Namo Nārāyaṇaḥ 🙏🧡
𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗮-𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘀 -
The same Verse for naming all Puranas is repeated in various scriptures -
ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवं च शैवं लैंङ्ग सगारुडं । नारदीयं भागवतमाग्नेयं स्कान्दसंज्ञितम् ।। भविष्यं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं मार्कण्डेयं सवामनम् । वाराहं मात्स्यं कौर्मं च ब्रह्माण्डाख्यमितित्रिषट् ।।
(Srimad Bhagvatam 12:7:23-24 )
(Garga Samhita -Viswajeetkhanda 16:20-21)
(Padma Purana: Uttarakhanda 236:14-17)
Translation - "The eighteen Puranas are the Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Garuda Purana, Narada Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Agni Purana, Skanda Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Markandeya Purana, Vamana Purana, Varaha Purana, Matsya Purana, Kurma Purana, and Brahmanda Purana."
𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘀
ब्राह्मं दश सहस्राणि पाद्मं पञ्चोनषष्टि च । श्री वैष्णवं त्रयोविंशच्चतुर्विंशति शैवकम् ।। दशाष्टौ श्रीभागवतं नारदं पञ्चविंशति । मार्कण्डं नव वाह्वं च दशपञ्च चतुःशतम् ।। चतुर्दश भविष्यं स्यात्तथा पञ्चशतानि च । दशाष्टौ ब्रह्मवैवर्त लैंङ्गमेकादशैव तु ।। चतुर्विंशतिवाराहमेकाशीतिसहस्रकम् । स्कन्दं शतं तथा चैकं वामनं दश कीर्तितम् ।। कौ सप्तदशाख्यातं मात्स्यं तत्तु चतुर्दश । एकोनविंशत्सौपर्ण ब्रह्माण्डं द्वादशैव तु ।। एवं पुराणसन्दोहश्चतुर्लक्ष उदाहृतः । तत्राष्टदशसाहस्रं श्रीभागवतं इष्यते । ।
( Srimad Bhagvatam 12:13:4-9 )
Translation : The Brahma Purana has 10,000, the Padma Purana has 55,000, the Vishnu Purana has 23,000, and the Shiva Purana has 24,000 verses. The Shrimad Bhagavata Purana has 18,000, the Narada Purana has 25,000, the Markandeya Purana has 9,000, and the Agni Purana has 15,400 verses. The Bhavishya Purana has 14,500, the Brahma Vaivarta Purana has 18,000, and the Linga Purana has 11,000 verses. The Varaha Purana has 24,000, the Skanda Purana has 81,100, and the Vamana Purana has 10,000 verses. The Kurma Purana has 17,000, the Matsya Purana has 14,000, the Garuda Purana has 19,000, and the Brahmanda Purana has 12,000 verses. Thus, the total number of verses in all the Puranas is four lakh . Of these, 18,000 verses are from the Shrimad Bhagavata Purana.
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘀
Puranas are fifth Vedas -
एवं वा अरेऽस्य महतो भूतस्य निःश्वसितमेतद् यदृग्वेदो यजुर्वेदः सामवेदोऽथर्व्वांगिरस इतिहासः पुराणम्”
(Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2:4:10)
Translation : Sage Yajnavalkya said to Maitreyi, "All the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda, Itihasa, and Puranas are manifested through the breath of the Supreme Being." This means that just as the four Vedas are apaurushya, i.e., not of human origin, the Itihasa and Puranas are also apaurushya and are of the same form as the Vedas. They are not separate from the Vedas.
"ऋग्वेदं भगवोऽध्येमि यजुर्वेदं सामवेदमाथर्वणं चतुर्थमितिहासं पुराणं पञ्चमं वेदानां वेदम्”
(Chandogya Upanishad 7:1:12 )
Translation : "Oh Lord! I contemplate on the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda, and the fifth Veda which is the consideration of history and Puranas.
ऋग्यजुः सामाथर्वाख्या वेदाष्चत्वार उद्धृताः ।
इतिहास पुराणञ्च पञ्चमो वेद उच्यते ।।
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1:4:20)
Translation : "The Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda are the four Vedas, and the fifth Veda is called Itihasa-Purana."
इतिहासपुराणाभ्यां वेदं समुबृंहयेत्
(Mahabharata Adiparva 1:267)
Translation : "One should supplement the Vedas with the Itihasas and Puranas."
एवमिमे सर्वे वेदा निर्मितास्सकल्पा सरहस्या: सब्राह्मणा सोपनिषत्का: सेतिहासा: सांव्यख्याता:सपुराणा:सस्वरा:ससंस्काराः सनिरुक्ता: सानुशासना सानुमार्जना: सवाकोवाक्या
(Gopatha Brahmana, Poorvabhag: Prapathaka 2)
Translation: Similarly, all the Vedas, Kalpas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, Itihasas, Puranas, Vedic chants, accents, and rituals, including Anuvakas, Anushasanas, and Aranyakas, are all created by the Supreme Being
ऋचः सामानि छन्दांसि पुराणं यजुषा सह |
उच्छिष्टाज् जज्ञिरे सर्वे दिवि देवा दिविश्रितः |
(Atharvaveda 11:1:24)
Translation : All the Devtas residing in heaven were created along with the Rig, Sama and Yajur Vedas along with Puranas .
मध्याहुतयो ह वा एतादेवानांयदनुशासनानी विद्या वाकोवाक्यमितिहासः पुराणं गाथा नराशंस्य: य एवम् विद्वाननुशासनानि विद्या वकोवाक्यमितिहास पुराणं गाथा नाराशंसिरित्यहरह: स्वाध्यायमधीते
(Śatapatha Brahmana 11:3:8:8)
Translation : Shastras are offerings among the God, which include the knowledge of God, Brahma-vidya, and other Vidya, as well as texts in the form of question and answer, history, Puranas, poetry(Gitas) , and Narashamsi. These Shastras are to be studied regularly as a sacrifice to the God.
अथ नवमेऽहन्तानुपदिशति पुराणं वेदः ।
सोऽयमिति किञ्चित् पुराणामचक्षीत्।
(Shatapatha Brahmana 13:4:3:13)
Translation : "Then on the ninth day, the Purana was taught, the Vedas said, 'This is it,' and thus spoke of some Puranas."
𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 -
वेदवन्निश्चलं मन्ये पुराणं वै द्विजोत्तमाः ।
वेदाः प्रतिष्ठिताः सर्वे पुराणे नात्र संशयः ॥ ९० ॥
(Skanda Purana: Prabhaskhanda 1:2:90)
O excellent Dvija , the Purāṇa is steady like the Vedas. All the Vedas are established in the Purāṇas. There is no doubt about it.
सर्ववेदार्थसाराणि पुराणानीति भूपते ।
(Narada Purana 1:6:100)
Translation : "O King, the essence of all Vedic knowledge is present in the Puranas."
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘀
While reading Puranas I have noticed a same verse repeated many times for defining Puranas content -
सर्गश्च प्रतिसर्गश्च वंशो मनवन्तराणि च।
वंशान्चरितञ्चैव प्राणं पञ्चलक्षणम् ।।
( Matsya Purana 53:64)
(Kūrma Purāṇa 1:1:12)
(Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa, 4:133:6)
(Suta Samhita 1:1:33)
(Vishnu Purana 3:6:25)
(Vayu Purana 4:10)
Translation:
These five topics are covered in the Puranas -
1. Manvantara Vijñana (Knowledge of Manus or the cyclic periods of time)
2. Sarga Vijñana (Knowledge of Creation)
3. Pratisarga Vijñana (Knowledge of Recreation)
4. Vamsha Vijñana (Knowledge of Genealogy)
5. Vashanucharita Vijñana (Knowledge of Dynasties and their conduct)
𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮
वैष्णवं नारदीयं च तथा भागवतं शुभम् ।
गारुडं च तथा पाद्मं वाराहं शुभदर्शने ।
सात्विकानि पुराणानि विज्ञेयानि शुभानि वै ।।
ब्रह्माण्डं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं मार्कण्डेयं तथैव च ।
भविष्यं वामनं ब्राह्मं राजसानि निबोधत ।।
मात्सयं कौर्मं तथा लैङ्गम् शैवं स्कान्दं तथैव च ।
आग्नेयं च षडेतानि तामसानि निबोधत ।।
(Padma Purana : Uttarakhanda 236:18-20)
Translation : Vishnu Purana, Naradiya Puran, Padma Purana, Garuda Purana, Varaha Purana, Srimad Bhagavata Purana .
Brahmanda Purana, Brahmavaivarta, Markandeya Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Vamana Purana, Brahma Purana .
Matsya Purana, Kurma Purana, Linga Purana, Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana .
वाराहं वैष्णवं पाद्मं वायुप्रोक्तं च गारुडम्।
श्रीमद्भागवतं चैव सात्विकानीति हि श्रुतिः॥
ब्रह्माण्डं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं मार्कण्डेयं च वामनम्।
भविष्यं नारसिंहं च राजसानि षडैव हि॥
मात्स्यं कौर्म्यं तथा लैङ्ग्यं शैवं स्कान्दं तथैव च।
पाशुपतसंज्ञिकं चेति तामसानि विदो विदुः॥
(Prakasa Samhita 1:4:32-34)
Translation : Varaha ,Vishnu,Padma, Vayu, Garuda and the Srimad bhagavata purana are sattvik puranas.Brahmanda, Brahmavaivarta, Markendeya,Vamana,Bhavishya and Narsimha purana are always rajasic.Matysa, Kurma,Linga,Siva,Skanda and the Pasupata Sastra are the tamasic in nature.
अन्यानि विष्णोः प्रतिपादकानिसर्वाणि ते सात्त्विकानीति चाहुः।
(Garuḍa Purāṇa 3:1:42)
Translation : The Purāṇas devoted to Lord Sri Hari are Satvika .
विष्णोः पुराणं भागवतं पुराणं सत्त्वोत्तमं गरुडं चाहुर् आर्यः।
(Garuda Purana 3:1:52)
Translation : “The Arya Purāṇas Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana and Garuda Purana the best of the Satvika Puranas .
𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘀
पुराणेषु तु सर्वेषु श्रीमद् भागवतं परम्
यत्र प्रति-पदम् कृष्णो गीयते बहुधा ऋषिभिः।
(Padma Purana: Uttara-khanda 193:3)
Translation : Of all the puranas, the Srimad Bhagavatam is the greatest. In every line the Sages glorify Sri Krsna in various ways.
सर्ववेदान्तसारं हि श्रीभागवतमिष्यते ।
तद्रसामृततृप्तस्य नान्यत्र स्याद्रति: क्वचित् ॥ १५ ॥
(Śrimad Bhāgavatam 12 : 13 : 15)
Translation : Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is declared to be the essence of all Vedānta philosophy. One who has felt satisfaction from its nectarean mellow will never be attracted to any other literature.
सूत उवाच - श्रीमद् भागवतस्याथ श्रीमद्भगवतः सदा ।
स्वरूपमेकमेवास्ति सच्चिदानन्दलक्षणम् ॥
(Skanda Purana : Vaishnava khanda 6:4:3)
Translation : Sutji says, "O sages! The form of Shrimad Bhagavatam and Shri Bhagavan are always the same, and that is the embodiment of truth, consciousness, and bliss.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗩𝘆𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗮 ?
We have to understand that there is not only one Vyashdeva but actually there are traditionally total 28 Vyasas, who are believed to be the compilers of the Vedas and the Puranas. The term "Vyasa" means "compiler" or "editor." However, the most well-known Last Vyasa is Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa, who is considered to be the author of the Mahabharata, as well as the compiler and editor of the Vedas and the Puranas. In every Kalpa Vishnu take Incranation as a Vyasha to explain the Dharma through scriptures.So all "Vysha" is a title given to that scriptures compiler.
संक्षिप्य चतुरो वेदांश्चतुर्द्धा व्यभजत् प्रभुः । व्यस्तवेदतया ख्यातो वेदव्यास इतिस्मृतः ।।पुराणमपि संक्षिप्तं चतुर्लक्षप्रमाणतः । अद्याप्यमर्त्यलोके तु शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम् ।।
(Vayaviya Samhita 1:33-34)
Translation : "The Lord Incranation Krishna Dvaipayan divided the four Vedas into four parts and thus classified them. He became famous as Vedavyasa due to this division of the Vedas. Even the Puranas were summarized into four hundred thousand verses. Today, there are still hundreds of millions of verses in the mortal world.Shri Vedavyasa condensed and abbreviated the vast Puranas into four hundred thousand verses. Even today, there are one hundred crore (one billion) verses in the realm of Brahmaloka (the divine realm)."
पुराणेषु च वैषम्यं युगकल्पव्यवस्थया ।
न चाप्रामाण्यशंका ते कथाया व्यत्यये क्वचित् ॥ ७० ॥
(SkandaPurana:Vaishnava khanda 7:13:70)
Translation : "There is diversity in the Puranas due to differences in the arrangement of Yugas and Kalpas, but there is no doubt about their authenticity. The differences are only minor."
◉So the Vyashdeva wrote according to Kalpa in which he take Incranation -
सात्त्विकेष्वथ कल्पेषु माहात्म्यमधिकं हरेः।
तामसेषु हरस्योक्तं राजसेषु प्रजापतेः॥
(Kūrma Purāṇa 2:45:41)
Translation : The sāttvika kalpas predominantly glorify Lord Hari. The glories of Śiva is prominent in the tāmasika ones; and those in the mode of passion prominently glorify Brahmā.
रजो ब्रह्मा तमो रुद्रो विष्णुः सत्त्वं जगत्पतिः ।
एत एव त्रयो देवा एत एव त्रयो गुणाः॥४६.१८॥
(Markendeya Purana 46:18)
Translation : "Brahma represents the quality of passion (rajo guna), Rudra represents the quality of ignorance (tamo guna), the Lord of the universe (jagatpatihi) Vishnu represents the quality of goodness (sattva guna). These three deities are nothing but the three qualities (guna) themselves."
◉That's why Sattvika scriptures are based on Truth and must be readable by all -
सात्त्विकेषु पुराणेषु माहात्म्यमधिकं हरेः ।
राजसेषु च माहात्म्यमधिकं ब्रह्मणो विदुः ॥ ६७
तद्वदग्नेश्च माहात्म्यं तामसेषु शिवस्य च ।
संकीर्णेषु सरस्वत्याः पितॄणां च निगद्यते ॥ ६८
(Matsya Purana 53 : 67-68)
Translation : The glory of Hari is greater in sattvika scripture; the glory of Brahma is greater in rajasika scriptures; and that of Agni and Siva greater in tamasika scriptures. In mixed scriptures the glory of Sarasvati and the pitrs is said to be greater."
◉ Therefore only Satvika Puranas gave the path of liberation and truth -
सात्विका मोक्षदाः प्रोक्ताः राजसा सर्वदा अशुभाः ।
तथैव तामसा देवि निरयप्राप्तिहेतवः ।।
(Padma Purana : Uttarakhanda 236:21)
Translation : Among these puranas Satvika Puranas lead one to liberation, Rajasa do not cause good and tamasa puranas lead one to hell.
~Vaisnavas Dasa
~Vishal Maurya
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