Shloka 59

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

इह लोकहितार्थाय संक्षिप्तं परमर्षिणा इदमद्यापि देवेषु शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम् //

Transliteration

iha lokahitārthāya saṃkṣiptaṃ paramarṣiṇā idamadyāpi deveṣu śatakoṭipravistaram //

Translation

For the welfare of the world here, this Purāṇa was condensed by the supreme sage; yet even today, among the gods, it remains vast—extending to a hundred koṭi (crores) of verses.

Word by Word

• iha: here (in this world)

• loka-hita-arthāya: for the purpose of the welfare of people/the world

• saṃkṣiptam: condensed, abridged

• parama-ṛṣiṇā: by the supreme sage

• idam: this (text/teaching, i.e., the Purāṇa)

• adyāpi: even today, still

• deveṣu: among the gods

• śata-koṭi: a hundred crores (ten million × 100)

• pravistaram: विस्तर/expanse, extensive in scope

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the Purana’s transmission and scale (likely in response to sages’ inquiry)

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Paramarshi

Tags

• Matsya Purana overview
• Purana transmission
• Textual condensation
• Sage tradition
• Scriptural scale

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it emphasizes transmission: the Purāṇa was abridged for human welfare, while a far more expansive form is said to exist among the gods.

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

By stating the text is condensed for lokahita (public welfare), it frames the Purāṇa as practical guidance for righteous living—supporting dharma-based governance and household conduct through accessible instruction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No specific Vāstu or ritual rule is stated in this verse; its significance is meta-textual—affirming that technical disciplines (including ritual and temple architecture) are presented in a human-usable abridgment within the Matsya Purāṇa.