HomeMatsya PuranaAdh. 142Shloka 48
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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 //

त्रेतायुगादौ संहता वेदाः केवलं धर्मसेतवः। संरोधादायुषश्चैव द्वापरे व्यस्यन्ति ते॥ ऋषयस्तपसा वेदानहोरात्रमधीयते॥

tretādauat the beginning of Tretā-yuga
tretādau:
saṃhatāḥcompact, collected, undivided
saṃhatāḥ:
vedāḥthe Vedas
vedāḥ:
kevalamsolely, exclusively
kevalam:
dharma-setavaḥcauseways/bridges of dharma (supports that carry beings across to righteousness)
dharma-setavaḥ:
saṃrodhātdue to obstruction/constraint/limitation
saṃrodhāt:
āyuṣaḥof lifespan
āyuṣaḥ:
ca evaand indeed
ca eva:
vyasyanteare arranged, set out, divided (into branches/recensions)
vyasyante:
dvāparein the Dvāpara age
dvāpare:
ca teand those (Vedas)
ca te:
ṛṣayaḥthe seers
ṛṣayaḥ:
tapasāby tapas (austerity, disciplined effort)
tapasā:
vedānthe Vedas
vedān:
ahorātramday and night
ahorātram:
adhīyate(they) study/recite/learn
adhīyate:
Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)
VedasTretā-yugaDvāpara-yugaṚṣis
Yuga-dharmaVedaDharmaRishisScriptural transmission

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.