Shloka 63

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

पुरातनस्य कल्पस्य पुराणानि विदुर्बुधाः धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुराणानामनुक्रमम् एवमादित्यसंज्ञा च तत्रैव परिगद्यते //

Transliteration

purātanasya kalpasya purāṇāni vidurbudhāḥ dhanyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ purāṇānāmanukramam evamādityasaṃjñā ca tatraiva parigadyate //

Translation

The wise know the Purāṇas to belong to the ancient cosmic age (kalpa). The ordered listing of the Purāṇas is auspicious, fame-bestowing, and conducive to long life; and in that very context the designation “Āditya” is also stated.

Word by Word

• पुरातनस्य (purātanasya): of the ancient/primeval

• कल्पस्य (kalpasya): of the kalpa, cosmic aeon

• पुराणानि (purāṇāni): the Purāṇas

• विदुः (viduḥ): know

• बुधाः (budhāḥ): the wise, learned ones

• धन्यम् (dhanyam): auspicious, blessed

• यशस्यम् (yaśasyam): fame-giving, reputable

• आयुष्यं (āyuṣyam): life-promoting, conducive to longevity

• पुराणानाम् (purāṇānām): of the Purāṇas

• अनुक्रमम् (anukramam): ordered sequence, enumeration, catalogue

• एवम् (evam): thus, in this manner

• आदित्य-संज्ञा (āditya-saṃjñā): the title/designation “Āditya”

• च (ca): and

• तत्रैव (tatraiva): there itself, in that very passage/context

• परिगद्यते (parigadyate): is declared, is mentioned/expounded.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Purāṇas
• Kalpa
• Āditya (designation/title)

Tags

• Purana-List
• Anukrama
• Kalpa
• Merit-of-Recitation
• MatsyaPurana

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it anchors Purāṇic knowledge in the framework of a kalpa (cosmic aeon), the same time-scale used to describe cycles of creation and dissolution, though this verse itself focuses on the Purāṇas’ catalogue and merit.

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

It promotes śravaṇa/paṭhana (hearing/recitation) of authoritative sacred literature: maintaining and transmitting the Purāṇic order is presented as auspicious, reputation-enhancing, and life-supporting—values relevant to both royal legitimacy and household dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or iconographic rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is that even the structured enumeration (anukrama) of Purāṇas is treated as meritorious recitation, implying a liturgical value to ordered sacred catalogues.