Shloka 7
Matsya Purana — The Glory of Prayaga: Pilgrimage
अन्ये च बहवस्तीर्थाः सर्वपापहराः शुभाः न शक्याः कथितुं राजन् बहुवर्षशतैरपि संक्षेपेण प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रयागस्य तु कीर्तनम् //
anye ca bahavastīrthāḥ sarvapāpaharāḥ śubhāḥ na śakyāḥ kathituṃ rājan bahuvarṣaśatairapi saṃkṣepeṇa pravakṣyāmi prayāgasya tu kīrtanam //
And there are many other sacred fords as well—auspicious places that remove all sins. O King, they cannot be fully described even in hundreds of years. Therefore, I shall declare in brief the praise (account) of Prayāga.
FAQs
This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it shifts to sacred geography, stating that innumerable tīrthas exist and that Prayāga’s praise will be given in brief.
By addressing the listener as “O King,” the text frames pilgrimage and tīrtha-recitation as part of righteous governance and personal dharma—supporting public piety while guiding householders toward merit through sanctioned sacred practices.
The ritual significance is the concept of tīrtha-kīrtana—reciting and hearing the glory of a pilgrimage site (especially Prayāga) as a dharmic act associated with purification and merit, rather than temple architecture rules.