Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

पञ्चयोजनविस्तीर्णं प्रयागस्य तु मण्डलम् प्रविष्टमात्रे तद्भूमाव् अश्वमेधः पदे पदे //

Transliteration

pañcayojanavistīrṇaṃ prayāgasya tu maṇḍalam praviṣṭamātre tadbhūmāv aśvamedhaḥ pade pade //

Translation

The sacred circuit (maṇḍala) of Prayāga extends for five yojanas; the moment one enters that holy ground, the merit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice arises at every step.

Word by Word

• पञ्च (pañca): five

• योजन (yojana): a yojana (traditional distance measure)

• विस्तीर्णम् (vistīrṇam): extended, spread out

• प्रयागस्य (prayāgasya): of Prayāga

• तु (tu): indeed

• मण्डलम् (maṇḍalam): sacred circuit/region, sphere

• प्रविष्टमात्रे (praviṣṭa-mātre): upon merely entering

• तद्भूमौ (tad-bhūmau): on that ground/land

• अश्वमेधः (aśvamedhaḥ): the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice) merit

• पदे पदे (pade pade): at every step.

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Prayaga
• Ashvamedha

Tags

• Tirtha-Mahatmya
• Prayaga
• Pilgrimage
• Punya
• Vedic Ritual Merit

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it praises Prayāga as a tirtha where immense ritual merit is gained simply by entering its sacred region.

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

It highlights an accessible dharmic practice: pilgrimage (tirtha-yātrā). For householders and rulers alike, visiting holy places is presented as a powerful means of accruing merit comparable to costly royal sacrifices.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is explicit: within Prayāga’s five-yojana sacred circuit, each step yields Aśvamedha-like merit—elevating the tirtha’s status above elaborate sacrificial performance.