Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

लौकिकेन प्रमाणेन निष्पाद्याब्दं तु मानुषम् तेनापीह प्रसंख्याय वक्ष्यामि तु चतुर्युगम् निमेषतुल्यकालानि मात्रालब्धेक्षराणि च //

Transliteration

laukikena pramāṇena niṣpādyābdaṃ tu mānuṣam tenāpīha prasaṃkhyāya vakṣyāmi tu caturyugam nimeṣatulyakālāni mātrālabdhekṣarāṇi ca //

Translation

First, using the common worldly standard of measure, I shall establish the human year; then, reckoning from that, I will explain the caturyuga cycle—together with the time-units equal to a nimeṣa and the syllables obtained by counting mātrās.

Word by Word

• लौकिकेन (laukikena): by worldly/common

• प्रमाणेन (pramāṇena): by a standard/measure

• निष्पाद्य (niṣpādya): having established/derived

• अब्दम् (abdam): year

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• मानुषम् (mānuṣam): human

• तेन (tena): by that/thereby

• अपि (api): also

• इह (iha): here/in this teaching

• प्रसंख्याय (prasaṃkhyāya): by fully enumerating/reckoning

• वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi): I will explain

• तु (tu): then/indeed

• चतुर्युगम् (caturyugam): the four-yuga cycle (caturyuga)

• निमेषतुल्यकालानि (nimeṣa-tulya-kālāni): time-units equal to a nimeṣa (blink)

• मात्रालब्धेक्षराणि (mātrā-labdha-ekṣarāṇi): syllables obtained through mātrā-count (prosodic time-units)

• च (ca): and.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Caturyuga
• Nimeṣa
• Mātrā

Tags

• Kala-pramana
• Yuga
• Cosmology
• Time-measurement
• Prosody

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it sets up the technical framework of time-reckoning (human year → caturyuga), which is essential for Purāṇic cosmology where cycles of creation and dissolution are measured.

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

By grounding cosmic time in the “human year” and precise units, the text supports correct calendrical understanding for dharma—timely performance of vows, sacrifices, donations, and governance decisions aligned with accepted measures of time.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse foregrounds precise units (nimeṣa, mātrā) used in ritual timing and recitation; such exact measurement also underlies traditional planning disciplines where auspicious timing and standardized measures are prerequisites for temple and ritual procedures.