Shloka 71

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

वाल्मीकिना तु यत्प्रोक्तं रामोपाख्यानमुत्तमम् ब्रह्मणाभिहितं यच्च शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम् //

Transliteration

vālmīkinā tu yatproktaṃ rāmopākhyānamuttamam brahmaṇābhihitaṃ yacca śatakoṭipravistaram //

Translation

But that supreme narrative of Rāma which was spoken by Vālmīki—and which was also declared by Brahmā—is said to extend in its full expanse to a hundred koṭis (a hundred crores) of verses.

Word by Word

• वाल्मीकिना (vālmīkinā): by Vālmīki

• तु (tu): indeed/but

• यत् (yat): which

• प्रोक्तम् (proktam): spoken/taught

• रामोपाख्यानम् (rāmopākhyānam): the narrative of Rāma (Ramopākhyāna)

• उत्तमम् (uttamam): supreme/excellent

• ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā): by Brahmā

• अभिहितम् (abhihitam): declared/uttered

• यत् च (yac ca): and which

• शत-कोटि (śata-koṭi): a hundred crores

• प्रविस्तरम् (pravistaram): extensive in detail/expanded in full.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Valmiki
• Rama
• Brahma

Tags

• Ramopakhyana
• Itihasa
• Scriptural Authority
• Textual Tradition
• Purana Narration

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it emphasizes scriptural transmission and the immense scope of the Ramopākhyāna as a revered tradition rather than a cosmological event.

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

Indirectly, it elevates the Ramopākhyāna as an authoritative source of dharma: kings and householders are traditionally guided by Rāma’s ideal conduct (rājadharma and gṛhastha-dharma), even though this specific line focuses on the text’s provenance and magnitude.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; its significance is textual—affirming the sacred authority and extraordinary extent of the Rāma narrative.