Shloka 50

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

प्रयागे संस्थिता नित्यमेधमाना मनीषिणः । त्रीणि यान्यग्निकुंडानि तेषां मध्ये तु जाह्नवी ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

prayāge saṃsthitā nityamedhamānā manīṣiṇaḥ | trīṇi yānyagnikuṃḍāni teṣāṃ madhye tu jāhnavī || 50 ||

Translation

In Prayāga verweilen die Weisen beständig, unablässig im Opferdienst versunken. Dort gibt es drei Feueraltäre, und in ihrer Mitte fließt die Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā).

Word by Word

• प्रयागे: in Prayāga
• प्रयागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• संस्थिताः: situated/abiding
• संस्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Past participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'having stayed/being situated'

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative) — 'always'

• एधमानाः: flourishing
• एधमानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एध् (धातु) → एधमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्/आन), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Present participle (Ātmanepada sense), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'flourishing/increasing'

• मनीषिणः: sages/wise men
• मनीषिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Plural; numeral adjective (of अग्निकुण्डानि)

• यानि: which
• यानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Plural (relative pronoun)

• अग्निकुण्डानि: fire-pits
• अग्निकुण्डानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + कुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अग्नेः कुण्डानि = fire-pits)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन — Genitive (6th), Plural

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Locative (7th), Singular; 'in the middle'

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — contrast/emphasis 'but/indeed'

• जाह्नवी: Jāhnavī (the Gaṅgā)
• जाह्नवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular (name of Gaṅgā)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Prayaga
• Jahnavi (Ganga)

FAQs

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

It presents Prayāga as a perpetual yajña-field where realized, disciplined sages thrive, and it highlights Gaṅgā (Jāhnavī) as the sanctifying presence at the very center of sacred ritual space.

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

By placing Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) at the center of the holy site, the verse points to reverent worship of sacred tīrthas—where ritual acts and inner devotion converge through remembrance, purity, and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the mention of agnikuṇḍas (fire-altars) and the setting of yajña practice at a tīrtha, implying correct altar-based worship and prescribed sacred-space orientation.