Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Yuga Durations

Devanagari script

*मत्स्य उवाच चत्वार्याहुः सहस्राणि वर्षाणां तु कृतं युगम् तस्य तावच्छती संध्या द्विगुणा रविनन्दन //

Transliteration

*matsya uvāca catvāryāhuḥ sahasrāṇi varṣāṇāṃ tu kṛtaṃ yugam tasya tāvacchatī saṃdhyā dviguṇā ravinandana //

Translation

Matsya said: The sages declare that the Kṛta Yuga consists of four thousand years. Its twilight period (sandhyā) is of that many hundreds of years, and the concluding twilight (sandhyāṃśa) is twice that, O descendant of the Sun.

Word by Word

• मत्स्य उवाच (matsya uvāca): Matsya said

• चत्वारि (catvāri): four

• आहुः (āhuḥ): they say/declare

• सहस्राणि (sahasrāṇi): thousands

• वर्षाणाम् (varṣāṇām): of years

• तु (tu): indeed

• कृतम् (kṛtam): Kṛta (Satya)

• युगम् (yugam): age/eon

• तस्य (tasya): of it

• तावत् (tāvat): that much

• शती (śatī): hundreds (i.e., in hundreds of years)

• संध्या (saṃdhyā): junction/twilight period

• द्विगुणा (dviguṇā): double

• रविनन्दन (ravinandana): O son/descendant of Ravi (the Sun)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Matsya Avatara of Vishnu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Kṛta Yuga
• Ravi (Sun lineage)

Tags

• Yuga
• Kala
• CosmicTime
• Dharma
• PuranicChronology

FAQs

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

It gives the Purāṇic framework of cosmic time (yuga lengths and twilight junctions), which is the calendrical basis used to describe recurring cycles of creation, maintenance, and dissolution across vast epochs.

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

By defining the Kṛta Yuga as a distinct moral-temporal phase, it implies that Dharma and social duties are understood in relation to the yuga—kings and householders are expected to align conduct with the prevailing age’s standards of righteousness and discipline.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the practical ritual takeaway is calendrical—yuga and sandhyā concepts underpin Purāṇic timing and sacred chronology used to contextualize rites, vows, and traditional reckonings of auspicious periods.