Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

अहीनाङ्गो ऽप्यरोगश्च पञ्चेन्द्रियसमन्वितः अश्वमेधफलं तस्य गच्छतस्तु पदे पदे //

Transliteration

ahīnāṅgo 'pyarogaśca pañcendriyasamanvitaḥ aśvamedhaphalaṃ tasya gacchatastu pade pade //

Translation

Even if he has no bodily deficiency, he remains free from disease and endowed with all five senses; for him, the merit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice accrues at every step as he proceeds.

Word by Word

• ahīna-aṅgaḥ: having no deficient limb / not maimed

• api: even

• arogas: free from illness

• ca: and

• pañca-indriya-samanvitaḥ: endowed with the five senses

• aśvamedha-phalam: the fruit/merit of the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)

• tasya: for him/of that person

• gacchataḥ: of one who is going/proceeding

• tu: indeed

• pade pade: at each step, step by step

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (likely phala-śruti narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Ashvamedha

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Phala-śruti
• Punya
• Yajna

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is a merit-result (phala-śruti) statement promising health and Aśvamedha-level merit through a specified righteous proceeding.

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

It elevates accessible dharmic practice—walking/undertaking a prescribed observance—by equating its merit to royal-scale yajñas, implying that even householders (and kings) gain great fruit through disciplined, lawful conduct rather than only costly sacrifices.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the comparison to Aśvamedha: the text frames the act of proceeding in a prescribed dharmic context as generating yajña-like merit “at every step,” a common Purāṇic way to magnify vrata/pilgrimage efficacy.