Shloka 22

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayāga

Devanagari script

एवं योगस्य सम्प्राप्तिस्थानं परमदुर्लभम् गच्छन्ति नरकं घोरं ये नराः पापकर्मिणः //

Transliteration

evaṃ yogasya samprāptisthānaṃ paramadurlabham gacchanti narakaṃ ghoraṃ ye narāḥ pāpakarmiṇaḥ //

Translation

Thus, the state that leads to the attainment of Yoga is exceedingly hard to obtain; those men who commit sinful deeds go to a terrible hell.

Word by Word

• evaṃ: thus

• yogasya: of yoga (spiritual discipline/union)

• samprāpti-sthānam: the station/means leading to attainment

• parama-durlabham: extremely rare, very difficult to obtain

• gacchanti: go, proceed

• narakam: to hell

• ghoram: dreadful, terrifying

• ye: who

• narāḥ: men, persons

• pāpa-karmiṇaḥ: doers of sinful actions

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Yoga
• Naraka

Tags

• Yoga
• Dharma
• Sin
• Naraka
• Liberation

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it focuses on moral causality—rare spiritual attainment through yoga versus the post-death consequence of sinful action (narrowly framed as Naraka).

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

It reinforces the Matsya Purana’s dharmic ethic: rulers and householders must avoid pāpa (harmful, unrighteous acts) and cultivate disciplines aligned with yoga, since conduct determines one’s spiritual trajectory and afterlife outcome.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-architecture rule is stated here; the verse is a general dharma-yoga warning that ritual or external acts are insufficient if one persists in pāpakarma.