Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayaga and Allied Tirthas

Devanagari script

एवं ज्ञानं च योगश्च तीर्थं चैव युधिष्ठिर बहुक्लेशेन युज्यन्ते तेन यान्ति परां गतिम् त्रिकालं जायते ज्ञानं स्वर्गलोकं गमिष्यति //

Transliteration

evaṃ jñānaṃ ca yogaśca tīrthaṃ caiva yudhiṣṭhira bahukleśena yujyante tena yānti parāṃ gatim trikālaṃ jāyate jñānaṃ svargalokaṃ gamiṣyati //

Translation

Thus, O Yudhiṣṭhira, knowledge, yoga, and pilgrimage to the tīrtha are attained only through great exertion; by them one reaches the supreme state. When knowledge ripens through the three times (past, present, and future—or through sustained practice at the three daily periods), one will go to the world of heaven.

Word by Word

• एवं (evaṃ): thus

• ज्ञानं (jñānam): knowledge, spiritual insight

• च (ca): and

• योगः (yogaḥ): yoga, disciplined spiritual practice

• तीर्थं (tīrtham): sacred ford, pilgrimage/place of pilgrimage

• च एव (caiva): and indeed

• युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira): O Yudhiṣṭhira

• बहुक्लेशेन (bahu-kleśena): with much hardship/effort

• युज्यन्ते (yujyante): are undertaken/are attained/are practiced

• तेन (tena): by that, thereby

• यान्ति (yānti): they go, attain

• परां (parām): supreme, highest

• गतिम् (gatim): goal, state

• त्रिकालं (trikālam): the three times (past-present-future / three daily periods)

• जायते (jāyate): arises, is born, manifests

• ज्ञानं (jñānam): knowledge

• स्वर्गलोकं (svarga-lokam): the heaven-world

• गमिष्यति (gamiṣyati): will go

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) addressing Yudhisthira in a didactic passage on tirtha, yoga, and jnana

Entities Mentioned

• Yudhisthira
• Tirtha
• Yoga
• Jnana
• Svarga

Tags

• Tirtha
• Yoga
• Jnana
• Moksha
• Svarga

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it focuses on individual spiritual ascent—how effortful practice of jñāna, yoga, and tīrtha leads to a higher destiny.

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

It frames dharmic life as disciplined effort: a king or householder should support pilgrimage, cultivate yogic restraint, and seek true knowledge—because these are difficult yet elevating practices that lead to the highest welfare.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is tīrtha (pilgrimage) as a meritorious practice; no direct Vāstu or temple-building rule appears, but it supports the broader Purāṇic emphasis on sacred places and their rites.