Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 58

Devanagari script

सत्यं जपस्तपो दानं पूर्वधर्मो य उच्यते यदा धर्मस्य ह्रसते शाखाधर्मस्य वर्धते //

Transliteration

satyaṃ japastapo dānaṃ pūrvadharmo ya ucyate yadā dharmasya hrasate śākhādharmasya vardhate //

Translation

സത്യം, ജപം, തപസ്, ദാനം—ഇവയാണ് പ്രാചീനമായ മൂലധർമ്മം എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു. ആ ധർമ്മം ക്ഷയിക്കുമ്പോൾ ശാഖാധർമ്മം, അഥവാ വിഭാഗീയ രൂപങ്ങൾ, വർധിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सत्यम् (satyam): truthfulness

• जपः (japaḥ): repetition of sacred formulas, prayer-recitation

• तपः (tapaḥ): austerity, disciplined penance

• दानम् (dānam): giving, charity

• पूर्व-धर्मः (pūrva-dharmaḥ): earlier/ancient foundational dharma

• यः (yaḥ): which

• उच्यते (ucyate): is said/declared

• यदा (yadā): when

• धर्मस्य (dharmasya): of dharma

• ह्रसते (hrasate): diminishes, declines

• शाखा-धर्मस्य (śākhā-dharmasya): of branch-dharmas, derivative/sectarian duties

• वर्धते (vardhate): increases, grows.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, traditional dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Dharma

Tags

• Dharma
• Kali Yuga
• Ethics
• Satya
• Dana

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it describes moral decline—when core Dharma weakens, derivative or branch practices proliferate.

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

It prioritizes universal duties—truthfulness, disciplined worship/recitation, self-restraint, and charity—implying that rulers and householders should uphold these core virtues rather than relying only on narrower, factional observances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-architecture rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is that japa (sacred recitation) and dāna (charitable giving) are central, enduring pillars of practice.