Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

चत्वार्याहुः सहस्राणि वर्षाणां तत्कृतं युगम् तस्य ताव् अच्छती संध्या संध्यांशश्च तथाविधः //

Transliteration

catvāryāhuḥ sahasrāṇi varṣāṇāṃ tatkṛtaṃ yugam tasya tāv acchatī saṃdhyā saṃdhyāṃśaśca tathāvidhaḥ //

Translation

On dit que le Kṛta Yuga se compose de quatre mille années ; et que, pour ce yuga, la période de jonction crépusculaire (sandhyā) est de même mesure, et que la portion crépusculaire (sandhyāṃśa) est pareillement de même nature.

Word by Word

• catvāri: four

• āhuḥ: they say/declare

• sahasrāṇi: thousands

• varṣāṇām: of years

• tat: that

• kṛtam: Kṛta (Satya)

• yugam: age/yuga

• tasya: of it/of that

• tāvat: that much/as much

• acchatī (≈ āyātī/ācchati in sense): comes to/becomes applicable/extends (i.e., is counted as)

• saṃdhyā: junction/twilight period at the beginning of a yuga

• saṃdhyāṃśaḥ: twilight-portion (often the closing junction)

• ca: and

• tathāvidhaḥ: of the same kind/same measure.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu on cosmic chronology)

Entities Mentioned

• Kṛta Yuga
• Sandhyā
• Sandhyāṃśa

Tags

• Yuga
• CosmicTime
• KṛtaYuga
• PuranicChronology
• DharmaDecline

FAQs

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

It does not directly describe Pralaya; it lays out the cosmic time-measure (yuga reckoning) that frames larger cycles in which creation, maintenance, and dissolution are narrated.

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

By defining Kṛta Yuga as the benchmark age, it implicitly supports the Matsya Purana’s ethical theme that dharma varies by yuga; kings and householders are expected to align conduct and governance with the prevailing yuga-conditions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified here; its practical significance is calendrical—ritual and dharma discussions elsewhere may rely on such yuga and sandhyā calculations for contextual authority.