Shloka 46

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

मासमेकं नरः स्नात्वा प्रयागे नियतेंद्रियः । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो यथा दृष्टं स्वयंभुवा ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

māsamekaṃ naraḥ snātvā prayāge niyateṃdriyaḥ | mucyate sarvapāpebhyo yathā dṛṣṭaṃ svayaṃbhuvā || 46 ||

Translation

যে ব্যক্তি প্রয়াগে এক মাস ইন্দ্রিয়সংযমসহ স্নান করে, সে সকল পাপ থেকে মুক্ত হয়—যেমন স্বয়ম্ভূ (ব্রহ্মা) নিজে প্রত্যক্ষ করেছেন।

Word by Word

• मासम्: (for) a month
• मासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण (Masculine, Accusative, Singular; numeral adjective)

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having bathed)

• प्रयागे: in Prayāga
• प्रयागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• नियत-इन्द्रियः: one with controlled senses
• नियत-इन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (कृदन्त, √यम्) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य इन्द्रियाणि नियतानि सः (Masculine, Nominative, Singular; possessive adjective)

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि प्रयोग (Laṭ, 3rd person, singular, ātmanepada; passive: 'is released')

• सर्व-पापेभ्यः: from all sins
• सर्व-पापेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Ablative, Plural)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (indeclinable: 'as/according as')

• दृष्टम्: seen/known
• दृष्टम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/प्रमाण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः 'it is seen/known' (PPP, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• स्वयम्भुवा: by Svayambhū (Brahmā)
• स्वयम्भुवा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम्भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"A disciplined, ascetic mood (sense-restraint and month-long bathing) culminates in authoritative assurance of total purification, validated by Brahmā."}

Characters & Entities

• Prayaga
• Svayambhu (Brahma)

FAQs

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

It elevates Prayāga-snānā as a powerful tirtha-prayoga: a month-long disciplined bath at the confluence is said to destroy accumulated pāpa (sin), with the authority of Brahmā (Svayambhū) cited to validate the result.

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

Though it speaks in the idiom of tirtha and snāna, the key condition is niyatendriyatā (sense-restraint), implying inner devotion and purity alongside outer ritual—an approach consistent with Narada Purana’s emphasis on sincere, disciplined spiritual practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual discipline (kalpa-oriented practice): a defined duration (one month), a prescribed act (snāna at a specific tirtha), and an inner qualification (indriya-nigraha), reflecting how vows and observances are structured in Dharma and ritual procedure.