Shloka 32

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

अशीतिश्चैव वर्षाणि मासाश्चैवाधिकास्तु षट् मन्वन्तरस्य संख्यैषा मानुषेण प्रकीर्तिता //

Transliteration

aśītiścaiva varṣāṇi māsāścaivādhikāstu ṣaṭ manvantarasya saṃkhyaiṣā mānuṣeṇa prakīrtitā //

Translation

Eighty years indeed, with six additional months besides—this is declared to be the measure of a Manvantara when stated in human reckoning.

Word by Word

• aśītiḥ: eighty

• ca eva: and indeed

• varṣāṇi: years

• māsāḥ: months

• ca eva: and also

• adhikāḥ: additional/extra

• tu: but/indeed

• ṣaṭ: six

• manvantarasya: of the Manvantara

• saṃkhyā: number/measure

• eṣā: this

• mānuṣeṇa: by/according to human (reckoning)

• prakīrtitā: is proclaimed/declared

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (context: cosmic chronology explanation)

Entities Mentioned

• Manvantara

Tags

• Manvantara
• Kalpa
• Puranic Chronology
• Cosmic Time
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it provides a technical time-measurement framework (Manvantara count) that is used in Purāṇic cosmology to situate cycles of creation and dissolution.

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

Indirectly: by grounding dharma and historical narratives within a structured cosmic timetable, it supports the Purāṇic view that righteous conduct (rāja-dharma and gṛhastha-dharma) aligns with larger cyclical order rather than random time.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse is primarily chronological, offering a unit of time-reckoning that can contextualize long-duration rites, dynastic timelines, or temple-chronology claims in Purāṇic literature.