Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

देवदानवगन्धर्वा ऋषयः सिद्धचारणाः सदा सेवन्ति तत्तीर्थं गङ्गायमुनसंगमम् //

Transliteration

devadānavagandharvā ṛṣayaḥ siddhacāraṇāḥ sadā sevanti tattīrthaṃ gaṅgāyamunasaṃgamam //

Translation

Gods, Dānavas, Gandharvas, sages, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas ever resort to that sacred tīrtha—the confluence of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā.

Word by Word

• देव (deva): gods

• दानव (dānava): dānavas/demons (a class of beings)

• गन्धर्व (gandharva): celestial musicians

• ऋषि (ṛṣi): sages/seers

• सिद्ध (siddha): perfected beings

• चारण (cāraṇa): celestial bards/wanderers

• सदा (sadā): always

• सेवन्ति (sevanti): they frequent/serve/resort to

• तत् (tat): that

• तीर्थम् (tīrtham): sacred ford/pilgrimage place

• गङ्गा (gaṅgā): the river Ganges

• यमुना (yamunā): the river Yamuna

• संगम (saṅgama): confluence/meeting point

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the tirtha’s greatness within the Matsya Purana’s pilgrimage discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Danavas
• Gandharvas
• Rishis
• Siddhas
• Charanas
• Ganga
• Yamuna
• Sangama (Prayaga)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Prayaga
• Ganga
• Yamuna
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it praises a tirtha by stating that even divine and perfected beings continually frequent the Gaṅgā–Yamunā confluence.

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

It supports the dharmic ideal of tirtha-sevā—maintaining reverence for sacred places and undertaking pilgrimage; householders and rulers are encouraged to honor such confluences through worship, charity, and ritual bathing traditions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual emphasis is on the sangama as a premier tirtha for pilgrimage practice—especially visiting and performing acts of devotion at the Gaṅgā–Yamunā meeting point (commonly associated with sangama-snana and tirtha-upāsanā).