Shloka 73

Matsya Purana — Catalogue of the Eighteen Puranas

Devanagari script

पुरातनस्य कल्पस्य पुराणानि विदुर्बुधाः धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुराणानामनुक्रमम् यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स याति परमां गतिम् //

Transliteration

purātanasya kalpasya purāṇāni vidurbudhāḥ dhanyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ purāṇānāmanukramam yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi sa yāti paramāṃ gatim //

Translation

The wise know the Purāṇas to belong to the ancient kalpa. The ordered synopsis (anukrama) of the Purāṇas is auspicious, fame-giving, and life-enhancing; whoever recites it or even listens to it attains the supreme state.

Word by Word

• पुरातनस्य (purātanasya): of the ancient

• कल्पस्य (kalpasya): of the kalpa/cosmic era

• पुराणानि (purāṇāni): the Purāṇas

• विदुः (viduḥ): know

• बुधाः (budhāḥ): the wise

• धन्यम् (dhanyam): auspicious/fortunate

• यशस्यम् (yaśasyam): fame-conferring

• आयुष्यं (āyuṣyam): promoting longevity/life

• पुराणानाम् (purāṇānām): of the Purāṇas

• अनुक्रमम् (anukramam): ordered sequence/synopsis

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• पठेत् (paṭhet): recites/reads

• शृणुयात् (śṛṇuyāt): listens/hears

• वा अपि (vā api): or even

• सः (saḥ): he

• याति (yāti): goes/attains

• परमाम् (paramām): supreme

• गतिम् (gatim): goal/state

Speaker

• Suta (traditional Purana narrator) / Purana narrator voice (context: Purana-mahatmya style passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Purana
• Kalpa

Tags

• Purana-Mahatmya
• Shravana
• Patha
• Phala-shruti
• Spiritual Merit

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it situates Purāṇic knowledge within an ancient kalpa (cosmic era), implying that Purāṇas preserve primordial accounts of cosmic cycles (including creation and dissolution), though this verse itself focuses on the merit of their ordered synopsis.

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

It recommends dharmic practice through pāṭha (recitation) and śravaṇa (listening). For householders and rulers alike, supporting and participating in Purāṇic teaching is presented as a meritorious discipline that brings auspiciousness, reputation, and well-being.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No specific Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the phala-śruti: even hearing or reciting the Purāṇa-anukrama is itself a sanctifying act leading toward the highest spiritual attainment.