Shloka 40

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

नोक्तं त्रेतायुगे शेषं तद्वक्ष्यामि निबोधत अथ त्रेतायुगस्यादौ मनुः सप्तर्षयश्च ये श्रौतस्मार्तं ब्रुवन्धर्मं ब्रह्मणा तु प्रचोदिताः //

Transliteration

noktaṃ tretāyuge śeṣaṃ tadvakṣyāmi nibodhata atha tretāyugasyādau manuḥ saptarṣayaśca ye śrautasmārtaṃ bruvandharmaṃ brahmaṇā tu pracoditāḥ //

Translation

What remains unsaid about the Tretā Yuga I shall now declare; listen attentively. At the beginning of the Tretā Yuga, Manu and the Seven Ṛṣis, urged on by Brahmā, proclaimed the dharma according to the Śrauta and Smārta traditions.

Word by Word

• नोक्तम्: not spoken (yet)

• त्रेतायुगे: in the Tretā Yuga

• शेषम्: the remainder, what is left

• तत्: that

• वक्ष्यामि: I will speak/declare

• निबोधत: understand, listen attentively

• अथ: then/now

• त्रेतायुगस्य आदौ: at the beginning of the Tretā Yuga

• मनुः: Manu

• सप्तर्षयः च: and the Seven Ṛṣis

• ये: who

• श्रौतस्मार्तम्: pertaining to Śrauta (Vedic sacrificial) and Smārta (tradition-based, dharmaśāstric) observances

• ब्रुवन्/ब्रुवन् धर्मम्: proclaiming dharma

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā

• तु: indeed

• प्रचोदिताः: impelled, prompted

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Manu
• Saptarishis
• Brahma

Tags

• Yuga-Dharma
• Tretayuga
• Shrouta
• Smarta
• Rishi-Tradition

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it shifts to yuga-dharma, stating that at the start of the Tretā Yuga, Manu and the Seven Ṛṣis—prompted by Brahmā—set forth the ritual and conduct-based dharma.

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

It grounds royal and household duty in two authoritative streams: Śrauta rites (public Vedic sacrifices and obligations) and Smārta norms (ethical conduct, domestic rituals, and dharmaśāstra-based practice), presented as promulgated by Manu and the Ṛṣis under Brahmā’s sanction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is explicit: “Śrauta–Smārta dharma” indicates formal Vedic sacrificial procedure implied by Śrauta and the regulated domestic/ethical observances implied by Smārta; no specific Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated in this verse.