Matsya Purana
The Matsya Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas. It is primarily related to Vishnu's first avatar (Matsya - fish) and the great flood.
- Matsya Purana is one of the oldest Mahapuranas, narrated by Lord Vishnu in his Matsya (Fish) avatar to King Manu.
- Contains approximately 14,000 verses across 291 chapters.
- Classified as a Tamas Purana with primary focus on Lord Shiva, though narrated by Vishnu.
- Begins with the story of the great flood (Pralaya) — the Indian parallel to Noah's Ark.
- Covers cosmology, genealogies of kings, and religious observances (vratas).
- Contains detailed descriptions of temples, iconography, and pilgrimage sites.
- Includes information on law, statecraft, and social ethics.
- One of the most historically important Puranas for understanding ancient Indian geography.
Structural Organization
Example: Matsya Purana, Chapter 1, Verse 1
Key Topics Covered
Important Deities
Famous Stories & Episodes
Featured Shlokas
+ Add ShlokaChapter 1 - Verse 1
Matsya Purana (GRETIL Sanskrit recension) · Chapter 1 · Verse 1
विचGओर्मत्स्यवतरे सकलवसुमत+मGअलC व्य[नुवनस तस्यस्योद+रितनC ध्वनिर अपहरतद अ[रियC व% [रुत+नम
vicGormatsyvatre sakalavasumat+maGalaC vya[nuvns tasysyod+ritnC dhvanir apaharatd a[riyaC va% [rut+nm
Translation not available.
Chapter 1 - Verse 2
Matsya Purana (GRETIL Sanskrit recension) · Chapter 1 · Verse 2
देव+C सरस्वत+C चैव ततो जयम उद+रयेत
dev+C sarasvat+C caiva tato jayam ud+rayet
Translation not available.
Chapter 1 - Verse 3
Matsya Purana (GRETIL Sanskrit recension) · Chapter 1 · Verse 3
त्रिगुGय त्रिवेदय नमस तस्मै स्वयम्भुवे
triguGya trivedya namas tasmai svayambhuve
Translation not available.
Opening — The Great Fish Narrates to Manu
Matsya Purana · Chapter 1 · Verse 1.3
मत्स्य उवाच: शृणु राजन्महाभाग सर्वकल्याणकारणम्। पुराणं मत्स्यनाम्नाऽहं वक्ष्यामि जगतो हितम्॥
matsya uvāca: śṛṇu rājan mahābhāga sarva-kalyāṇa-kāraṇam purāṇaṁ matsya-nāmnāhaṁ vakṣyāmi jagato hitam
Matsya said: Hear, O greatly blessed king; I will relate the Purāṇa called Matsya, the cause of all welfare and for the benefit of the world.