Shloka 22

The Glory of Prayāga: Merit of Bathing, Remembrance, and Divine Protection

Devanagari script

देवदानवगंधर्वा ऋषयः सिद्धचारणाः । तत्रोपस्पृश्य राजेंद्र स्वर्गलोके महीयते

Transliteration

devadānavagaṃdharvā ṛṣayaḥ siddhacāraṇāḥ | tatropaspṛśya rājeṃdra svargaloke mahīyate

Translation

الديڤات والداناڤات والگندهرفات والريشيون والسِدّهات والچارَنات—إذا اغتسلوا هناك اغتسالًا مقدّسًا، يا ملك الملوك—يُكرَّمون في العالم السماوي.

Word by Word

• देवदानवगन्धर्वाः: gods, demons, and gandharvas
• देवदानवगन्धर्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + दानव + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — masculine nominative plural; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वार्थः (देवाश्च दानवाश्च गन्धर्वाश्च)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — masculine nominative plural

• सिद्धचारणाः: Siddhas and Cāraṇas
• सिद्धचारणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध + चारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — masculine nominative plural; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (सिद्धाश्च चारणाश्च)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक) — indeclinable adverb of place

• उपस्पृश्य: having bathed/touched (the sacred water)
• उपस्पृश्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-√स्पृश् (धातु) → उपस्पृश्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) — having touched/bathed (ritually)

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th), एकवचन — masculine vocative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (राज्ञाम् इन्द्रः)

• स्वर्गलोके: in heaven-world
• स्वर्गलोके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — masculine locative singular; स्थानाधिकरण

• महीयते: is honored, is glorified
• महीयते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद — Present indicative, 3rd person singular, middle/passive sense: ‘is honored/glorified’

Speaker

Narrator addressing a king (rājendra); specific speaker not explicit in this verse (likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue context).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्रोपस्पृश्य = तत्र + उपस्पृश्य; राजेंद्र = राजेन्द्र (ए/इ संधि-लेखनभेद).

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Dānavas
• Gandharvas
• Ṛṣis
• Siddhas
• Cāraṇas
• Svarga

FAQs

What does this verse say about the effect of ritual bathing (upaspṛśya)?

It states that performing ablution at that sacred place leads to being “mahīyate” (highly honored) in Svarga, implying spiritual merit (puṇya) gained through tīrtha-snāna.

Why are so many classes of beings listed (Devas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Ṛṣis, Siddhas, Cāraṇas)?

The list signals the tīrtha’s universal prestige across cosmic communities—celestial, semi-celestial, and sage lineages—emphasizing its exceptional sanctity and recognized efficacy.

What ethical or spiritual lesson is implied for the listener addressed as rājendra?

The verse encourages humility and dharmic practice: even exalted beings seek purification and merit through sacred rites, so a righteous king should also honor tīrthas and uphold religious observances.