Shloka 27

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

चत्वारि नियुतानि स्युर् वर्षाणि तु कलिर्युगम् द्वात्रिंशच्च तथान्यानि सहस्राणि तु संख्यया एतत्कलियुगं प्रोक्तं मानुषेण प्रमाणतः //

Transliteration

catvāri niyutāni syur varṣāṇi tu kaliryugam dvātriṃśacca tathānyāni sahasrāṇi tu saṃkhyayā etatkaliyugaṃ proktaṃ mānuṣeṇa pramāṇataḥ //

Translation

Kali-yuga consists of four niyutas of years, and additionally 32,000 years by count. Thus this Kali-yuga is stated according to the human measure of time.

Word by Word

• चत्वारि (catvāri): four

• नियुतानि (niyutāni): niyutas/ten-thousands (a numerical unit)

• स्युः (syuḥ): are/should be

• वर्षाणि (varṣāṇi): years

• तु (tu): indeed

• कलियुगम् (kali-yugam): the age of Kali

• द्वात्रिंशत् (dvātriṃśat): thirty-two

• च (ca): and

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• अन्यानि (anyāni): additional/other

• सहस्राणि (sahasrāṇi): thousands

• तु (tu): indeed

• संख्यया (saṃkhyayā): by number/by count

• एतत् (etat): this

• कलियुगम् (kali-yugam): Kali-yuga

• प्रोक्तम् (proktam): declared/expounded

• मानुषेण (mānuṣeṇa): by the human (standard)/in human terms

• प्रमाणतः (pramāṇataḥ): according to measure/authoritative reckoning.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for the Matsya Purana’s yuga discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Kali-yuga

Tags

• Yugas
• Kali Yuga
• Puranic Chronology
• Hindu Time Cycles
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it establishes the human-year duration of Kali-yuga, which is part of the broader Purāṇic framework used to situate events leading up to periodic dissolutions.

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

By defining Kali-yuga’s span, it frames the ethical context in which kings and householders must uphold dharma amid decline—an emphasis common in Purāṇic guidance even when the verse itself is purely chronological.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-ritual rule is stated in this verse; its significance is chronological—useful for dating ritual calendars and Purāṇic historical timelines rather than prescribing architectural practice.