Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c7.177

c7.177

Lastly as regards the dignity of the brahmans who recited or expounded the Puranas, the Vāyu, Padma and Śiva assert that a brahman was not really wise if he did not know the Purana (p. 1),⁹ thus making knowledge of the Purana the crown of all learning; and the laudation is carried farthest in the Padma, which gives directions about reciting the Purana and has much to say about the brahman who knew and expounded the Puranas,¹⁰ proclaiming that—the brahman who declares the Puranas is superior (*viśiṣyate*) to every one; even sin committed by him cannot adhere to him; the Purana destroys the sins of every one else; and if a believer in the Puranas esteems the declarer of them as a guru who gives knowledge of sacred science (*brahma-vidyā*), all his sins disappear.¹¹ The Matsya imprecates a curse on those who reviled the Purāṇa-jñas.¹² Those who recited the Purana were worthy of signal honour,¹³ but various faults disqualified them.¹⁴