Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 48
त्रेतादौ संहता वेदाः केवलं धर्मसेतवः संरोधादायुषश्चैव व्यस्यन्ते द्वापरे च ते ऋषयस्तपसा वेदान् अहोरात्रमधीयते //
tretādau saṃhatā vedāḥ kevalaṃ dharmasetavaḥ saṃrodhādāyuṣaścaiva vyasyante dvāpare ca te ṛṣayastapasā vedān ahorātramadhīyate //
ತ್ರೇತಾಯುಗದ ಆರಂಭದಲ್ಲಿ ವೇದಗಳು ಸಂಹತವಾಗಿ, ಅವಿಭಕ್ತವಾಗಿ, ಧರ್ಮಸೇತುವಾಗಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ಇರುತ್ತವೆ. ಆದರೆ ಸಂರೋಧ ಮತ್ತು ಆಯುಷ್ಯದ ಕ್ಷಯದಿಂದ ದ್ವಾಪರಯುಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವು ವಿಭಾಗಗಳಾಗಿ ವಿನ್ಯಾಸಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತವೆ. ಆಗ ಋಷಿಗಳು ತಪಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಹಗಲು-ರಾತ್ರಿ ವೇದಗಳನ್ನು ಅಧ್ಯಯನ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ.
FAQs
It does not describe cosmic pralaya directly; instead, it explains a yuga-based decline—shortened lifespan and increasing limitation—which leads to the Vedas being organized into divisions in Dvāpara for preservation and accessibility.
It frames dharma as sustained by scripture: as human capacity diminishes with time, rulers and householders must rely on organized śāstra and learned ṛṣis/teachers to maintain dharma—supporting education, recitation, and right practice rather than assuming earlier-yuga capacities.
No Vāstu or temple-rule detail is stated; the ritual takeaway is that Vedic study (svādhyāya) and disciplined practice (tapas) are presented as the means by which the Vedas—and thus ritual correctness—are maintained in later yugas.