Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

प्रमाणेष्वथ सिद्धानाम् अन्येषां च प्रवर्तते मन्त्रयोगो व्यतीतेषु कल्पेष्वथ सहस्रशः ते मन्त्रा वै पुनस्तेषां प्रतिमायामुपस्थिताः //

Transliteration

pramāṇeṣvatha siddhānām anyeṣāṃ ca pravartate mantrayogo vyatīteṣu kalpeṣvatha sahasraśaḥ te mantrā vai punasteṣāṃ pratimāyāmupasthitāḥ //

Translation

معتبر پرمان-شاستروں میں سِدّھوں اور دیگر آچاریوں نے بھی منتر-یوگ کی روایت جاری کی۔ ہزاروں کلپ گزر جانے پر بھی وہی منتر اُن کے لیے پرتِما (مقدّس مورتی) میں پھر حاضر ہو جاتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• प्रमाणेषु: in the standards/canons of measure and authority

• अथ: then/thus

• सिद्धानाम्: of the accomplished ones/adepts

• अन्येषाम्: of others

• च: and

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds/is taught/comes into practice

• मन्त्रयोगः: the application/discipline of mantras (mantra-yoga)

• व्यतीतेषु: when (they are) passed/elapsed

• कल्पेषु: in kalpas/world-ages

• अथ: indeed/again

• सहस्रशः: by the thousands

• ते: those

• मन्त्राः: mantras

• वै: indeed

• पुनः: again

• तेषाम्: for them/of them

• प्रतिमायाम्: in the image/icon

• उपस्थिताः: present/manifest/established.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the iconography/ritual teaching sequence)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Manu
• Mantra
• Pratima

Tags

• Pratima Lakshana
• Mantra
• Pratistha
• Vastuvidya
• Ritual

FAQs

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

It implies cyclical time across kalpas: even after immense cosmic cycles, the authoritative mantra-discipline remains valid and the same mantras can be re-manifested in icons, reflecting continuity through cosmic dissolution and renewal.

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

It supports the duty to preserve and sponsor correct tradition—commissioning icons and ensuring mantra-based consecration under qualified teachers—so public worship and dharma-restoring rites continue reliably across generations.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights mantra-yoga/pratiṣṭhā: mantras are not merely recited but are established as ‘present’ in the pratimā, grounded in pramāṇa (canonical proportions and rules) that guide icon-making and consecration.