Shloka 75

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

हृष्टपुष्टा जनाः सर्वे अरोगाः पूर्णमानसाः एको वेदश्चतुष्पादस् त्रेतायां तु विधिः स्मृतः त्रीणि वर्षसहस्राणि जीवन्ते तत्र ताः प्रजाः //

Transliteration

hṛṣṭapuṣṭā janāḥ sarve arogāḥ pūrṇamānasāḥ eko vedaścatuṣpādas tretāyāṃ tu vidhiḥ smṛtaḥ trīṇi varṣasahasrāṇi jīvante tatra tāḥ prajāḥ //

Translation

In the Tretā Yuga, all people are cheerful and well-nourished, free from disease and of fulfilled minds. The Veda is one, yet it stands on four feet (fully established); such is the ordained order remembered for the Tretā. The beings there live for three thousand years.

Word by Word

• हृष्ट (hṛṣṭa): joyful, delighted

• पुष्टा (puṣṭā): well-nourished, thriving

• जनाः (janāḥ): people

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• अरोगाः (arogāḥ): free from illness

• पूर्णमानसाः (pūrṇa-mānasāḥ): with minds satisfied/complete

• एकः (ekaḥ): one

• वेदः (vedaḥ): the Veda

• चतुष्पादः (catuṣpādaḥ): four-footed, having four supports (fully established)

• त्रेतायाम् (tretāyām): in the Tretā Yuga

• तु (tu): indeed

• विधिः (vidhiḥ): ordinance, prescribed order/ritual rule

• स्मृतः (smṛtaḥ): remembered, taught in tradition

• त्रीणि (trīṇi): three

• वर्षसहस्राणि (varṣa-sahasrāṇi): thousands of years

• जीवन्ते (jīvante): they live

• तत्र (tatra): there

• ताः (tāḥ): those

• प्रजाः (prajāḥ): subjects/creatures.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (Yuga description context)

Entities Mentioned

• Tretā Yuga
• Veda

Tags

• Yuga Dharma
• Tretā Yuga
• Veda
• Longevity
• Puranic Cosmology

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it outlines the flourishing conditions of the Tretā Yuga—health, contentment, stable Vedic order, and long lifespan—indicating a phase of cosmic stability rather than dissolution.

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

By portraying a society that is healthy and mentally fulfilled under an established Vedic vidhi, it implies that rulers and householders should uphold Vedic order (dharma and ritual discipline) to sustain prosperity, public health, and social harmony.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The direct significance is ritual: “vidhi” and the Veda being “catuṣpāda” indicate a well-established, complete sacrificial and dharmic system in Tretā Yuga; no explicit Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated in this verse.