Shloka 72

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

आहृत्य नारदायैवं तेन वाल्मीकये पुनः वाल्मीकिना च लोकेषु धर्मकामार्थसाधनम् एवं सपादाः पञ्चैते लक्षा मर्त्ये प्रकीर्तिताः //

Transliteration

āhṛtya nāradāyaivaṃ tena vālmīkaye punaḥ vālmīkinā ca lokeṣu dharmakāmārthasādhanam evaṃ sapādāḥ pañcaite lakṣā martye prakīrtitāḥ //

Translation

Thus it was obtained and conveyed to Nārada; by him it was again passed on to Vālmīki. And Vālmīki made it renowned among the worlds as a means for accomplishing dharma, kāma, and artha. In this way, five lakṣas and a quarter (i.e., 525,000) verses are proclaimed among mortals.

Word by Word

• आहृत्य: having brought/obtained

• नारदाय: to Nārada

• एवम्: thus

• तेन: by him

• वाल्मीकये: to Vālmīki

• पुनः: again

• वाल्मीकिना: by Vālmīki

• च: and

• लोकेषु: in the worlds/among people

• धर्मकामार्थसाधनम्: a means of accomplishing dharma (duty), kāma (desire), and artha (prosperity)

• एवम्: thus

• सपादाः: with a quarter added

• पञ्च: five

• एते: these

• लक्षा: lakṣas (hundred-thousands)

• मर्त्ये: among mortals/in the human world

• प्रकीर्तिताः: proclaimed/celebrated/declared.

Speaker

• Suta (Pauranika narrator) continuing the Matsya Purana’s account of transmission of sacred narrative/teaching

Entities Mentioned

• Narada
• Valmiki

Tags

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Purana transmission
• Shloka count
• Tradition

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on how sacred narrative/teaching was transmitted (Nārada → Vālmīki) and its role as guidance for dharma, kāma, and artha.

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

By framing the teaching as a “means for accomplishing dharma, kāma, and artha,” it supports the Matsya Purana’s practical ethic: rulers and householders should pursue prosperity and legitimate desires under the governance of dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified here; the verse is about textual lineage and the declared scope/extent of verses, not temple-building or rites.