Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayāga

Devanagari script

*युधिष्ठिर उवाच पृथिव्यां नैमिषं पुण्यम् अन्तरिक्षे च पुष्करम् त्रयाणामपि लोकानां कुरुक्षेत्रं विशिष्यते //

Transliteration

*yudhiṣṭhira uvāca pṛthivyāṃ naimiṣaṃ puṇyam antarikṣe ca puṣkaram trayāṇāmapi lokānāṃ kurukṣetraṃ viśiṣyate //

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “On the earth, Naimiṣa is holy; and in the mid-region (the space between earth and heaven), Puṣkara is holy. Yet, among all the three worlds, Kurukṣetra is pre-eminent.”

Word by Word

• yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca: Yudhiṣṭhira said

• pṛthivyām: on the earth

• naimiṣam: Naimiṣa (Naimiṣāraṇya)

• puṇyam: holy, merit-giving

• antarikṣe: in the mid-region/sky (antarikṣa)

• ca: and

• puṣkaram: Puṣkara (sacred tirtha)

• trayāṇām api: even among the three

• lokānām: worlds/realms

• kurukṣetram: Kurukṣetra

• viśiṣyate: is distinguished, excels, is pre-eminent

Speaker

• Yudhiṣṭhira

Entities Mentioned

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Naimiṣa (Naimiṣāraṇya)
• Puṣkara
• Kurukṣetra
• Three worlds (trailokya)

Tags

• Tirtha Mahatmya
• Kurukshetra
• Pilgrimage
• Punya
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it belongs to tirtha-mahātmya and ranks sacred places by merit, declaring Kurukṣetra foremost across the three worlds.

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

It supports dharmic life by directing kings and householders toward tirtha-yātrā and पुण्य (merit) through pilgrimage, implying that choosing superior tirthas (like Kurukṣetra) enhances religious results and righteous governance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No temple-architecture rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the hierarchy of tirthas—Naimiṣa and Puṣkara are praised, but Kurukṣetra is presented as the most efficacious pilgrimage-field in trailokya.