Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — Glory of Tīrtha-Śrāddha: Best Times

Devanagari script

संगमे यत्र तिष्ठन्ति गङ्गायाः पितरः सदा कुरुक्षेत्रं महापुण्यं सर्वतीर्थसमन्वितम् //

Transliteration

saṃgame yatra tiṣṭhanti gaṅgāyāḥ pitaraḥ sadā kurukṣetraṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ sarvatīrthasamanvitam //

Translation

At the sacred confluence (saṅgama) where the Pitṛs of the Gaṅgā ever abide, there lies Kurukṣetra—supremely holy, endowed with the merit of all tīrthas.

Word by Word

• संगमे (saṃgame): at the confluence

• यत्र (yatra): where

• तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti): abide/dwell

• गङ्गायाः (gaṅgāyāḥ): of the Gaṅgā

• पितरः (pitaraḥ): the Pitṛs/ancestors

• सदा (sadā): always

• कुरुक्षेत्रम् (kurukṣetram): Kurukṣetra

• महापुण्यम् (mahāpuṇyam): of great merit/very holy

• सर्वतीर्थसमन्वितम् (sarvatīrtha-samanvitam): possessed of (the power/merit of) all tīrthas

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a tīrtha-mahātmya passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Ganga
• Pitrs
• Kurukshetra
• Sangama
• Tirtha

Tags

• TirthaMahatmya
• Kurukshetra
• Ganga
• Pitrs
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on tīrtha-mahātmya—declaring Kurukṣetra (especially at a sacred confluence) as a supremely meritorious pilgrimage region.

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

It supports the householder/kingly duty of honoring the Pitṛs: visiting renowned tīrthas like Kurukṣetra and performing śrāddha/tarpaṇa at a saṅgama is presented as highly efficacious for ancestral rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual emphasis is on the saṅgama as a power-center for rites—especially bathing (snāna) and offerings to the Pitṛs—since Kurukṣetra is said to contain the merit of all tīrthas.