Shloka 57

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

यामैः शुक्लैर्जयैश्चैव सर्वसाधनसंभृतैः विश्वसृड्भिस् तथा सार्धं देवेन्द्रेण महौजसा स्वायम्भुवे ऽन्तरे देवैस् ते यज्ञाः प्राक्प्रवर्तिताः //

Transliteration

yāmaiḥ śuklairjayaiścaiva sarvasādhanasaṃbhṛtaiḥ viśvasṛḍbhis tathā sārdhaṃ devendreṇa mahaujasā svāyambhuve 'ntare devais te yajñāḥ prākpravartitāḥ //

Translation

In the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, those sacrifices were first set in motion by the gods—together with the Yāmas, the Śuklas, and the Jayas, fully furnished with every requisite means—along with the Viśvasṛj deities and the mighty Indra.

Word by Word

• यामैः (yāmaiḥ): by/with the Yāma-gods (a divine class)

• शुक्लैः (śuklaiḥ): by/with the Śukla-gods (a divine class)

• जयैः (jayaiḥ): by/with the Jaya-gods (a divine class)

• च एव (caiva): and indeed

• सर्व-साधन-संभृतैः (sarva-sādhana-saṃbhṛtaiḥ): furnished with all implements/means (for ritual)

• विश्वसृड्भिः (viśvasṛḍbhiḥ): with the Viśvasṛj (a class of creator-deities)

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• सार्धम् (sārdham): together with

• देवेन्द्रेण (devendreṇa): with Indra, lord of the gods

• महौजसा (mahaujasā): of great power/energy

• स्वायम्भुवे अन्तरे (svāyambhuve 'ntare): in the Svāyambhuva Manvantara/period

• देवैः (devaiḥ): by the gods

• ते (te): those

• यज्ञाः (yajñāḥ): sacrifices, yajña-rites

• प्राक् (prāk): formerly/at first

• प्रवर्तिताः (pravartitāḥ): were initiated, were set into operation

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this narrative frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Indra (Devendra)
• Yāmas
• Śuklas
• Jayas
• Viśvasṛj (Viśvasṛjas)
• Svāyambhuva Manvantara

Tags

• Manvantara
• Yajña
• Deva-groups
• Ritual Origins
• Cosmic Order (Ṛta/Dharma)

FAQs

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

Rather than Pralaya, this verse highlights cosmic maintenance: in the early Svāyambhuva Manvantara, divine groups and Indra collectively inaugurate yajñas, portraying sacrifice as a stabilizing principle of the created order.

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

By presenting yajña as a foundational institution begun by the gods themselves, the verse supports the Purāṇic ideal that householders and rulers should uphold dharma through properly resourced rites—publicly (king) and domestically (gṛhastha)—to sustain prosperity and social order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key ritual point is “sarva-sādhana-saṃbhṛta”—yajña requires complete preparation and correct implements; it implies disciplined ritual logistics (altars, materials, officiants), aligning with Matsya Purana’s broader emphasis on proper procedural foundations for sacred acts.