Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

श्वेतकल्पप्रसङ्गेन धर्मान्वायुरिहाब्रवीत् यत्र तद्वायवीयं स्याद् रुद्रमाहात्म्यसंयुतम् चतुर्विंशसहस्राणि पुराणं तदिहोच्यते //

Transliteration

śvetakalpaprasaṅgena dharmānvāyurihābravīt yatra tadvāyavīyaṃ syād rudramāhātmyasaṃyutam caturviṃśasahasrāṇi purāṇaṃ tadihocyate //

Translation

In connection with the Śveta-kalpa, Vāyu expounded here the principles of Dharma. That work is known as the Vāyavīya (Purāṇa), endowed with the greatness of Rudra; and it is said here to comprise twenty-four thousand verses.

Word by Word

• śveta-kalpa-prasaṅgena: in connection with the Śveta Kalpa (a cosmic aeon)

• dharmān: the laws/principles of dharma

• vāyuḥ: Vāyu (the deity, speaker of the Vāyu Purāṇa tradition)

• iha: here/in this context

• abravīt: said/expounded

• yatra: wherein/where

• tat: that

• vāyavīyam: the Vāyavīya (Purāṇa/text associated with Vāyu)

• syāt: would be/is

• rudra-māhātmya-saṃyutam: joined with (teachings of) the glory of Rudra (Śiva)

• caturviṃśati-sahasrāṇi: twenty-four thousand (verses)

• purāṇam: Purāṇa

• tat: that

• iha ucyate: is said here.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vāyu
• Śvetakalpa
• Vāyavīya Purāṇa
• Rudra (Śiva)

Tags

• Purana-Classification
• Dharma
• Shaiva Traditions
• Textual Enumeration
• Kalpa

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it situates a dharma-teaching within the Śveta-kalpa framework, indicating how Purāṇic teachings are anchored to specific kalpas (cosmic eras).

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

By stating that Vāyu expounded “dharmas,” the verse frames Purāṇas as authoritative repositories of ethical and social duty—materials a king and householder consult for righteous governance and conduct—though no specific royal/householder rule is detailed here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual procedure is given; the significance is bibliographic: it identifies a Rudra-focused Purāṇa (Vāyavīya) and its extent (24,000 verses), useful for mapping where Shaiva ritual/mahatmya materials are preserved.