Shloka 40
Prayaga-mahatmya
Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni
स्नाता हि ये माकरभास्करोदये तीर्थे प्रयागे सुरसिंधुसंगमे । तेषां गृहद्वारमलंकरोति भृंगावली कुंजरकर्णताडिता ॥ ४० ॥
snātā hi ye mākarabhāskarodaye tīrthe prayāge surasiṃdhusaṃgame | teṣāṃ gṛhadvāramalaṃkaroti bhṛṃgāvalī kuṃjarakarṇatāḍitā || 40 ||
من اغتسل في براياغا—المَعبر المقدّس عند ملتقى الأنهار الإلهية—وقت شروق الشمس حين تكون الشمس في «مَكَرَ» (الجدي)، فكأن باب داره يُزَيَّن بأسراب النحل التي أُثيرت بحركة آذان الفيلة وهي ترفرف.
Narada (continuing the Tirtha-Mahatmya narration, traditionally in dialogue context with Sanatkumara)
Vrata: Māgha-snāna (implied by Makara sunrise timing)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It praises the extraordinary merit (puṇya) of bathing at Prayāga during the highly auspicious Makara-sunrise, presenting it as a blessing so potent that even one’s household becomes symbolically “adorned” by auspicious signs.
By emphasizing pilgrimage-bathing at a divine confluence at an auspicious time, the verse frames physical ritual as an outward expression of inner reverence for sacred places associated with divine presence—an accessible form of devotion practiced through humility and faith.
It points to Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology/astronomy) through the timing “Makara-bhāskara-udaya” (Sun’s Capricorn sunrise), indicating that tirtha-rituals gain special efficacy when aligned with auspicious calendrical moments such as Makara Saṅkrānti.