numerical framework for yuga-duration, which is part of the larger Purāṇic cosmology used to situate cycles of creation and dissolution in time.

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

Indirectly, it provides the time-scale (yuga framework) within which dharma is said to rise and decline; kingship and household ethics in the Purāṇas are often explained as varying with the yuga, so knowing the yuga-measure supports that broader teaching.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse is a technical statement on numerical reckoning (saṅkhyā) for the Tretā-yuga, which can still inform ritual calendars and Purāṇic chronological references.