Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Yuga Durations

Devanagari script

यत्र धर्मश्चतुष्पादस् त्व् अधर्मः पादविग्रहः स्वधर्मनिरताः सन्तो जायन्ते यत्र मानवाः //

Transliteration

yatra dharmaścatuṣpādas tv adharmaḥ pādavigrahaḥ svadharmaniratāḥ santo jāyante yatra mānavāḥ //

Translation

Where Dharma stands firm on all four feet, while Adharma is crippled—deprived of its footing—there are born virtuous people devoted to their own rightful duties.

Word by Word

• yatra: where

• dharmaḥ: Dharma/righteous order

• catuṣpādaḥ: four-footed, complete in all quarters

• tu: but/whereas

• adharmaḥ: unrighteousness/anti-dharma

• pāda-vigrahaḥ: with the feet broken/lamed, deprived of support

• sva-dharma: one’s own ordained duty (according to varṇa-āśrama and circumstance)

• niratāḥ: engaged/steadfast

• santaḥ: good people/saints/virtuous persons

• jāyante: are born/arise

• yatra: where

• mānavāḥ: human beings/people.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Dharma
• Adharma
• Manavas (human beings)

Tags

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Kali Yuga
• Ethics
• Social Order

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it defines a stable moral order where Dharma is complete and Adharma is weakened, implying social continuity rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It presents the king’s ideal outcome of governance: establishing conditions where Dharma is ‘four-footed’ (fully supported) so that people naturally adhere to svadharma—householders, in turn, sustain society by faithfully performing their rightful duties.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule is stated; the takeaway is contextual—temple-building and rites are fruitful only in a realm where Dharma is firmly established and Adharma is restrained.