Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

*मार्कण्डेय उवाच तपनस्य सुता देवी त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता समाख्याता महाभागा यमुना तत्र निम्नगा //

Transliteration

*mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tapanasya sutā devī triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā samākhyātā mahābhāgā yamunā tatra nimnagā //

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: The goddess Yamunā—daughter of Tapana (the Sun)—is renowned throughout the three worlds; she is celebrated as supremely fortunate, and there she flows as the descending river-current.

Word by Word

• mārkaṇḍeyaḥ uvāca: Mārkaṇḍeya said

• tapanasya: of Tapana (the Sun)

• sutā: daughter

• devī: goddess

• triṣu lokeṣu: in the three worlds

• viśrutā: widely renowned

• samākhyātā: well-known, celebrated

• mahābhāgā: greatly fortunate, auspicious

• yamunā: Yamunā (the river-goddess)

• tatra: there, in that region/context

• nimnagā: a river/stream that descends (flowing downward), a river-current

Speaker

• Markandeya Rishi

Entities Mentioned

• Markandeya
• Tapana (Surya)
• Yamuna

Tags

• Tirtha
• Rivers
• Yamuna
• Sacred Geography
• Mahatmya

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it identifies Yamunā as a divine river-goddess of solar lineage (daughter of Tapana/Sūrya) and emphasizes her cosmic renown across the three worlds.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ethic of honoring tīrthas: kings and householders are encouraged to protect sacred rivers and undertake pilgrimage, charity, and purification rites associated with renowned river-deities like Yamunā.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-measurement rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is that Yamunā is explicitly named a devī and therefore a proper focus for river-worship (snāna, tarpaṇa, and tīrtha observances) within tīrtha-māhātmya sections.