Shloka 5

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayaga and Allied Tirthas

Devanagari script

तपनस्य सुता देवी त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता यमुना गङ्गया सार्धं संगता लोकभाविनी //

Transliteration

tapanasya sutā devī triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā yamunā gaṅgayā sārdhaṃ saṃgatā lokabhāvinī //

Translation

The goddess Yamunā, daughter of Tapana (the Sun), renowned throughout the three worlds, unites with the Gaṅgā, the benefactress of the world.

Word by Word

• तपनस्य (tapanasya): of Tapana, the Sun

• सुता (sutā): daughter

• देवी (devī): goddess

• त्रिषु (triṣu): in the three

• लोकेषु (lokeṣu): worlds

• विश्रुता (viśrutā): famed, widely renowned

• यमुना (yamunā): Yamunā River (deified)

• गङ्गया (gaṅgayā): with the Gaṅgā

• सार्धम् (sārdham): together, in company

• संगता (saṃgatā): met, joined, united

• लोकभाविनी (lokabhāvinī): world-benefiting, bringing prosperity/welfare to beings.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Yamunā
• Gaṅgā
• Tapana (Sūrya)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Rivers
• Sangam
• Sacred Geography
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to sacred-geography praise, highlighting Yamunā’s divine origin and her auspicious union with the Gaṅgā.

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

It supports the Purāṇic ethic of dharmic living through honoring tīrthas—kings protect pilgrimage routes and riverbanks, while householders gain merit through reverence, bathing, charity, and restraint at sacred rivers and confluences.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it points to the sanctity of a river-confluence (sangam), a prime locus for snāna (sacred bathing), tarpaṇa, and dāna; architecturally, such sangams often justify establishing ghāṭas and shrines due to their high tīrtha-status.