Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

*मत्स्य उवाच पुराणं सर्वशास्त्राणां प्रथमं ब्रह्मणा स्मृतम् अनन्तरं च वक्त्रेभ्यो वेदास्तस्य विनिर्गताः //

Transliteration

*matsya uvāca purāṇaṃ sarvaśāstrāṇāṃ prathamaṃ brahmaṇā smṛtam anantaraṃ ca vaktrebhyo vedāstasya vinirgatāḥ //

Translation

Matsya said: “Among all śāstras, the Purāṇa was first remembered (composed/retained) by Brahmā; thereafter, from his mouths the Vedas issued forth.”

Word by Word

• मत्स्य (matsya): Lord Matsya

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• पुराणम् (purāṇam): the Purāṇa / ancient sacred lore

• सर्वशास्त्राणाम् (sarvaśāstrāṇām): of all scriptures/treatises

• प्रथमम् (prathamam): first

• ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā): by Brahmā

• स्मृतम् (smṛtam): remembered, retained, brought to mind (as sacred tradition)

• अनन्तरम् (anantaram): thereafter, subsequently

• च (ca): and

• वक्त्रेभ्यः (vaktrebhyaḥ): from the mouths (faces)

• वेदाः (vedāḥ): the Vedas

• तस्य (tasya): of him (Brahmā)

• विनिर्गताः (vinirgatāḥ): came forth, emerged, issued out

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu as the Fish incarnation)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Brahma
• Purana
• Vedas

Tags

• ScripturalOrigins
• Cosmogony
• PuranaAuthority
• VedicTradition
• CreationLore

FAQs

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

It highlights the cosmogonic sequence of sacred knowledge: Brahmā first retains the Purāṇic tradition, and then the Vedas manifest from him—presenting revelation as emerging at the start of creation rather than focusing on dissolution.

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

By asserting the Purāṇa and Veda as foundational sources, it implies that royal governance and household dharma should be guided by these authoritative traditions—ethics, ritual duty, and social order are to be grounded in śāstric revelation.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No specific Vāstu or temple rule is stated, but the verse establishes the scriptural authority from which later ritual and architectural prescriptions (vidhi) in the Purāṇa derive.