Shloka 44

Matsya Purana — Glory of Tīrtha-Śrāddha: Best Times

Devanagari script

दर्शनादपि चैतानि सद्यः पापहराणि वै तुङ्गभद्रा नदी पुण्या तथा भीमरथी सरित् //

Transliteration

darśanādapi caitāni sadyaḥ pāpaharāṇi vai tuṅgabhadrā nadī puṇyā tathā bhīmarathī sarit //

Translation

Even by merely beholding these, sins are removed at once. The river Tuṅgabhadrā is holy, and likewise the stream Bhīmarathī is sacred.

Word by Word

• दर्शनात् (darśanāt): by seeing/visiting, by beholding

• अपि (api): even

• च (ca): and

• एतानि (etāni): these (tīrthas/rivers mentioned)

• सद्यः (sadyaḥ): immediately, at once

• पापहराणि (pāpa-harāṇi): sin-removing, destroying sins

• वै (vai): indeed, certainly

• तुङ्गभद्रा (tuṅgabhadrā): Tuṅgabhadrā (name of a sacred river)

• नदी (nadī): river

• पुण्या (puṇyā): holy, meritorious

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• भीमरथी (bhīmarathī): Bhīmarathī (name of a river/stream)

• सरित् (sarit): stream, river

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a tirtha-mahātmya listing)

Entities Mentioned

• Tuṅgabhadrā
• Bhīmarathī

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Rivers
• Pāpa-haraṇa
• Darśana-phala
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it teaches tirtha-mahātmya—holy rivers such as Tuṅgabhadrā and Bhīmarathī are said to remove sin even through mere darśana (seeing).

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

It supports the dharmic ideal that householders and rulers maintain ritual purity and merit through pilgrimage, honoring sacred rivers; even visiting and reverently beholding such tīrthas is presented as a legitimate means of expiation.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights darśana-phala (spiritual benefit from seeing a tīrtha) and implies river-veneration practices (snāna, ācamana, tarpaṇa) associated with pilgrimage sites, rather than temple architecture rules.