Shloka 22

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

लिखित्वा तच्च यो दद्याद् धेमसिंहसमन्वितम् पौर्णमास्यां प्रौष्ठपद्यां स याति परमां गतिम् अष्टादश सहस्राणि पुराणं तत्प्रचक्षते //

Transliteration

likhitvā tacca yo dadyād dhemasiṃhasamanvitam paurṇamāsyāṃ prauṣṭhapadyāṃ sa yāti paramāṃ gatim aṣṭādaśa sahasrāṇi purāṇaṃ tatpracakṣate //

Translation

Whoever has that Purāṇa written out and then donates it, adorned with a golden lion-throne, on the full-moon day of the month of Prauṣṭhapada, attains the highest state. This Purāṇa is declared to consist of eighteen thousand verses.

Word by Word

• लिखित्वा (likhitvā): having caused to be written / having written

• तत् (tat): that (text, i.e., the Purāṇa)

• च (ca): and

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• दद्यात् (dadyāt): should give/donate

• धेमसिंहसमन्वितम् (dhemasiṃhasamanvitam): endowed with a golden lion(-seat/throne), i.e., placed on/with a gold lion pedestal

• पौर्णमास्याम् (paurṇamāsyām): on the full-moon day

• प्रौष्ठपद्याम् (prauṣṭhapadyām): in (the month of) Prauṣṭhapada

• सः (saḥ): he

• याति (yāti): goes/attains

• परमाम् (paramām): supreme

• गतिम् (gatim): goal/state

• अष्टादश (aṣṭādaśa): eighteen

• सहस्राणि (sahasrāṇi): thousands

• पुराणम् (purāṇam): Purāṇa

• तत् (tat): that

• प्रचक्षते (pracakṣate): they declare/describe.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within Matsya Purana dialogues)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya Purana
• Prauṣṭhapada Pūrṇimā
• Purāṇa-dāna

Tags

• Purana Dana
• Phalashruti
• Purnima Vrata
• Ritual Donation
• Manusmriti-aligned Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it is a phalaśruti focused on the merit (puṇya) of writing and donating the Purāṇa, promising the “supreme state” as the fruit.

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

It frames a dharmic household/royal duty: supporting transmission of sacred knowledge by commissioning a manuscript and donating it ceremonially (especially on an auspicious full-moon day), a classic Purāṇic model of dāna (pious giving).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the donation is timed to Prauṣṭhapada Pūrṇimā and includes presenting the text with a “golden lion-seat” (siṃhāsana), signaling honor and proper installation/display of the scripture during dāna.