Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Yuga Durations

Devanagari script

विप्राः स्थिता धर्मपरा राजवृत्तौ स्थिता नृपाः कृष्यामभिरता वैश्याः शूद्राः शुश्रूषवः स्थिताः //

Transliteration

viprāḥ sthitā dharmaparā rājavṛttau sthitā nṛpāḥ kṛṣyāmabhiratā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāḥ śuśrūṣavaḥ sthitāḥ //

Translation

Brahmins remain firmly devoted to dharma; kings remain established in the proper conduct of rule; Vaishyas remain engaged in agriculture; and Shudras remain steady in service and attendance.

Word by Word

• विप्राः (viprāḥ): Brahmins

• स्थिता (sthitāḥ): established, steady

• धर्मपरा (dharmaparāḥ): devoted to dharma

• राजवृत्तौ (rājavṛttau): in the duties/conduct of kingship

• नृपाः (nṛpāḥ): kings

• कृष्याम् (kṛṣyām): in agriculture/cultivation

• अभिरता (abhiratāḥ): engaged, delighting in

• वैश्याः (vaiśyāḥ): Vaishyas

• शूद्राः (śūdrāḥ): Shudras

• शुश्रूषवः (śuśrūṣavaḥ): those devoted to service/attendance

• स्थिताः (sthitāḥ): remain established

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (likely discourse context)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmins (Vipras)
• Kings (Nripas)
• Vaishyas
• Shudras
• Dharma

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Varna duties
• Social order
• Dharma
• Kingship ethics

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it describes social stability through each varna adhering to its dharma, a theme tied to sustaining order in the world.

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

It frames righteous kingship (rājavṛtti) as a stabilizing pillar of society, alongside household-based livelihoods like agriculture for Vaishyas and service-oriented duties for Shudras, with Brahmins upholding dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu/temple-architecture rule is stated here; the verse instead provides a dharmic template of social roles that underlies ritual and civic order in the Purana’s broader teaching.