Matsya said, "I will describe the kalpas. Their narration destroys great sins. As soon as one recites this, one obtains the good merits of studying the Vedas. The first kalpa was Shveta, the second was Nilalohita; Vamadeva was the third and Rathantara was the fourth; Rourava is said to be the fifth and the sixth is described as Deva; the seventh is Brihat and the eighth is said to be Kandarpa; the ninth is said to be Sadya and the tenth is said to be Ishana; the eleventh is said to be Tama and the twelfth is Sarasvata; the thirteenth is Udana and the fourteenth is Garuda; the fifteenth is said to be Kourma, which commenced on pournamasi; the sixteenth is Narasimha and the seventeenth is Samana; the eighteenth is said to be Agneya and the nineteenth is Soma; the twentieth is said to be Manava and the twenty-first is Tatpumana; the twenty-second is Vaikuntha and the twenty-third is Lakshmi; the twenty-fourth is known as Savitri, the twenty-fifth is Ghora and the twenty-sixth is Varaha; the twenty-seventh is Vairaja and the twenty-eighth is Gouri; the twenty-ninth is Maheshvara, when Tripura was brought down; and the thirtieth is Pitri, in ancient times, this was Brahma's kuhu [Kuhu is the deity (and the day) for the night of the new moon. Brahma's month consists of 30 kalpas.] This constitutes Brahma's month, which destroys all sins. In ancient times, Brahma decided on the names of the kalpas in accordance with the importance of whatever occurred initially in that kalpa. These 30 kalpas are said to be classified as samkirna, tamasa, rajasa, sattvika and rajastama. The greatness of Sarasvati and the ancestors is said to be more in samkirna, the greatness of Agni, Shiva and Divakara are more in tamasa, and the greatness of Brahma is said to be more in rajasa. In ancient times, in each kalpa, Brahma narrated a Purana and the greatness and nature of that kalpa has been described more in that Purana. In that way, Vishnu's excellent greatness is greater in sattvika. Those who obtain siddhi in yoga proceed to that supreme destination. On every parva day, if a person reads Brahma Purana and Padma Purana, Brahma ensures that his intelligence turns towards dharma, and that he obtains extensive prosperity. On every parva day, if a person constructs a golden image [not specified of what, perhaps of the kalpas or Puranas] and gives it away, the sages worship him in heaven and he resides in Brahma's city and Vishnu's city. If a person donates the kalpas, all his sins are destroyed. A discriminating person will fashion images of the kalpas in the form of sages and donate them. I have narrated a Purana Samhita [Matsya Purana] to you. This destroys all sins. It always bestows freedom from disease and prosperity as fruits. One hundred years for Brahma are said to be one day for Shiva. It is known that one hundred years for Shiva are one nimesha for Vishnu. When Vishnu is awake, the universe exerts itself. Serene in his atman, when he sleeps, everything shuts down."

Puranas

Bibek Debroy (I955-2024): The Polymath

The Plurality of Puranas