Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 72

Devanagari script

पादयोश्चक्रमत्स्यौ तु शङ्खपद्मे च हस्तयोः पञ्चाशीतिसहस्राणि जीवन्ति ह्यजरामयाः //

Transliteration

pādayoścakramatsyau tu śaṅkhapadme ca hastayoḥ pañcāśītisahasrāṇi jīvanti hyajarāmayāḥ //

Translation

اس کے قدموں پر چکر اور مچھلی کے نشان ہیں، اور ہاتھوں میں شंख اور کنول ہیں۔ وہ پچاسی ہزار برس جیتے ہیں، یقیناً بڑھاپے اور بیماری سے پاک۔

Word by Word

• pādayoḥ: on (His) two feet

• cakra: the discus (Sudarśana)

• matsyau: the fish-mark (Matsya emblem)/two fish

• tu: indeed

• śaṅkha: conch (Śaṅkha)

• padme: lotus (Padma)

• ca: and

• hastayoḥ: on (His) two hands

• pañcāśīti-sahasrāṇi: eighty-five thousand (in number/years)

• jīvanti: they live

• hi: indeed

• ajarāmayāḥ: free from old age (jarā) and disease (āmaya)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vishnu
• Chakra (Sudarshana)
• Shankha
• Padma

Tags

• Iconography
• Vishnu-Lakshana
• Auspicious Marks
• Pratima
• Longevity

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it belongs to iconography (pratimā-lakṣaṇa), listing Viṣṇu’s auspicious emblems and associating them with extraordinary longevity free from decay and illness.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through correct worship: kings and householders are instructed in Purāṇic practice to commission and venerate properly marked Viṣṇu images, believing such worship promotes health, stability, and long life in the realm and family.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies canonical emblems for Viṣṇu images (feet marked with cakra/matsya; hands with śaṅkha/padma), guiding sculptors and priests in temple iconography so the installed murti conforms to śāstric standards.