Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — Procedure for Going to Prayaga and the Greatness of the Ganga

Devanagari script

तत्र दानं प्रकर्तव्यं यथाविभवसम्भवम् तेन तीर्थफलं चैव वर्धते नात्र संशयः स्वर्गे तिष्ठति राजेन्द्र यावदाभूतसंप्लवम् //

Transliteration

tatra dānaṃ prakartavyaṃ yathāvibhavasambhavam tena tīrthaphalaṃ caiva vardhate nātra saṃśayaḥ svarge tiṣṭhati rājendra yāvadābhūtasaṃplavam //

Translation

Therefore one should make gifts there, in accordance with one’s means and capacity. By that, the merit of the tīrtha‑pilgrimage indeed increases—of this there is no doubt. O best of kings, the giver abides in heaven until the cosmic dissolution.

Word by Word

• तत्र (tatra): there, at that place (tīrtha)

• दानम् (dānam): gift, charitable giving

• प्रकर्तव्यम् (prakartavyam): should be performed, ought to be done

• यथा (yathā): according to

• विभव (vibhava): resources, capacity, wealth

• सम्भवम् (sambhavam): as is possible, within reach

• तेन (tena): by that (act)

• तीर्थ (tīrtha): sacred ford, pilgrimage place

• फलम् (phalam): fruit, merit

• च एव (caiva): and indeed

• वर्धते (vardhate): increases, grows

• न (na): not

• अत्र (atra): here (in this teaching)

• संशयः (saṃśayaḥ): doubt

• स्वर्गे (svarge): in heaven

• तिष्ठति (tiṣṭhati): remains, dwells

• राजेन्द्र (rājendra): O king of kings / best of kings

• यावत् (yāvat): until

• आभूत (ābhūta): up to the elements / as long as beings (endure)

• संप्लवम् (saṃplavam): deluge, cosmic inundation/dissolution (pralaya)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing a kingly listener (rājendra), within the Matsya Purana’s dharma discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Tirtha
• Svarga
• Pralaya (Saṃplava)

Tags

• Dana
• Tirtha
• Pilgrimage
• Punya
• Pralaya

FAQs

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

It uses “saṃplava” (cosmic inundation/dissolution) as a time-measure for merit, stating the giver’s heavenly reward endures until pralaya.

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

It prescribes dana (charity) proportionate to one’s capacity—an ethical rule for householders and rulers alike—emphasizing that giving at a tirtha amplifies spiritual merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is tirtha-centered practice: charity performed at a sacred site is presented as a key ritual enhancer of “tirtha-phala,” though no specific vastu/temple-building rule is stated in this verse.