Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — The Origin of Yajña in Tretā Yuga and the Debate on Animal Sacrifice vs. Non-...

Devanagari script

अन्तर्हितायां संध्यायां सार्धं कृतयुगेन हि कालाख्यायां प्रवृत्तायां प्राप्ते त्रेतायुगे तदा //

Transliteration

antarhitāyāṃ saṃdhyāyāṃ sārdhaṃ kṛtayugena hi kālākhyāyāṃ pravṛttāyāṃ prāpte tretāyuge tadā //

Translation

When the twilight-junction (saṃdhyā) had disappeared along with the Kṛta Yuga, and the phase called “Kāla” had begun to operate, then the Tretā Yuga was attained.

Word by Word

• अन्तर्हितायाम् (antarhitāyām): when it had vanished/been withdrawn

• संध्यायाम् (saṃdhyāyām): in the junction/twilight period between ages

• सार्धम् (sārdham): together with

• कृतयुगेन (kṛtayugena): with the Kṛta (Satya) Yuga

• हि (hi): indeed

• कालाख्यायाम् (kālākhyāyām): in that which is called ‘Kāla’ (Time/Time-phase)

• प्रवृत्तायाम् (pravṛttāyām): when it had set in/begun to function

• प्राप्ते (prāpte): when attained/arrived

• त्रेतायुगे (tretāyuge): in the Tretā Yuga

• तदा (tadā): then/at that time

Speaker

• Likely Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) continuing the chronological account; in Matsya Purana this section commonly frames cosmic time for the Manu–Matsya dialogue context

Entities Mentioned

• Kṛta Yuga
• Tretā Yuga
• Kāla (Time)

Tags

• Yuga
• Kāla
• Cosmic Chronology
• Manvantara
• Purāṇic Time

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it sets the cosmic-time framework by marking the end of Kṛta Yuga (and its junction) and the commencement of a ‘Kāla’ phase leading into Tretā—background chronology often used in Purāṇas to situate later events.

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

Indirectly: by indicating entry into Tretā Yuga—an age in which ritual order, rule-bound dharma, and regulated social duties become more pronounced compared to Kṛta—this chronology supports later prescriptions for kingship, sacrifice, and household discipline.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu/temple rule appears in this verse, but yuga-transition markers commonly function as ritual-historical anchors in the Matsya Purana, clarifying when specific sacrificial norms and formal procedures (more emphasized in Tretā) become applicable.