Shloka 76

Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation

Devanagari script

पुत्रपौत्रसमाकीर्णा म्रियन्ते च क्रमेण ताः एष त्रेतायुगे भावस् त्रेतासंख्यां निबोधत //

Transliteration

putrapautrasamākīrṇā mriyante ca krameṇa tāḥ eṣa tretāyuge bhāvas tretāsaṃkhyāṃ nibodhata //

Translation

Surrounded by sons and grandsons, they pass away in due succession. Such is the condition in the Tretā Yuga—now understand the reckoning (numbers) for the Tretā.

Word by Word

• putra: son

• pautra: grandson

• samākīrṇāḥ: filled/surrounded (by)

• mriyante: they die, they pass away

• ca: and

• krameṇa: in sequence, in due order

• tāḥ: those (persons/people)

• eṣaḥ: this

• tretā-yuge: in the Tretā Yuga

• bhāvaḥ: state, condition, course of life

• tretā-saṅkhyām: the Tretā-count/reckoning (enumeration)

• nibodhata: understand, take note (imperative).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Tretā Yuga

Tags

• Yugas
• Lifespan
• Genealogy
• Dynasties
• Time-cycles

FAQs

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

It does not directly describe Pralaya; it highlights orderly human succession and death in the Tretā Yuga, as part of the Purana’s broader time-cycle teaching.

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

By emphasizing dying “in due order” amid descendants, it upholds the householder ideal of sustaining lineage and social continuity—key supports for a king’s stable realm and for grihastha-dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse is primarily about yuga-characteristics and chronological enumeration.