Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

काष्ठा निमेषा दश पञ्च चैव त्रिंशच्च काष्ठां गणयेत्कलां तु त्रिंशत्कलाश्चैव भवेन्मुहूर्तस् तैस्त्रिंशता रात्र्यहनी समेते //

Transliteration

kāṣṭhā nimeṣā daśa pañca caiva triṃśacca kāṣṭhāṃ gaṇayetkalāṃ tu triṃśatkalāścaiva bhavenmuhūrtas taistriṃśatā rātryahanī samete //

Translation

Fifteen nimeṣas make one kāṣṭhā; thirty kāṣṭhās are counted as one kalā. Thirty kalās make one muhūrta; and by thirty muhūrtas, the night and the day are completed.

Word by Word

• काष्ठा (kāṣṭhā): a unit of time called kāṣṭhā

• निमेषा (nimeṣāḥ): nimeṣas, ‘eye-blinks’ (a very small unit of time)

• दश पञ्च (daśa pañca): ten and five, i.e., fifteen

• त्रिंशत् (triṃśat): thirty

• गणयेत् (gaṇayet): one should count/compute

• कलाम् (kalām): kalā, a larger unit of time

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• त्रिंशत् कलाः (triṃśat kalāḥ): thirty kalās

• भवेन् (bhavet): becomes/constitutes

• मुहूर्तः (muhūrtaḥ): a muhūrta (traditional 1/30 of a day)

• तैः (taiḥ): by those/with those

• त्रिंशता (triṃśatā): by thirty

• रात्र्यहनी (rātry-ahanī): night and day

• समेते (samete): are completed/come together.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Kalā
• Muhūrta
• Rātri
• Ahan

Tags

• Kala
• Time-Measurement
• Cosmology
• Ritual-Timing
• MatsyaPurana

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it provides the precise, traditional scale of time-units used in Purāṇic cosmology, which underlies later discussions of cosmic cycles such as creation and dissolution.

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

By defining kalā and muhūrta, the verse supports dharmic governance and household discipline: daily rites, administrative schedules, fasts, vows, and judicial or royal activities are traditionally organized by muhūrta-based timekeeping.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

In ritual and Vāstu practice, selecting an auspicious muhūrta is essential for temple building, foundation-laying, consecration (pratiṣṭhā), and major saṃskāras; this verse supplies the base conversions needed for such muhūrta calculations.