Matsyapurana 53

English (machine translation) 53

Language: English

53.1

The sages said:
Tell us in detail and in order, O Sūta, the enumeration of the Purāṇas,
and the religious duty of giving without omission, duly and in sequence.

53.2

Sūta said:
Understand that which the ancient person, the self of all,
said then to Manu concerning the Purāṇas:

53.3

Matsya said:
The Purāṇa was remembered by Brahmā first among all the treatises,
and after that the Vedas came forth from his mouths.

53.4

There was only one Purāṇa then in another cosmic cycle, O sinless one,
the holy means to achieve the three aims of life, extending to one billion [verses].

53.5

And when the worlds were consumed by fire, in the form of a horse indeed by me
the supplementary limbs, the four Vedas, the Purāṇa, the extensive Nyāya,

53.6

Mīmāṃsā, and Dharmaśāstra were seized and preserved by me;
and again in the form of a fish at the beginning of the cosmic cycle in the ocean of waters,

53.7

all this was narrated [by me] staying within the water;
and having heard it, the four-faced [Brahmā] spoke to the sages and the gods.

53.8

Then came the emergence of all the treatises and of the Purāṇa.
Then, seeing the failure to grasp the Purāṇa over time, O king,

53.9

assuming the form of Vyāsa, I abridge [it] in cosmic age after cosmic age,
always to the measure of four hundred thousand [verses] in each Dvāpara.

53.10

Having thus made it eighteenfold, it is revealed in this earthly world.
Even today, in this world of the gods, its extent is one billion [verses].

53.11

Its substance is set down here in brief as four hundred thousand [verses],
and the Purāṇas are eighteen; that is now stated here.

53.12

I will proclaim them by name; listen, O best of sages!
As much as was previously spoken by Brahmā to Marīci,

is celebrated as the Brāhma Purāṇa, consisting of ten thousand [verses].
And whoever copies it and gives it accompanied by an effigy of a water-cow
on the full moon of Vaiśākha is honored in the world of Brahmā.

53.14

Because this universe was then a golden lotus,
[the text] resting upon that account is likewise called the Pādma by the wise;
that Pādma is said here to be fifty-five thousand [verses].

53.15

And whoever gives that Purāṇa accompanied by a golden lotus
in the month of Jyeṣṭha together with sesame seeds obtains the fruit of an horse sacrifice.

53.16

Taking the account of the Vārāha cosmic cycle as his subject,
whatever Parāśara stated concerning all duties, they know that as the Vaiṣṇava [Purāṇa].

53.17

And whoever gives it in Āṣāḍha accompanied by an effigy of a ghee-cow
on the full moon, purified in soul, goes to the abode of Varuṇa.
The wise know its extent to be twenty-three thousand [verses].

53.18

Where Vāyu proclaimed duties in connection with the Śveta cosmic cycle,
that is the Vāyavīya, containing the majesty of Rudra;
that Purāṇa is said here to be twenty-four thousand [verses].

53.19

On the full moon in the month of Śrāvaṇa, accompanied by an effigy of a raw-sugar-cow,
whoever gives it together with a bull to a brāhmaṇa householder,
that man, purified in soul, dwells in the world of Śiva for one cosmic cycle.

53.20

Where, taking the Gāyatrī as subject, an extensive exposition of duty is described,
containing the slaying of Vṛtrāsura, that is called the Bhāgavata.

53.21

Whatever best among men existed in the midst of the Sārasvata cosmic cycle,
originating from their account in the world, that is called the Bhāgavata.

53.22

And whoever copies it and gives it accompanied by a golden lion
on the full moon of Prauṣṭhapadā goes to the supreme state.
They declare that Purāṇa to be eighteen thousand [verses].

53.23

Where Nārada spoke of duties based on the Bṛhat cosmic cycle,
[consisting of] twenty-five thousand [verses], that is called the Nāradīya.

53.24

And on the fifteenth [day] in Āśvina, one should give it accompanied by a cow;
he attains supreme perfection, difficult to obtain because of not returning [to rebirth].

53.25

Where, concerning birds, an inquiry into righteousness and unrighteousness
was explained upon the question of a sage by sages practicing righteousness,

53.26

and all that was narrated in detail by Mārkaṇḍeya,
that Purāṇa of nine thousand [verses] is here called the Mārkaṇḍeya.

53.27

And whoever, having transcribed it, gives it accompanied by a golden elephant
on the full moon of Kārttika becomes an enjoyer of the fruit of the Puṇḍarīka sacrifice.

53.28

That which Agni declared to Vasiṣṭha concerning the account
of the Īśāna cosmic cycle, they proclaim to be the Āgneya.

53.29

And whoever copies it and gives it accompanied by a golden lotus
in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa according to rule, together with an effigy of a sesame-cow—

53.30

and that [consists of] sixteen thousand [verses], granting the fruit of all sacrifices—
that man who bestows it is then honored in the heavenly world.

53.31

Where, concerning the majesty of the sun, the four-faced [Brahmā],
in connection with the account of the Aghora cosmic cycle, narrated the order of the universe
and the characteristics of the host of beings to Manu,

53.32

consisting of fourteen thousand and five hundred [verses],
consisting mostly of future events, that is called here the Bhaviṣya.

53.33

Whoever, free from envy, gives it in the month of Pauṣa on the full moon,
accompanied by a jar of raw sugar, gains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma [sacrifice].

53.34

Taking the account of the Rathaṃtara cosmic cycle as subject,
the supreme majesty of Kṛṣṇa [was spoken] by Sāvarṇi to Nārada;

53.35

where the account of Brahmavarāha is repeatedly described,
that [Purāṇa] of eighteen thousand [verses] is called the Brahmavaivarta.

53.36

Whoever gives the Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa in the month of Māgha,
on the full moon on an auspicious day, is honored in the world of Brahmā.

53.37

Where the divine Maheśvara, standing in the middle of a linga of fire,
spoke for the sake of duty, wealth, desire, and liberation, taking the Āgneya as subject,

53.38

at the end of the cosmic cycle, that Purāṇa was called Laiṅga by Brahmā himself.
It is eleven thousand [verses]; whoever gives it on the full moon of Phālguna
accompanied by an effigy of a sesame-cow attains equality with Śiva.

53.39

Furthermore, concerning the majesty of the Great Boar,
what Viṣṇu spoke to the Earth is called here the Vārāha.

53.40

In connection with the Mānava cosmic cycle, O best of sages,
that Purāṇa is said here to be twenty-four thousand [verses].

53.41

Having made a golden Garuḍa, accompanied by an effigy of a sesame-cow,
whoever gives it in Madhu on the full moon to a brāhmaṇa householder,
attains the abode of Viṣṇu through the grace of the Boar.

53.42

Where, concerning duties related to Maheśvara, the six-faced [Kārttikeya]
[spoke of] the event concerning Tatpuruṣa in that cosmic cycle, amplified with exploits,

53.43

that is called the Purāṇa named Skānda, and it is said to be eighty-one
thousand and one hundred [verses]; so it is declared among mortals.

53.44

And whoever, having transcribed it, gives it accompanied by a golden trident
when the sun has entered Pisces, attains the abode of Śiva.

53.45

Taking as its subject the majesty of Trivikrama, the four-faced [Brahmā] / declared the three aims of life; that is proclaimed as the Vāmana [Purāṇa].

53.46

The auspicious Purāṇa of ten thousand verses follows the Kūrma Kalpa; / whoever donates it at the autumnal equinox attains the realm of Viṣṇu.

53.47

In it Janārdana, in the form of a tortoise, in Rasātala / recounted the majesty of duty, wealth, desire, and liberation,

53.48

in connection with Indradyumna, to the sages in the presence of Śakra; / it consists of eighteen thousand [verses] connected with the Lakṣmī Kalpa.

53.49

A man who donates the Kūrma [Purāṇa] at a solstice together with a golden tortoise / obtains the fruit of giving a thousand cows.

53.50

In it, for the setting in motion of the Vedas at the beginning of the kalpa, Janārdana, / in the form of a fish, recounted to Manu the description of Narasiṃha;

53.51

taking that as his subject, O best of sages, he narrated the history of seven kalpas: / know that to be the Mātsya [Purāṇa], consisting of fourteen thousand [verses].

53.52

Whoever donates it at an equinox together with a golden fish / and a milch cow—by him the entire earth is given.

53.53

And when, in the Gāruḍa Kalpa, Kṛṣṇa spoke of the origin of Garuḍa / from the cosmic egg as his subject, that is called here the Gāruḍa [Purāṇa].

53.54

It is recited here as eighteen thousand and one [verses]. / The man here who donates it endowed with a golden goose / obtains the foremost perfection and an abiding residence in the world of Śiva.

53.55

Again, Brahmā spoke, taking as his subject the majesty of the cosmic egg; / that is the Brahmāṇḍa [Purāṇa], of twelve thousand and two hundred verses,

53.56

wherein the detailed account of future kalpas is heard; / that Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa was declared by Brahmā.

53.57

The man who donates it on a vyatīpāta together with a pair of yellow woolen cloths / attains the fruit of a thousand rājasūya sacrifices; / and accompanied by a golden cow, it bestows the fruit of the world of Brahmā.

53.58

These four hundred thousand verses were spoken by Vyāsa of wondrous deeds; / by my father's father, and by me, it has been told to you.

53.59

Here, for the benefit of the world, it was abridged by the supreme sage; / among the gods it still extends to a hundred million verses even today.

53.60

I shall explain the sub-divisions that are established in the world. / Where in the Padma Purāṇa the description of Narasiṃha is spoken, / that, consisting of eighteen thousand verses, is here called the Nārasiṃha [Purāṇa].

53.61

Where the majesty of Nandā is described by Kārttikeya, / that is celebrated by the worlds as recounted under the name of Nandīpurāṇa.

53.62

Where a narrative placing Sāmba at the forefront will take place, / that, O observers of the vows of sages, is again proclaimed in the world as the Sāmba [Purāṇa].

53.63

The wise know the Purāṇas to belong to the ancient kalpa. / Auspicious, fame-yielding, and life-prolonging is the sequence of the Purāṇas; / and thus the name of the Āditya [Purāṇa] is also enumerated therein.

53.64

Whatever Purāṇa is taught apart from the eighteen, / know, O best of the twice-born, that it has come forth from these.

53.65

There are five components in the Purāṇas; it is traditionally called a narrative: / creation, secondary creation, genealogy, the cosmic epochs of Manu, / and the deeds of genealogical descendants—the Purāṇa has five distinguishing marks.

53.66

The majesty of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Sūrya, and Rudra, and of the cosmos, / and the bestowers of universal destruction, [are recounted] in the fivefold Purāṇa.

53.67

Duty, wealth, desire, and liberation are also proclaimed here; / and in all the Purāṇas, whatever fruit is contrary to that is also taught.

53.68

In sattva-natured Purāṇas, the majesty of Hari is greater; / in rajas-natured ones, they know the majesty of Brahmā to be greater;

53.69

likewise the majesty of Agni, and in tamas-natured ones that of Śiva; / in mixed ones, [the majesty] of Sarasvatī and the ancestors is declared.

53.70

Having composed the eighteen Purāṇas, the son of Satyavatī / made the entire narrative of the Bhārata to amplify them, / which, declared in one hundred thousand verses, is amplified by the meaning of the Vedas.

53.71

And the excellent subsidiary story of Rāma which was uttered by Vālmīki, / and which was proclaimed by Brahmā in an extent of a hundred million verses,

53.72

having thus taken it to Nārada, and by him again to Vālmīki, / and by Vālmīki [declared] in the worlds as the means to achieve duty, desire, and wealth— / thus these five hundred and twenty-five thousand [verses] are proclaimed in the mortal world.

53.73

The wise know the Purāṇas to belong to the ancient kalpa. / Auspicious, fame-yielding, and life-prolonging is the sequence of the Purāṇas; / whoever recites it or even hears it goes to the supreme state.

53.74

This is purifying, a repository of renown; this is exceedingly dear to the ancestors; / this has become like nectar among the gods, and this ever removes the sins of men.

Translations (1)

The Matsya Puranam — A Taluqdar of Oudh 1916, English

Linked texts (1)

Matsyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit