Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

कोटितीर्थं समासाद्य यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत् कोटिवर्षसहस्राणां स्वर्गलोके महीयते //

Transliteration

koṭitīrthaṃ samāsādya yastu prāṇānparityajet koṭivarṣasahasrāṇāṃ svargaloke mahīyate //

Translation

Whoever reaches Koti-tīrtha and there relinquishes the life-breath is honored in the heavenly world for thousands of crores of years.

Word by Word

• कोटितीर्थम् (koṭitīrtham): Koti-tirtha, the sacred ford

• समासाद्य (samāsādya): having reached/attained

• यः तु (yaḥ tu): whoever indeed

• प्राणान् (prāṇān): life-breaths, vital airs

• परित्यजेत् (parityajet): would abandon, give up (i.e., die)

• कोटिवर्षसहस्राणाम् (koṭivarṣa-sahasrāṇām): for thousands of crores of years

• स्वर्गलोके (svargaloke): in the heavenly realm

• महीयते (mahīyate): is honored, is greatly exalted.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (tirtha-mahatmya discourse context)

Entities Mentioned

• Koti-tirtha
• Svarga

Tags

• Tirtha
• Pilgrimage
• Phala-shruti
• Afterlife
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it belongs to a tīrtha-māhātmya section and emphasizes the post-death heavenly reward (svarga-phala) connected to dying at a sacred ford.

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

It supports the Purāṇic householder ideal of earning merit through dharmic pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā) and faith in sacred geography; it is not a political duty-verse, but a devotional-ethical incentive for righteous living and holy observances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the tīrtha’s phala: reaching Koti-tīrtha (typically implying pilgrimage and bathing/observance there) is said to grant extraordinary heavenly honor, especially if one’s death occurs at that sacred site.