Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayāga

Devanagari script

*मार्कण्डेय उवाच श्रुतं मे ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तं पुराणे ब्रह्मसम्भवे तीर्थानां तु सहस्राणि शतानि नियुतानि च सर्वे पुण्याः पवित्राश्च गतिश्च परमा स्मृता //

Transliteration

*mārkaṇḍeya uvāca śrutaṃ me brahmaṇā proktaṃ purāṇe brahmasambhave tīrthānāṃ tu sahasrāṇi śatāni niyutāni ca sarve puṇyāḥ pavitrāśca gatiśca paramā smṛtā //

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: I have heard, as declared by Brahmā in the Brahma-sambhava Purāṇa, that there are thousands, hundreds, and even myriads of sacred fords (tīrthas). All of them are meritorious and purifying, and are remembered as a supreme means of spiritual attainment.

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेय उवाच: Mārkaṇḍeya said

• श्रुतम् मे: heard by me

• ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तम्: spoken/declared by Brahmā

• पुराणे ब्रह्मसम्भवे: in the Purāṇa called Brahma-sambhava (arisen from Brahmā)

• तीर्थानाम्: of sacred places/fords (tīrthas)

• तु: indeed

• सहस्राणि: thousands

• शतानि: hundreds

• नियुतानि: myriads/ten-thousands (a very large number)

• च: and

• सर्वे: all

• पुण्याः: merit-giving/holy

• पवित्राः च: and purifying

• गतिः च: and a path/means of reaching (liberation/heaven)

• परमा: supreme

• स्मृता: are remembered/are taught.

Speaker

• Markandeya Rishi

Entities Mentioned

• Markandeya
• Brahma
• Tirthas

Tags

• Tirtha
• Pilgrimage
• Punya
• Purification
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it emphasizes that innumerable tīrthas exist and are taught as powerful purifiers and as a supreme spiritual “path” (gati).

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

It supports the dharmic practice of tīrtha-yātrā: householders (and kings who patronize public religion) gain merit and purification through sanctioned pilgrimage and reverence for sacred places.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it frames tīrthas as purifying sites where acts like bathing, offerings, and vows are especially efficacious; it does not state specific Vāstu or temple-building rules in this verse.