Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

वटमूलं समासाद्य यस्तु प्राणान्विमुञ्चति सर्वलोकानतिक्रम्य रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति //

Transliteration

vaṭamūlaṃ samāsādya yastu prāṇānvimuñcati sarvalokānatikramya rudralokaṃ sa gacchati //

Translation

Whoever, having reached the root of a banyan tree, relinquishes his life‑breath—he passes beyond all the worlds and goes to Rudra’s world.

Word by Word

• वटमूलम् (vaṭamūlam): the root of the banyan tree

• समासाद्य (samāsādya): having reached/approached

• यः तु (yaḥ tu): whoever indeed

• प्राणान् (prāṇān): the life-breaths/vital airs

• विमुञ्चति (vimuñcati): releases, gives up (the body)

• सर्वलोकान् (sarvalokān): all worlds/realms

• अतिक्रम्य (atikramya): having transcended/passed beyond

• रुद्रलोकम् (rudralokam): Rudra’s world (realm of Shiva)

• सः (saḥ): he

• गच्छति (gacchati): goes/attains.

Speaker

• Likely Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s teaching in a merit-focused section); doctrinally aligned with Lord Matsya’s instruction framework

Entities Mentioned

• Vaṭa (Banyan tree)
• Rudra
• Rudraloka

Tags

• Tirtha
• Moksha
• Rudraloka
• Merit of death
• Sacred trees

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it teaches an afterlife result (attainment of Rudraloka) gained by relinquishing life at a sanctified spot, emphasizing karmic transcendence rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

For householders and rulers, it supports the Purāṇic ideal of planning one’s end in a dharmic way—seeking sacred places, maintaining devotion, and performing meritorious acts—so that death becomes a purposeful transition aligned with dharma rather than mere accident.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it elevates the vaṭa (banyan) as a sacred locus; such verses underpin practices like vaṭa-vṛkṣa pūjā and the sanctification of groves/temple precinct trees, informing how sacred landscapes are curated around tirthas and shrines.