Shloka 70

Matsya Purana — Glory of Tīrtha-Śrāddha: Best Times

Devanagari script

अश्वतीर्थं च विख्यातम् अनन्तं श्राद्धदानयोः तीर्थं वेदशिरो नाम तथैवौघवती नदी //

Transliteration

aśvatīrthaṃ ca vikhyātam anantaṃ śrāddhadānayoḥ tīrthaṃ vedaśiro nāma tathaivaughavatī nadī //

Translation

And the well-known Aśva-tīrtha is declared inexhaustible in its reward for rites of śrāddha and charitable giving. Likewise, (there is) the sacred ford named Vedaśiras, and also the river called Oghavatī.

Word by Word

• अश्वतीर्थम् (aśvatīrtham): Aśva-tīrtha, the ‘Horse’ sacred ford/pilgrimage spot

• च (ca): and

• विख्यातम् (vikhyātam): renowned, well-known

• अनन्तम् (anantam): endless, inexhaustible (in merit/result)

• श्राद्धदानयोः (śrāddha-dānayoḥ): in regard to śrāddha (ancestral rites) and dāna (charity)

• तीर्थम् (tīrtham): sacred ford/pilgrimage place

• वेदशिरः (vedaśiraḥ): “Vedaśiras,” name of a tīrtha (lit. ‘head/crown of the Veda’)

• नाम (nāma): named/called

• तथा एव (tathā eva): likewise, also

• औघवती (aughavatī): Oghavatī, name of a river

• नदी (nadī): river.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purāṇa’s tīrtha-list in the discourse tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Aśva-tīrtha
• Vedaśiras Tīrtha
• Oghavatī River
• Śrāddha
• Dāna

Tags

• Tirtha-Mahatmya
• Shraddha
• Dana
• Sacred Rivers
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on sacred geography (tīrthas) and declares the merit from performing śrāddha and dāna at Aśva-tīrtha to be “ananta” (inexhaustible).

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

It supports the householder and royal duty of sustaining dharma through ancestor-rites (śrāddha) and charitable giving (dāna), recommending specific tīrthas where these acts are considered especially fruitful.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is primary: the verse highlights tīrtha-based efficacy—Aśva-tīrtha is said to yield inexhaustible results for śrāddha and dāna—while also identifying Vedaśiras (a sacred ford) and the Oghavatī river as notable pilgrimage loci.