Matsya Purana — Intermediate Dissolution, Shloka 1

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच एवमुक्तो मनुस्तेन पप्रच्छ मधुसूदनम् भगवन्कियद्भिर्वर्षैर् भविष्यत्यन्तरक्षयः //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca evamukto manustena papraccha madhusūdanam bhagavankiyadbhirvarṣair bhaviṣyatyantarakṣayaḥ //

Translation

Dijo Sūta: Así interpelado por él, Manu preguntó a Madhusūdana: «Oh Señor Bienaventurado, ¿después de cuántos años ocurrirá la disolución intermedia (antarākṣaya)?»

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta (the narrator)

• uvāca: said

• evam: thus

• uktaḥ: addressed/spoken to

• manuḥ: Vaivasvata Manu

• tena: by him (the Lord/that one just speaking)

• papraccha: asked/inquired

• madhusūdanam: Madhusūdana (Vishnu/Lord Matsya)

• bhagavan: O Lord/Blessed One

• kiyadbhih: by how many

• varṣaiḥ: years

• bhaviṣyati: will occur/will happen

• antarākṣayaḥ: intermediate destruction/dissolution (a pralaya-type event).

Speaker

• Suta (Sūta Uvāca)

Entities Mentioned

• Suta
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Madhusūdana (Vishnu/Lord Matsya)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Manvantara
• Matsya Avatara
• Time cycles
• Purana dialogue

FAQs

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

It introduces a technical question about antarākṣaya—an “intermediate” form of dissolution—framing the discussion in terms of cosmic time measured in years.

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

By seeking precise knowledge of cosmic cycles from the Lord, Manu models the dharmic ideal of a ruler/householder: acting with foresight and aligning decisions with larger cosmic order (kāla and dharma).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its significance is contextual, setting up a Pralaya/time-cycle framework that later informs when rites, rebuilding, or restorations are undertaken after destruction.