Shloka 8

Glorification of the Yamunā (Yamuna Mahatmya) and Prayāga’s Step-by-Step Aśvamedha Merit

Devanagari script

पंचयोजनविस्तीर्णं प्रयागस्य तु मंडलम् । प्रविशंस्तस्य तद्भूमावश्वमेधं पदे पदे

Transliteration

paṃcayojanavistīrṇaṃ prayāgasya tu maṃḍalam | praviśaṃstasya tadbhūmāvaśvamedhaṃ pade pade

Translation

Der heilige Umkreis von Prayāga erstreckt sich über fünf Yojanas; wer dieses geweihte Land betritt, erlangt mit jedem Schritt das Verdienst eines Aśvamedha-Opfers.

Word by Word

• पञ्चयोजनविस्तीर्णम्: spread over five yojanas
• पञ्चयोजनविस्तीर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च-योजन-विस्तीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक: पञ्च + योजन + विस्तीर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मण्डलम्)

• प्रयागस्य: of Prayāga
• प्रयागस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: and/but
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• मण्डलम्: region; circuit
• मण्डलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रविशन्: entering
• प्रविशन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि (entering)

• तस्य: of it / of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: in that
• तत्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying भूमौ)

• भूमौ: on the ground/land
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अश्वमेधम्: Aśvamedha (sacrifice/merit)
• अश्वमेधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक: अश्व + मेध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पदे: at each step/place
• पदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे पुनरुक्ति (locative in distributive sense)

• पदे: at every step
• पदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति

Speaker

Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpt (context-dependent within Svarga-khaṇḍa dialogues).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रविशंस्तस्य = प्रविशन् + तस्य; तद्भूमावश्वमेधं = तत् + भूमौ + अश्वमेधम्

Characters & Entities

• Prayāga
• Aśvamedha

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the geography of sacred Tīrthas?

It describes Prayāga as having a defined sacred “maṇḍala” (ritual-geographical circuit) measured as five yojanas in extent, presenting the tīrtha not just as a point but as a sanctified region.

How does this verse emphasize the path of Bhakti?

By attributing immense spiritual fruit to simply entering and walking within Prayāga, it highlights grace-oriented devotion where sincere pilgrimage and reverence can yield merit comparable to grand Vedic rites.

What is the ethical lesson from this dialogue?

The verse encourages humility and sincere practice: spiritual progress is not only for those who can perform costly sacrifices, but is accessible through respectful conduct, pilgrimage, and mindful steps in a sacred place.