Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — Prayaga Mahatmya: Trimurti Presence

Devanagari script

पञ्चयोजनविस्तीर्णं प्रयागस्य तु मण्डलम् तिष्ठन्ति रक्षणायात्र पापकर्मनिवारणात् //

Transliteration

pañcayojanavistīrṇaṃ prayāgasya tu maṇḍalam tiṣṭhanti rakṣaṇāyātra pāpakarmanivāraṇāt //

Translation

The sacred maṇḍala of Prayāga extends for five yojanas; there, protective powers stand guard for the removal and restraint of sinful deeds.

Word by Word

• पञ्च (pañca): five

• योजन (yojana): yojana, a traditional measure of distance

• विस्तीर्णम् (vistīrṇam): extended, spread out

• प्रयागस्य (prayāgasya): of Prayāga

• तु (tu): indeed, moreover

• मण्डलम् (maṇḍalam): circle, sacred precinct, ritual/sacred zone

• तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti): they stand, remain stationed

• रक्षणाय (rakṣaṇāya): for protection/guarding

• अत्र (atra): here, in this place

• पापकर्म (pāpakarma): sinful actions/deeds

• निवारणात् (nivāraṇāt): from warding off, preventing, removing.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) speaking in the Matsya Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya flow (describing Prayaga)

Entities Mentioned

• Prayaga

Tags

• TirthaMahatmya
• Prayaga
• Pilgrimage
• Punya
• SinRemoval

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it defines Prayāga’s sacred boundary and emphasizes its power to restrain and remove sin within that holy precinct.

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

It supports dharmic life by recommending tirtha-association: a householder (and a king guiding public religion) upholds merit through pilgrimage, restraint from sin, and honoring sacred zones understood to promote ethical purification.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key ritual concept is the “maṇḍala” as a consecrated sacred circuit with defined extent (five yojanas), implying regulated pilgrimage movement/parikrama and a kṣetra-boundary where protective forces are believed to operate.