Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

परम्परागतं धर्मं स्मार्तं त्वाचारलक्षणम् वर्णाश्रमाचारयुतं मनुः स्वायम्भुवो ऽब्रवीत् //

Transliteration

paramparāgataṃ dharmaṃ smārtaṃ tvācāralakṣaṇam varṇāśramācārayutaṃ manuḥ svāyambhuvo 'bravīt //

Translation

ପରମ୍ପରାଗତ, ସ୍ମୃତିରେ ସ୍ମାର୍ତ୍ତ ଭାବେ ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ଓ ସଦାଚାର-ଲକ୍ଷଣଯୁକ୍ତ, ବର୍ଣ୍ଣାଶ୍ରମ ଆଚାର ସହିତ ଧର୍ମକୁ ସ୍ୱାୟମ୍ଭୁବ ମନୁ ଉପଦେଶ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• paramparāgatam: handed down through tradition

• dharmam: dharma, righteous law/duty

• smārtam: taught in the Smṛti tradition

• tu: indeed/and

• ācāra-lakṣaṇam: defined by proper conduct (ācāra)

• varṇa-āśrama-ācāra-yutam: endowed with the observances of social classes and life-stages

• manuḥ: Manu

• svāyambhuvaḥ: Svāyambhuva (the self-born Manu)

• abravīt: said/taught/declared

Speaker

• Narratorial voice (Purāṇic narrator summarizing traditional teaching; attribution to Svāyambhuva Manu as the promulgator)

Entities Mentioned

• Svāyambhuva Manu
• Dharma
• Smṛti
• Varṇāśrama
• Ācāra

Tags

• Dharma
• Smriti
• Varṇāśrama
• Ācāra
• Tradition

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it establishes that Dharma is preserved through paramparā (tradition) and Smṛti-based ācāra, implying continuity of moral order across cosmic cycles rather than detailing dissolution events.

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

By grounding Dharma in varṇāśrama-ācāra, it frames royal governance and household life as duty-bound to established social and ritual conduct—kings protect and enforce these norms, while householders embody them through daily observances and ethical behavior.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No specific Vāstu or iconographic rule is stated; the ritual significance is foundational—ācāra and varṇāśrama observances are presented as the defining marks of Smṛti-based Dharma that underlie correct ritual practice.