Shloka 41

Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory

Devanagari script

द्विजेभ्यः श्रावयेद्यो वा शृणोत्यथ पठेत्तु वा कल्पकोटिशतं साग्रं ब्रह्मलोके महीयते //

Transliteration

dvijebhyaḥ śrāvayedyo vā śṛṇotyatha paṭhettu vā kalpakoṭiśataṃ sāgraṃ brahmaloke mahīyate //

Translation

Whoever causes it to be recited to the twice-born, or else listens to it, or even recites it—he is honored in Brahmā’s world for a full hundred crores of kalpas (and more).

Word by Word

• द्विजेभ्यः (dvijebhyaḥ): to the twice-born (Brahmins and other initiated varṇas)

• श्रावयेत् (śrāvayet): should cause to be heard/recited, have it read aloud

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• वा (vā): or

• शृणोति (śṛṇoti): listens/hears

• अथ (atha): then/also

• पठेत् (paṭhet): recites/reads

• तु (tu): indeed/even

• कल्प (kalpa): an aeon, a day of Brahmā

• कोटि (koṭi): a crore (ten million)

• शतम् (śatam): hundred

• साग्रम् (sāgram): with an excess, plus more

• ब्रह्मलोके (brahmaloke): in Brahmaloka, the world/realm of Brahmā

• महीयते (mahīyate): is honored, is greatly revered.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice) conveying the phalaśruti of the Matsya Purana

Entities Mentioned

• Dvija
• Brahmaloka
• Brahma

Tags

• Phalashruti
• Shravana
• Patha
• Punya
• Brahmaloka

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it uses cosmic time units (kalpa) to express the vast, creation-scale duration of the spiritual reward gained by hearing/reciting the Purana.

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

It frames śravaṇa (listening), pāṭha (recitation), and śrāvaṇa/adhyāpana (arranging a learned recitation for qualified dvijas) as dharmic acts—practices a householder or patron-king can support through sponsorship, public readings, and personal study.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the efficacy of Purāṇa-śravaṇa and pāṭha as a meritorious religious observance leading to exalted posthumous honor in Brahmaloka.