Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

त्रेतायुगस्वभावेन संध्यापादेन वर्तते संध्यापादः स्वभावाच्च यो ऽंशः पादेन तिष्ठति //

Transliteration

tretāyugasvabhāvena saṃdhyāpādena vartate saṃdhyāpādaḥ svabhāvācca yo 'ṃśaḥ pādena tiṣṭhati //

Translation

ತ್ರೇತಾಯುಗದ ಸ್ವಭಾವದಿಂದ (ಕಾಲ) ‘ಸಂಧ್ಯಾಪಾದ’ದೊಂದಿಗೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಆ ಸಂಧ್ಯಾಪಾದವು ಸ್ವಭಾವತಃ ಒಂದು ಪಾದ, ಅಂದರೆ ಒಂದು ಚತುರ್ಥಾಂಶವಾಗಿ ಸ್ಥಿತವಾಗಿರುವ ಅಂಶವೇ.

Word by Word

• त्रेतायुग-स्वभावेन: by the nature of the Tretā-yuga

• संध्यापादेन: with the twilight-quarter (the transitional quarter)

• वर्तते: proceeds/continues

• संध्यापादः: the twilight-quarter

• स्वभावात्: by nature

• च: and

• यः: which

• अंशः: portion/part

• पादेन: as a quarter/with a quarter

• तिष्ठति: stands/remains

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse on yuga-structure to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Tretā-yuga
• Saṃdhyā (twilight period)
• Pāda (quarter)

Tags

• Yugas
• Cosmology
• Dharma-decline
• Time-cycles
• Purana-teachings

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it clarifies Puranic time-measurement by stating that Tretā-yuga includes a defined transitional ‘twilight-quarter’ (saṃdhyā-pāda), a key idea used in larger cosmic-cycle calculations.

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

By marking Tretā-yuga as a phase with a specific transitional quarter, it implies that dharma and social duties are time-conditioned; kings and householders are expected to align conduct and governance with the yuga’s prevailing moral-spiritual capacity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the practical takeaway is calendrical—ritual timing and tradition often rely on Puranic time-structures (yuga and saṃdhyā divisions) when framing long-cycle religious narratives and norms.