Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayaga and Allied Tirthas

Devanagari script

व्रतं दानं तपस्तीर्थं यागाः सर्वे सदक्षिणाः योगाः सांख्यं सदाचारो ये चान्ये ज्ञानहेतवः प्रयागस्य तु सर्वे ते कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् //

Transliteration

vrataṃ dānaṃ tapastīrthaṃ yāgāḥ sarve sadakṣiṇāḥ yogāḥ sāṃkhyaṃ sadācāro ye cānye jñānahetavaḥ prayāgasya tu sarve te kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm //

Translation

Vows (vrata), charity (dāna), austerity (tapas), other holy places, and all sacrifices (yajña) performed with due dakṣiṇā; yoga, Sāṃkhya, good conduct, and whatever else serves as a cause of knowledge—none of these, even together, equals even a sixteenth part of the merit of Prayāga.

Word by Word

• व्रतम् (vratam): vow/observance

• दानम् (dānam): charitable giving

• तपः (tapaḥ): austerity/penance

• तीर्थम् (tīrtham): sacred ford/pilgrimage place

• यागाः (yāgāḥ): sacrifices/ritual offerings

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• स-दक्षिणाः (sa-dakṣiṇāḥ): accompanied by dakṣiṇā (ritual fees/gifts to priests)

• योगाः (yogāḥ): yogic disciplines

• सांख्यम् (sāṃkhyam): Sāṃkhya (discriminative philosophy)

• सदाचारः (sadācāraḥ): right conduct/good custom

• ये च अन्ये (ye ca anye): and whatever other (things)

• ज्ञान-हेतवः (jñāna-hetavaḥ): causes/means of knowledge

• प्रयागस्य (prayāgasya): of Prayāga

• तु (tu): but/indeed

• सर्वे ते (sarve te): all those

• कलाम् (kalām): a fraction/part

• न अर्हन्ति (na arhanti): do not deserve/are not equal to

• षोडशीम् (ṣoḍaśīm): a sixteenth part

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Prayaga

Tags

• Tirtha Mahatmya
• Prayaga
• Punya
• Dharma
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it emphasizes dharmic merit (puṇya) by ranking Prayāga’s sanctity above vows, austerities, sacrifices, and philosophical disciplines.

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

It frames core duties—vrata (discipline), dāna (charity), yajña with proper dakṣiṇā, and sadācāra (ethical conduct)—and teaches that pilgrimage to an exceptionally sacred tirtha like Prayāga is a powerful dharmic act that complements those obligations.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights yajñas performed “with dakṣiṇā,” underscoring correct procedure and priestly remuneration; no specific Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated in this verse.