Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

अभिवृत्तास्तु ते मन्त्रा दर्शनैस्तारकादिभिः आदिकल्पे तु देवानां प्रादुर्भूतास्तु ते स्वयम् //

Transliteration

abhivṛttāstu te mantrā darśanaistārakādibhiḥ ādikalpe tu devānāṃ prādurbhūtāstu te svayam //

Translation

ആ മന്ത്രങ്ങൾ താരകാദി ദർശനങ്ങളിലൂടെ പൂർണ്ണമായി അഭിവ്യക്തമായി; ആദികൽപത്തിൽ ദേവന്മാരുടെ ഹിതാർത്ഥം അവ സ്വയം പ്രാദുർഭവിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• abhivṛttāḥ: fully developed/expanded

• tu: indeed

• te: those

• mantrāḥ: mantras/sacred formulae

• darśanaiḥ: through darśanas (philosophical teachings/visions)

• tāraka-ādibhiḥ: by the Tāraka (doctrine) and others

• ādikalpe: in the first/primordial kalpa

• tu: moreover

• devānām: of/for the gods

• prādurbhūtāḥ: manifested/appeared

• te: those (mantras)

• svayam: by themselves/spontaneously

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Mantras
• Darśanas
• Tāraka
• Devas

Tags

• Creation
• Mantras
• Darshana
• Cosmology
• Revelation

FAQs

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

It emphasizes creation-side revelation: in the primordial kalpa, mantras are said to manifest spontaneously (svayam prādurbhūtāḥ), indicating sacred knowledge is intrinsic to cosmic beginnings rather than merely human invention.

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

By grounding dharma in revealed mantra-knowledge and darśanic understanding, it implies that rulers and householders should base rituals, vows, and governance on authentic śāstric/mantric authority rather than personal whim.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse is primarily about mantra and doctrine, but ritually it supports the idea that effective rites depend on correctly revealed mantras; this underlies later Matsya Purana guidance on consecrations, worship, and other śāstra-based procedures.