Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 64

Devanagari script

विष्णोरंशेन जायन्ते पृथिव्यां चक्रवर्तिनः मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु ह्य् अतीतानागतेषु वै //

Transliteration

viṣṇoraṃśena jāyante pṛthivyāṃ cakravartinaḥ manvantareṣu sarveṣu hy atītānāgateṣu vai //

Translation

พระเจ้าจักรพรรดิทั้งหลายบังเกิดบนแผ่นดินด้วยส่วนหนึ่งแห่งเดชานุภาพของพระวิษณุ; ในทุกมนวันตระ ทั้งที่ล่วงไปแล้วและที่จะมาถึง

Word by Word

• विष्णोः (viṣṇoḥ): of Viṣṇu

• अंशेन (aṃśena): by a portion/partial manifestation

• जायन्ते (jāyante): are born/arise

• पृथिव्याम् (pṛthivyām): on the earth

• चक्रवर्तिनः (cakravartinaḥ): universal monarchs/imperial rulers

• मन्वन्तरेषु (manvantareṣu): in the Manvantaras (epochs of a Manu)

• सर्वेषु (sarveṣu): in all

• हि (hi): indeed/for

• अतीतानागतेषु (atītānāgateṣu): in the past and the future

• वै (vai): truly/certainly.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu
• Cakravartin
• Manvantara
• Prithivi (Earth)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Manvantaras
• Kingship
• Vishnu-aṃśa
• Puranic cosmology

FAQs

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

It implies cyclical cosmic time: across successive Manvantaras (before and after), divinely empowered rulers continue to arise, indicating continuity of dharma-bearing kingship through recurring ages rather than focusing on a single Pralaya event.

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

By stating that cakravartins arise from a portion of Viṣṇu, the verse frames kingship as a sacred trust: the ruler is expected to uphold dharma on earth as an instrument of divine order, not merely as a political authority.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the takeaway is contextual—temple patronage, yajñas, and public works traditionally fall under the cakravartin’s dharmic role, supported here by the idea of divine empowerment.