Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

गङ्गामेव निषेवेत प्रयागं तु विशेषतः नान्यत्कलियुगे घोरे भेषजं नृप विद्यते //

Transliteration

gaṅgāmeva niṣeveta prayāgaṃ tu viśeṣataḥ nānyatkaliyuge ghore bheṣajaṃ nṛpa vidyate //

Translation

One should resort to the Gaṅgā alone—above all, to Prayāga in particular; for in the dreadful Kali Age, O King, no other remedy is found.

Word by Word

• गङ्गाम् (gaṅgām): the Ganga

• एव (eva): alone/indeed

• निषेवेत (niṣeveta): one should resort to, frequent, attend upon

• प्रयागम् (prayāgam): Prayaga (the sacred confluence)

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ): especially, in particular

• न (na): not

• अन्यत् (anyat): anything else, other (remedy)

• कलियुगे (kaliyuge): in the Kali age

• घोरे (ghore): dreadful, terrible

• भेषजम् (bheṣajam): remedy, medicine (spiritual cure)

• नृप (nṛpa): O King

• विद्यते (vidyate): is found, exists.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to the King/Manu figure of the dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Ganga
• Prayaga
• Kali-yuga

Tags

• Tirtha
• Ganga Mahatmya
• Prayaga
• Kali-yuga
• Ritual Bathing

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it teaches a Kali-yuga upāya (remedial practice), declaring pilgrimage and resort to the Ganga—especially Prayaga—as the foremost spiritual “medicine.”

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

By addressing “O King,” it frames royal/householder dharma as ensuring access to purifying tirthas and personally practicing humility and expiation—seeking inner purification through Ganga/Prayaga rather than relying only on complex rites in Kali-yuga.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prioritizes tirtha-sevā—especially bathing, worship, and observance at Prayaga (the confluence)—as a principal Kali-yuga practice; it does not prescribe Vastu/temple construction rules in this specific line.