त्रिंशत्कोट्यस्तु वर्षाणां मानुषेण प्रकीर्त्तिताः
Thirty crores of years are declared according to human reckoning.
विशतिश्च सहस्राणि कालो ऽयं साधिकं विना
And twenty thousand is this period, with a little more, not less.
मन्वन्तरस्य कालो ऽयं युगैः सार्द्धं च कीर्त्तितः
This period of a Manvantara, together with the yugas, has been described.
त्रेताशिष्टं प्रवक्ष्यामि द्वापरं कलिमेव च
I shall now speak of what remains of the Treta Yuga, as well as the Dvapara and Kali Yugas.
क्रमागतं मया ह्येतत्तुभ्यं नोक्त युग द्वयम्
These two yugas, which come in order, have not yet been told to you by me.
अत्र त्रेतायुगस्यादौ मनुः सप्तर्षयश्च ये
At the beginning of the Treta Yuga, Manu and the seven sages existed.
दाराग्निहोत्रसंबन्धमृग्यजुः सामसंहितम्
The connection with wives, the Agnihotra sacrifice, and the collections of Rig, Yajur, and Sama Veda were established.
परंपरागतं धर्म स्मार्त्तं चाचारलक्षणम्
The dharma transmitted through tradition, and the characteristics of proper conduct, were established.
सत्येन ब्रह्मचर्येण श्रुतेन तपसा च वै
By truthfulness, celibacy, study of the scriptures, and austerity indeed.
सप्तर्षीणां मनोश्चैव ह्याद्ये त्रेतायुगे तथा
In the first Treta Yuga, for the seven sages and Manu, likewise.
अभिव्यक्तास्तु ते मन्त्रास्तारकाद्यैर्निदर्शनैः
Those mantras became manifest, with examples such as the Taraka and others.
प्राणाशेष्वथ सिद्धीनामन्यासां च प्रवर्त्तनम्
Then, among all living beings, the manifestation of various perfections occurred.
ते मन्त्रा वै पुनस्तेषां प्रतिभायामुपस्थिताः
Those mantras, indeed, appeared again to them through inspiration.
सप्तर्षिभिस्तु ते प्रोक्ताः स्मार्त्तं धर्मं मनुर्जगौ
Those were taught by the seven sages, and Manu proclaimed the traditional dharma.
संरोधादायुषश्चैव वर्त्स्यन्ते द्वापरेषु वै
Because of the restriction of lifespan, these will continue in the Dvapara Yugas.
अनादिनिधिना दिव्याः पूर्वं सृष्टाः स्वयंभुवा
The divine ones, without beginning or end, were formerly created by the Self-born.
विक्रियन्ते समानार्था वेदवादा यथायुगम्
The Vedic doctrines, though having the same meaning, change according to each yuga.
परिचारयज्ञाः शूद्रास्तु जपयज्ञा द्विजोत्तमाः
The Shudras perform service-sacrifices, while the best of the twice-born perform recitation-sacrifices.
क्रियावन्तः प्रजावन्तः समृद्धाः सुखिनस्तथा
They are active in rites, fruitful in offspring, prosperous, and happy as well.
वैश्यानुवर्त्तिनः शुद्राः परस्परमनुव्रताः
The Shudras follow the Vaishyas, and are mutually devoted to one another.
संकल्पितेन मनसा वाचोक्तेन स्वकर्मणा
By the mind's intention, by spoken word, and by one's own actions,
आयुर्मेधा बलं रूपमारोग्यं धर्मशीलता
Lifespan, intelligence, strength, beauty, health, and righteousness,
वर्णाश्रमव्यवस्थानं तेषां ब्रह्मा तदाकरोत्
Brahmā then established for them the system of varṇas and āśramas.
परस्परविरोधेन मनुं ताः पुनरभ्ययुः
Through mutual conflict, those (beings) again approached Manu.
ध्यात्वा तु शतरूपायां पुत्रौ स उदपादयत्
Meditating, he begot two sons in Śatarūpā.
ततः प्रभृति राजान उत्पन्ना दण्डधारिणः
From that time onward, kings arose, bearers of the rod (of punishment).
प्रच्छन्न पापास्तैर्ये च न शक्यास्तु नराधिपैः
By them, the hidden sins—those which human rulers cannot restrain—
वर्णानां प्रविभागाश्च त्रेतायां संप्रकीर्त्तिताः
The divisions of the varṇas were proclaimed in the Tretā age.
यज्ञाः प्रवर्त्तिताश्चैव तदा ह्येव तु दैवतैः
And sacrifices were then set in motion by the gods themselves.
सार्द्धं विश्वभुजा चैव देवेन्द्रेण महौजसा
Together with Viśvabhuj and the mighty Indra, king of the gods.