Shloka 38

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

त्रेतासृष्टं प्रवक्ष्यामि द्वापरं कलिमेव च युगपत्समवेतौ द्वौ द्विधा वक्तुं न शक्यते //

Transliteration

tretāsṛṣṭaṃ pravakṣyāmi dvāparaṃ kalimeva ca yugapatsamavetau dvau dvidhā vaktuṃ na śakyate //

Translation

I shall describe what pertains to the Tretā age, and also the Dvāpara and the Kali. Yet two ages that have come together at the same time cannot be explained separately as though divided into two.

Word by Word

• त्रेता (tretā): the Tretā-yuga

• सृष्टम् (sṛṣṭam): the created order/arrangement, the instituted pattern (i.e., characteristics)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि (pravakṣyāmi): I will explain, I will expound

• द्वापरम् (dvāparam): the Dvāpara-yuga

• कलिम् (kalim): the Kali-yuga

• एव (eva): indeed/also

• च (ca): and

• युगपत् (yugapat): simultaneously, at the same time

• समवेतौ (samavetau): come together, converged/combined

• द्वौ (dvau): two

• द्विधा (dvidhā): in two ways, separately/as two

• वक्तुम् (vaktum): to speak, to describe

• न (na): not

• शक्यते (śakyate): is possible, can be done

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Tretā-yuga
• Dvāpara-yuga
• Kali-yuga

Tags

• Yuga-Dharma
• Cosmology
• Time-Cycles
• Puranic Doctrine
• Ethics

FAQs

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

Rather than Pralaya, this verse focuses on yuga-theory: it notes that at transitions, two yugas can overlap, making their features hard to separate cleanly.

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

It implies dharma must be applied with awareness of the time: when yuga-characteristics mix, rulers and householders should judge conduct and policy by the prevailing blended conditions, not by an idealized, single-yuga standard.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; indirectly, it cautions that ritual/observance standards may vary by yuga and can appear mixed during transitional periods.