Shloka 67

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

धर्मश्चार्थश्च कामश्च मोक्षश्चैवात्र कीर्त्यते सर्वेष्वपि पुराणेषु तद्विरुद्धं च यत्फलम् //

Transliteration

dharmaścārthaśca kāmaśca mokṣaścaivātra kīrtyate sarveṣvapi purāṇeṣu tadviruddhaṃ ca yatphalam //

Translation

Here Dharma, Artha, Kāma, and also Mokṣa are proclaimed. In all the Purāṇas, whatever fruit is contrary to these four aims is to be rejected as an improper result.

Word by Word

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ): righteousness, sacred duty

• अर्थः (arthaḥ): prosperity, material welfare

• कामः (kāmaḥ): desire, legitimate enjoyment

• मोक्षः (mokṣaḥ): liberation

• च (ca): and

• एव (eva): indeed

• अत्र (atra): here, in this text/teaching

• कीर्त्यते (kīrtyate): is declared, is praised

• सर्वेषु (sarveṣu): in all

• अपि (api): even/also

• पुराणेषु (purāṇeṣu): in the Purāṇas

• तद्विरुद्धम् (tadviruddham): opposed/contrary to that (i.e., to the four aims)

• च (ca): and

• यत्फलम् (yatphalam): whatever fruit/result.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu) — likely within a Purāṇa-phala/summary passage

Entities Mentioned

• Purāṇas
• Dharma
• Artha
• Kāma
• Mokṣa

Tags

• Puruṣārthas
• Dharma
• Purāṇa-phala
• Ethics
• Mokṣa

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it sets a doctrinal filter for Purāṇic teaching—true Purāṇic “fruit” must align with the four aims of life (dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa), which also frame how Pralaya narratives are meant to instruct rather than merely entertain.

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

It states that rightful governance and household life should pursue artha and kāma only under dharma and ultimately oriented toward mokṣa; any gain or pleasure obtained in ways opposed to dharma (or that blocks liberation) is an invalid or harmful outcome.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No specific Vāstu or ritual rule is named, but the principle applies: temple-building, iconography, and rites in the Matsya Purāṇa are legitimate only when they support dharma and lead toward auspicious welfare and mokṣa—not when they produce results contrary to these aims.