Shloka 33

Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya

Devanagari script

ऐश्वर्याल्लोभमोहाद्वा गच्छेद्यानेन यो नरः । निष्फलं तस्य तत्तीर्थं तस्माद्यान विवर्जयेत् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

aiśvaryāllobhamohādvā gacchedyānena yo naraḥ | niṣphalaṃ tasya tattīrthaṃ tasmādyāna vivarjayet || 33 ||

Translation

إن ذهب رجلٌ إلى التيرثا (tīrtha) على مركبةٍ طلبًا للمباهاة، أو بدافع الطمع والوهم، صارت زيارته تلك بلا ثمرةٍ له؛ لذلك ينبغي اجتناب مثل هذا الركوب المتولد من الكِبر.

Word by Word

• aiśvaryāt: from/owing to wealth
• aiśvaryāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• lobha-mohāt: from greed and delusion
• lobha-mohāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lobha (प्रातिपदिक) + moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (लोभः च मोहः च)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• gacchet: should go
• gacchet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद — 'should go'

• yānena: by vehicle
• yānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; apposition to yaḥ

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (tīrtham)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (tīrtham) — 'that'

• tīrtham: pilgrimage (act/place)
• tīrtham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu/Upasaṃhāra (हेतु/उपसंहार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (तद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-रूपेण अव्ययीभूतः पञ्चमी-एकवचन-प्रयोगः (adverbial) — 'therefore/from that'

• yānam: vehicle
• yānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• vivarjayet: should avoid
• vivarjayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛj (वृज्) (धातु) + vi-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद — 'should avoid'

Speaker

Nārada (teaching on tīrtha-yātrā discipline within Uttara-Bhāga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that tīrtha-yātrā is judged primarily by inner motive: when travel is driven by show, greed, or delusion, the sacred act loses its spiritual fruit (puṇya).

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti requires humility and sincerity; approaching holy places as a display of status contradicts devotional mood, so the visit does not mature into devotion or grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights dharma-śāstra style sadācāra (right conduct) rather than a technical Vedāṅga: ritual efficacy depends on intention (bhāva) and purity of motive during religious observances like tīrtha-yātrā.