HomeMatsya PuranaAdh. 142Shloka 64

Shloka 64

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

विष्णोरंशेन जायन्ते पृथिव्यां चक्रवर्तिनः मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु ह्य् अतीतानागतेषु वै //

viṣṇoraṃśena jāyante pṛthivyāṃ cakravartinaḥ manvantareṣu sarveṣu hy atītānāgateṣu vai //

Cakravartins (universal monarchs) are born upon the earth through a portion of Viṣṇu’s power—indeed, in every Manvantara, whether in those that have passed or those yet to come.

विष्णोः (viṣṇoḥ)of Viṣṇu
विष्णोः (viṣṇoḥ):
अंशेन (aṃśena)by a portion/partial manifestation
अंशेन (aṃśena):
जायन्ते (jāyante)are born/arise
जायन्ते (jāyante):
पृथिव्याम् (pṛthivyām)on the earth
पृथिव्याम् (pṛthivyām):
चक्रवर्तिनः (cakravartinaḥ)universal monarchs/imperial rulers
चक्रवर्तिनः (cakravartinaḥ):
मन्वन्तरेषु (manvantareṣu)in the Manvantaras (epochs of a Manu)
मन्वन्तरेषु (manvantareṣu):
सर्वेषु (sarveṣu)in all
सर्वेषु (sarveṣu):
हि (hi)indeed/for
हि (hi):
अतीतानागतेषु (atītānāgateṣu)in the past and the future
अतीतानागतेषु (atītānāgateṣu):
वै (vai)truly/certainly.
वै (vai):
Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)
VishnuCakravartinManvantaraPrithivi (Earth)
DynastiesManvantarasKingshipVishnu-aṃśaPuranic cosmology

FAQs

It implies cyclical cosmic time: across successive Manvantaras (before and after), divinely empowered rulers continue to arise, indicating continuity of dharma-bearing kingship through recurring ages rather than focusing on a single Pralaya event.

By stating that cakravartins arise from a portion of Viṣṇu, the verse frames kingship as a sacred trust: the ruler is expected to uphold dharma on earth as an instrument of divine order, not merely as a political authority.

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the takeaway is contextual—temple patronage, yajñas, and public works traditionally fall under the cakravartin’s dharmic role, supported here by the idea of divine empowerment.