Greatness of Puranas

Sanatkumara said

Sage, whether one tortures oneself with austerities in the forest living on wild roots and fruits, or studies a single Rik, the fruits are alike. By teaching the sacred shruti an excellent brahmana gains twice the fruit he gets from merely studying it. Without the sun and moon the world would be without light, and so it is, sage, if one does not study the Puranas. Those lacking knowledge are always scorched in hell, but one who knows the Puranas makes people understand, so he must be worshipped. Among all worthy recipients the best is one who knows the Puranas. Since he saves people from a fall he is called a patra. One should never think of a Purana-knower as an ordinary mortal; he knows everything, and is Brahma, Vishnu and Hara, the guru. One who wants welfare in this world and the next should give wealth, grain, gold and many kinds of garments to a Purana-knower. If a virtuous person lovingly gives auspicious things to such a patra, he goes to the supreme destination. Hear the holy fruits of one who gives land, cows, chariots, elephants and handsome horses to a patra: in this world and the next, over births, the satisfaction of his desires is not exhausted, and he gains the fruit of an ashvamedha. One who gives tilled, auspicious, fertile land saves ten generations of his lineage, before him and after, enjoys all pleasures in this world, and at the end goes in a divine body on a divine vimana to Shiva's world. The gods are not as satisfied by sacrifices, sprinkling, offerings and flower-worship as by words from the texts. Hear the fruit of one who arranges a text on dharma in the temple of Shambhu, Vishnu, Surya or anyone else: he gains the fruit of a rajasuya or ashvamedha, quickly pierces Surya's world and goes to Brahma's, stays there a hundred kalpas, becomes a king on earth and rules without thorns. The fruits said to come from a thousand ashvamedhas come to one who does japa before a god. Nothing pleases Shambhu and the other heaven-dwellers as much as reciting Itihasa and Puranas in Shambhu's auspicious temple, so every effort should be made to accomplish this reading. One who listens lovingly gains all desired fruits. A man who listens to Shambhu's Purana is freed from sins, enjoys all great pleasures and goes to Shiva's world. The merit of a rajasuya and of a hundred agnishtomas is gained by merely listening to Shambhu's account. The fruits of bathing in all tirthas and giving crores of cows are gained by hearing Shambhu's account. Men who constantly listen to it purify the earth and should be thought of as Rudras. The sages know that the dust from the lotus feet of the virtuous who hear and recite Shiva's illustrious deeds is like a tirtha. An embodied being who wants the best destination should always devotedly hear Shiva's account from the Puranas. If a person cannot hear the whole Purana he should control himself and listen for a muhurta every day; if he cannot listen daily, he should hear Shankara's account in the holy months. A man who listens to Shiva's account burns down the great forest of karma and crosses samsara. One who devoutly listens for a muhurta, half a muhurta or a moment meets no calamities. The merit of all gifts and sacrifices, firmly, is gained by hearing Shambhu's Purana. Vyasa, especially in the kali yuga, it is said, for any man there is no dharma or meditation for liberation other than hearing the Puranas. For men, hearing Shambhu's Purana and chanting his name give beautiful fruit like a wish-tree, without doubt. In kali yuga men are wicked in mind and neglect dharma and good conduct, and for them Shambhu has arranged the nectar-juice called Purana. By drinking amrita only one man becomes immortal and free of age, but by drinking the amrita of Shambhu's account the whole lineage is freed from age and death. Ascetics of auspicious conduct perform sacrifices and gain a destination; by listening to the Puranas, son, one gains that destination suddenly. Until knowledge is gained one must make an effort to study the texts on yoga and listen to the Puranas. Sin is lessened and dharma constantly increased. By listening to Puranas a person gains knowledge and does not return to samsara. So one must try to listen to the Puranas for dharma, artha and kama and to reach the path to moksha. The fruits of sacrifices, gifts, austerities and pilgrimage are gained by listening to the Puranas. Had the Purana accounts not existed, no one would have looked toward the path of dharma or kept the vows needed for this world and the next. One who listens to any one of the thirty-six Puranas, or devoutly reads it, will be liberated without doubt. Among all the paths seen for giving happiness, the Purana path is always best. As the world of the living is without the sun, nothing shines without the sacred texts.