Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

काञ्चीनूपुरशब्देन सुप्तो ऽसौ प्रतिबुध्यते भुक्त्वा तु विपुलान् भोगांस् तत्तीर्थं भजते पुनः //

Transliteration

kāñcīnūpuraśabdena supto 'sau pratibudhyate bhuktvā tu vipulān bhogāṃs tattīrthaṃ bhajate punaḥ //

Translation

Awakened from sleep by the sound of jeweled girdles and anklets, he rises; and after enjoying abundant pleasures, he returns again to resort to that sacred ford (tīrtha).

Word by Word

• काञ्ची: jeweled girdle

• नूपुर: anklet

• शब्देन: by the sound

• सुप्तः: asleep

• असौ: he (that person)

• प्रतिबुध्यते: is awakened/rouses

• भुक्त्वा: having enjoyed

• तु: and/then

• विपुलान्: abundant, great

• भोगान्: enjoyments, pleasures

• तत्-तीर्थम्: that tīrtha, that holy place

• भजते: resorts to, frequents, worships

• पुनः: again

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s account of the tirtha’s marvels)

Entities Mentioned

• Tirtha (sacred ford/place of pilgrimage)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Pilgrimage
• Phala-shruti
• Sacred Geography
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it highlights the compelling, almost irresistible pull of a tīrtha—how its sanctity draws a person back even after worldly enjoyment.

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

It supports the householder ideal of balancing bhoga (lawful enjoyment) with dharma—returning to sacred places for purification, merit, and spiritual reorientation after engaging in worldly life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is tirtha-sevana (resorting to a holy ford) as a repeated practice; the verse implies the tirtha’s experiential sanctity (heard/seen signs like anklet sounds), rather than giving specific Vastu or temple-building rules.