Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Glory of Prayaga: The Fruit of the Anashaka Fast and the Merit of the Yamuna

Devanagari script

*मार्कण्डेय उवाच शृणु राजन्महागुह्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् मासमेकं तु यः स्नायात् प्रयागे नियतेन्द्रियः मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यः स गच्छेत्परमं पदम् //

Transliteration

*mārkaṇḍeya uvāca śṛṇu rājanmahāguhyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam māsamekaṃ tu yaḥ snāyāt prayāge niyatendriyaḥ mucyate sarvapāpebhyaḥ sa gacchetparamaṃ padam //

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Listen, O King, to this great secret that destroys all sins. Whoever, with senses restrained, bathes at Prayāga for a full month is freed from all sins and attains the supreme state.

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेयः: Mārkaṇḍeya

• उवाच: said

• शृणु: listen

• राजन्: O King

• महागुह्यम्: great secret/esoteric teaching

• सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्: destroyer of all sins

• मासम्: for a month

• एकम्: one (full)

• तु: indeed

• यः: whoever

• स्नायात्: should bathe/bathes

• प्रयागे: at Prayāga

• नियतेन्द्रियः: with controlled senses/self-restrained

• मुच्यते: is freed/released

• सर्वपापेभ्यः: from all sins

• सः: he

• गच्छेत्: goes/attains

• परमम्: supreme

• पदम्: abode/state (highest goal).

Speaker

• Mārkaṇḍeya

Entities Mentioned

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Prayāga

Tags

• Tirtha-Mahatmya
• Prayaga
• Snana
• Prayaschitta
• Dharma

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not address pralaya or cosmology; it focuses on tirtha-dharma—how disciplined bathing at Prayāga is said to destroy sins and lead to the highest spiritual goal.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

Addressed to a king, it frames royal/householder ethics around self-control (niyatendriya) and dharmic observance: undertaking regulated vows and pilgrimage practices as a means of purification and spiritual uplift.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is a month-long bathing observance (snāna) at the tirtha of Prayāga with controlled senses; no Vāstu or temple-construction rule is stated in this verse.