Shloka 21

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

सारस्वतस्य कल्पस्य मध्ये ये स्युर्नरोत्तमाः तद्वृत्तान्तोद्भवं लोके तद्भागवतमुच्यते //

Transliteration

sārasvatasya kalpasya madhye ye syurnarottamāḥ tadvṛttāntodbhavaṃ loke tadbhāgavatamucyate //

Translation

That sacred narrative which arises in the world from the accounts of the best among men who lived within the Sarasvata Kalpa—this is what is called the Bhāgavata.

Word by Word

• सारस्वतस्य (sārasvatasya): of the Sarasvata

• कल्पस्य (kalpasya): of the aeon/cosmic cycle

• मध्ये (madhye): in the midst/within

• ये (ye): who

• स्युः (syuḥ): may be/are

• नरोत्तमाः (narottamāḥ): the best of men, exalted persons

• तत्-वृत्तान्त-उद्भवम् (tad-vṛttānta-udbhavam): arising from their accounts/chronicles

• लोके (loke): in the world, among people

• तत् (tat): that

• भागवतम् (bhāgavatam): the Bhāgavata (devotional Purana/text about the Lord and devotees)

• उच्यते (ucyate): is said/called.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, defining Purāṇic categories)

Entities Mentioned

• Sarasvata Kalpa
• Bhagavata

Tags

• Purana-Definition
• Kalpa
• Bhagavata
• Itihasa
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it situates sacred literature within a specific Kalpa (cosmic cycle), implying that Purāṇic revelation and remembered history are organized by aeons.

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

By defining Bhāgavata as authoritative narrative rooted in exemplary persons, it supports the idea that kings and householders should model conduct on the lives and teachings of the ‘best among men’ preserved in Purāṇic tradition.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified here; the verse is primarily a textual definition—identifying Bhāgavata as a category of sacred narrative grounded in Kalpa-based tradition.