Shloka 9

Matsya Purana — The Glory of Prayaga: Pilgrimage

Devanagari script

प्रयागं तु विशेषेण सदा रक्षति वासवः मण्डलं रक्षति हरिर् दैवतैः सह संगतः //

Transliteration

prayāgaṃ tu viśeṣeṇa sadā rakṣati vāsavaḥ maṇḍalaṃ rakṣati harir daivataiḥ saha saṃgataḥ //

Translation

Indra (Vāsava) continually protects Prayāga in a special way; and Hari (Viṣṇu), accompanied by the gods, safeguards the entire sacred circuit (maṇḍala) around it.

Word by Word

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

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• विशेषेण (viśeṣeṇa): especially, in a distinctive manner

• सदा (sadā): always

• रक्षति (rakṣati): protects, guards

• वासवः (vāsavaḥ): Vāsava (Indra)

• मण्डलम् (maṇḍalam): circle/region/sacred circuit

• रक्षति (rakṣati): protects

• हरिः (hariḥ): Hari (Viṣṇu)

• दैवतैः (daivataiḥ): with the gods/divinities

• सह (saha): together with

• संगतः (saṃgataḥ): assembled, accompanied.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (narrating sacred geography to Vaivasvata Manu in the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Prayaga
• Vasava (Indra)
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Daivatas (the gods)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Prayaga
• Sacred Geography
• Divine Protection
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it emphasizes ongoing divine protection of a tirtha—Indra guards Prayāga specifically, while Viṣṇu protects the wider sacred maṇḍala with the assembled gods.

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

By portraying tirthas as guarded by deities, the verse supports the Purāṇic ethic that householders and rulers should honor and protect sacred places, facilitate pilgrimage, and uphold dharma connected with public religious sites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it frames Prayāga as a protected sacred zone (maṇḍala), implying regulated pilgrimage practice and reverence for the larger sanctified circuit—useful for understanding tirtha-boundary (kṣetra/maṇḍala) concepts in planning shrines and conducting rites.