Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — Yuga Durations

Devanagari script

त्रीणि वर्षसहस्राणि त्रेतायुगमिहोच्यते तस्य तावच्छती संध्या द्विगुणा परिकीर्त्यते //

Transliteration

trīṇi varṣasahasrāṇi tretāyugamihocyate tasya tāvacchatī saṃdhyā dviguṇā parikīrtyate //

Translation

Here, the Tretā Yuga is said to last three thousand years; its twilight period (sandhyā) is stated to be of that many hundreds, and the concluding twilight (sandhyāṃśa) is declared to be double that.

Word by Word

• त्रीणि (trīṇi): three

• वर्षसहस्राणि (varṣa-sahasrāṇi): thousands of years

• त्रेतायुगम् (tretā-yugam): the Tretā Age

• इह (iha): here/in this teaching

• उच्यते (ucyate): is said/is defined

• तस्य (tasya): of it/of that (yuga)

• तावत् (tāvat): that much/as much as stated

• शती (śatī): hundreds (in number of years)

• संध्या (saṃdhyā): junction/twilight period (opening transition)

• द्विगुणा (dviguṇā): double

• परिकीर्त्यते (parikīrtyate): is proclaimed/declared

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Treta Yuga
• Sandhya
• Sandhyamsha

Tags

• Yuga
• Timecycles
• Cosmology
• Puranic Chronology
• Dharma Decline

FAQs

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

It gives a technical time-measure for the yugas and their transitional twilights; such chronology is used to situate cosmic events (including pralaya) within vast cyclical time, though pralaya itself is not described in this verse.

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

By defining Tretā Yuga and its transitional periods, it frames dharma as time-conditioned: rulers and householders are expected to follow dharma appropriate to the yuga, with practices and standards shifting across these cosmic eras.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct vastu or temple rule is stated; indirectly, yuga-calculations guide ritual timing and the broader Puranic worldview in which rites, consecrations, and dharma-practices are contextualized by the age.