Shloka 66

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मविष्ण्वर्करुद्राणां माहात्म्यं भुवनस्य च ससंहारप्रदानां च पुराणे पञ्चवर्णके //

Transliteration

brahmaviṣṇvarkarudrāṇāṃ māhātmyaṃ bhuvanasya ca sasaṃhārapradānāṃ ca purāṇe pañcavarṇake //

Translation

In a Purāṇa described under five headings, it is taught: the greatness of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Arka (the Sun), and Rudra; the account of the worlds; and the themes of dissolution (saṃhāra) and renewed creation.

Word by Word

• brahma: Brahmā

• viṣṇu: Viṣṇu

• arka: the Sun (Sūrya)

• rudrāṇām: of Rudra (Śiva)

• māhātmyam: greatness, glory

• bhuvanasya: of the worlds/cosmos

• ca: and

• sa-saṃhāra: together with dissolution (pralaya)

• pradānām: of bestowal/granting, here implying re-creation/restoration after dissolution

• purāṇe: in a Purāṇa

• pañca-varṇake: in the fivefold description (i.e., the five characteristic topics).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s instructional dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Arka (Surya)
• Rudra (Shiva)
• Bhuvana (Worlds)

Tags

• Panchalakshana
• Purana-Definition
• Cosmology
• Pralaya
• Deities

FAQs

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

It explicitly includes saṃhāra (dissolution) and restoration/re-creation among the core Purāṇic topics, placing pralaya within the standard fivefold Purāṇa framework.

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

Indirectly, it frames what a Purāṇa is meant to teach—divine greatness and cosmic order—knowledge that underpins dharma-based governance and household conduct, even though no specific royal/household duty is stated here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-rule detail appears in this verse; its ritual takeaway is definitional—Purāṇas are authoritative sources that also contain ritual and cosmological instruction within their fivefold scope.