Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

गङ्गा च यमुना चैव उभे तुल्यफले स्मृते केवलं ज्येष्ठभावेन गङ्गा सर्वत्र पूज्यते //

Transliteration

gaṅgā ca yamunā caiva ubhe tulyaphale smṛte kevalaṃ jyeṣṭhabhāvena gaṅgā sarvatra pūjyate //

Translation

The Gaṅgā and the Yamunā are both remembered as yielding equal spiritual merit; yet, solely because of her seniority, the Gaṅgā is worshipped everywhere.

Word by Word

• गङ्गा (gaṅgā): Ganga

• च (ca): and

• यमुना (yamunā): Yamuna

• चैव (caiva): and indeed

• उभे (ubhe): both

• तुल्य-फले (tulya-phale): equal in fruit/merit

• स्मृते (smṛte): are remembered/are traditionally held

• केवलं (kevalaṃ): only/merely

• ज्येष्ठ-भावेन (jyeṣṭha-bhāvena): by the status of being the elder/senior

• गङ्गा (gaṅgā): Ganga

• सर्वत्र (sarvatra): everywhere

• पूज्यते (pūjyate): is worshipped/revered.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) conveying the Matsya Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya teaching

Entities Mentioned

• Ganga
• Yamuna

Tags

• Tirtha
• Ganga Mahatmya
• Yamuna
• Pilgrimage
• Ritual Merit

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on tirtha-mahātmyā—how sacred rivers confer spiritual merit and why Gaṅgā receives universal worship.

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

For householders (and kings setting public norms), it supports sustaining river-worship, pilgrimage, and purification rites—honoring both rivers’ merit while recognizing Gaṅgā’s traditional precedence.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it implies bathing, offerings, and reverence at river-tīrthas; architecturally, it indirectly supports establishing ghāṭas and shrines at major rivers, with Gaṅgā given primary prominence due to tradition.