Shloka 4

Matsya Purana — Prayaga Mahatmya: Trimurti Presence

Devanagari script

कल्पान्ते तत्समग्रं हि रुद्रः संहरते जगत् तदा प्रयागतीर्थं च न कदाचिद्विनश्यति //

Transliteration

kalpānte tatsamagraṃ hi rudraḥ saṃharate jagat tadā prayāgatīrthaṃ ca na kadācidvinaśyati //

Translation

At the end of a kalpa, Rudra indeed withdraws (dissolves) this entire world; yet even then, the sacred ford of Prayāga never perishes at any time.

Word by Word

• कल्पान्ते (kalpānte): at the end of a kalpa

• तत् (tat): that/this

• समग्रं (samagraṃ): entire, complete

• हि (hi): indeed

• रुद्रः (rudraḥ): Rudra (Śiva as the dissolver)

• संहरते (saṃharate): withdraws, dissolves, brings to an end

• जगत् (jagat): the world, the moving universe

• तदा (tadā): then, at that time

• प्रयागतीर्थं (prayāgatīrthaṃ): the Prayāga sacred ford/pilgrimage site

• च (ca): and

• न (na): not

• कदाचित् (kadācit): ever, at any time

• विनश्यति (vinaśyati): perishes, is destroyed.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution typical to the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Rudra
• Prayaga Tirtha

Tags

• Pralaya
• Tirtha-Mahatmya
• Sacred Geography
• Shaiva-Vaishnava Harmony
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

It states that at kalpa’s end Rudra performs cosmic dissolution of the whole world, yet certain sacred loci like Prayāga are described as imperishable, emphasizing tirthas as transcendent anchors amid pralaya.

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

By highlighting Prayāga’s unfailing sanctity, it supports the dharmic duty of kings and householders to uphold pilgrimage, charity, and ritual observances at tirthas—acts believed to yield enduring merit even when worldly conditions are unstable.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it elevates Prayāga as an eternally valid site for snāna (sacred bathing), śrāddha, and dāna; architecturally, it implies the enduring primacy of tirtha-zones (ghats, shrines, yajña spaces) as sacred planning centers in Puranic temple-and-pilgrimage culture.