Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — Prayaga Mahatmya Begins: Yudhishthira’s Remorse

Devanagari script

*मार्कण्डेय उवाच शृणु राजन्महाबाहो सर्वपातकनाशनम् प्रयागगमनं श्रेष्ठं नराणां पुण्यकर्मणाम् //

Transliteration

*mārkaṇḍeya uvāca śṛṇu rājanmahābāho sarvapātakanāśanam prayāgagamanaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ narāṇāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām //

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Listen, O king of mighty arms—going to Prayāga is the foremost act, the destroyer of all sins, for men devoted to meritorious deeds.

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेयः: Mārkaṇḍeya (the sage)

• उवाच: said

• शृणु: listen

• राजन्: O king

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one

• सर्व-पातक-नाशनम्: destroyer of all sins

• प्रयाग-गमनम्: the act of going to Prayāga (pilgrimage to Prayāga)

• श्रेष्ठम्: best, foremost

• नराणाम्: of men

• पुण्य-कर्मणाम्: of those engaged in virtuous/meritorious actions

Speaker

• Sage Markandeya

Entities Mentioned

• Markandeya
• Prayaga

Tags

• Tirtha
• Prayaga
• Pilgrimage
• Punya
• Papatkshaya

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on tirtha-mahātmya, declaring Prayāga pilgrimage as a powerful means of removing sin.

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

Addressed to a king, it frames pilgrimage to Prayāga as a premier dharmic practice—an exemplary act a ruler (and householders) may undertake to cultivate merit and moral purification.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu or temple-architecture rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the religious efficacy of prayāga-gamana (pilgrimage to Prayāga) as ‘sarva-pātaka-nāśana’ (sin-destroying).