Shloka 74

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

इज्या दानं तपः सत्यं त्रेताधर्मास्तु वै स्मृताः तदा प्रवर्तते धर्मो वर्णाश्रमविभागशः मर्यादास्थापनार्थं च दण्डनीतिः प्रवर्तते //

Transliteration

ijyā dānaṃ tapaḥ satyaṃ tretādharmāstu vai smṛtāḥ tadā pravartate dharmo varṇāśramavibhāgaśaḥ maryādāsthāpanārthaṃ ca daṇḍanītiḥ pravartate //

Translation

Worship in sacrificial duty (ijyā), charity (dāna), austerity (tapas), and truthfulness (satya) are remembered as the dharmas of the Tretā age. Then dharma proceeds according to the divisions of varṇa and āśrama; and, for the establishment of proper boundaries and order, the science of punishment and governance (daṇḍanīti) also comes into operation.

Word by Word

• ijyā: worship/sacrifice

• dānam: gifting/charity

• tapaḥ: austerity/ascetic discipline

• satyam: truthfulness

• tretā-dharmāḥ: the duties characteristic of the Tretā-yuga

• vai: indeed

• smṛtāḥ: are remembered/are taught in tradition

• tadā: then/at that time

• pravartate: comes into force/operates

• dharmaḥ: righteousness/sacred law

• varṇa-āśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ: according to the classification of social order (varṇa) and life-stages (āśrama)

• maryādā: boundary/limit/proper rule

• sthāpana-artham: for the purpose of establishing

• ca: and

• daṇḍa-nītiḥ: policy of punishment/royal jurisprudence/statecraft

• pravartate: begins to function.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Tretā-yuga
• Varṇa
• Āśrama
• Daṇḍanīti
• Dharma

Tags

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Varṇāśrama
• Tretā Yuga
• Daṇḍanīti

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it outlines how dharma functions in the Tretā-yuga—through worship, charity, austerity, truth, and through structured social order supported by governance (daṇḍanīti).

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

It implies that when society is organized by varṇa and āśrama, the king must uphold maryādā (lawful limits) through daṇḍanīti—fair discipline and jurisprudence—while householders sustain dharma through sacrifice/worship, charity, austerity, and truth.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it emphasizes ijyā (yajña/temple-centered worship) as a core Tretā-yuga duty; it does not directly teach Vāstu rules, but it frames ritual order as something protected by social discipline and statecraft.