Shloka 3
Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya
माहात्म्यं चाधुना ब्रूहि प्रयागस्यापि सुव्रत । तीर्थराजः प्रयागाख्यः श्रुतः पूर्वं मया गुरो ॥ ३ ॥
māhātmyaṃ cādhunā brūhi prayāgasyāpi suvrata | tīrtharājaḥ prayāgākhyaḥ śrutaḥ pūrvaṃ mayā guro || 3 ||
والآن فحدّثني أيضًا عن عظمة براياگا المقدّسة، يا صاحب النذور السامية؛ فقد سمعتُ من قبل، أيها المعلّم الموقّر، أن التيـرثا المسمّى براياگا هو «ملكُ مواطن الحجّ».
Narada (disciple) addressing Sanatkumara (teacher)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It frames Prayāga as the foremost pilgrimage site (tīrtharāja) and formally requests its māhātmya, establishing that hearing and knowing a tīrtha’s glory is itself a dharmic act that prepares one for pilgrimage and merit.
Bhakti here appears as humble inquiry and reverence toward the guru—Narada seeks sacred knowledge with faith, a key devotional posture that precedes practicing tīrtha-related worship and remembrance.
The verse points to tīrtha-māhātmya as applied dharma/ritual knowledge—guidance that informs where and why to perform vows (vrata) and pilgrimage acts; it is practical religious procedure rather than a technical Vedāṅga lesson.