Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

*मार्कण्डेय उवाच शृणु राजन्प्रयागे तु अनाशकफलं विभो प्राप्नोति पुरुषो धीमाञ् श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः //

Transliteration

*mārkaṇḍeya uvāca śṛṇu rājanprayāge tu anāśakaphalaṃ vibho prāpnoti puruṣo dhīmāñ śraddadhāno jitendriyaḥ //

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Listen, O King—at Prayāga, a wise man who is faithful and self-restrained, O mighty one, attains the fruit of the anāśaka observance.

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेयः: Mārkaṇḍeya

• उवाच: said

• शृणु: listen

• राजन्: O King

• प्रयागे: at Prayāga

• तु: indeed

• अनाशक-फलम्: the merit/result of the anāśaka fast (abstaining from food)

• विभो: O mighty one / O lord

• प्राप्नोति: attains

• पुरुषः: a man/person

• धीमान्: wise, discerning

• श्रद्धधानः: endowed with faith

• जितेन्द्रियः: having conquered the senses / self-controlled

Speaker

• Markandeya

Entities Mentioned

• Markandeya
• Prayaga

Tags

• Tirtha
• Prayaga
• Vrata
• Fasting
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on tīrtha-māhātmya—specifically the spiritual merit gained at Prayāga through faithful, self-controlled fasting.

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

By addressing the King, it frames royal/householder duty as supporting and practicing dharma: cultivating śraddhā (faith) and jitendriyatā (sense-control), and undertaking disciplined vows like fasting at sacred sites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is the efficacy of the anāśaka vrata (fast) at Prayāga; no Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated in this verse.