Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayaga: Manasa Tirtha

Devanagari script

*मार्कण्डेय उवाच शृणु राजन्प्रयागस्य माहात्म्यं पुनरेव तु यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः //

Transliteration

*mārkaṇḍeya uvāca śṛṇu rājanprayāgasya māhātmyaṃ punareva tu yacchrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ //

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Listen, O King, once again to the greatness of Prayāga; by hearing it, one is freed from all sins—of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेयः: Mārkaṇḍeya (the sage)

• उवाच: said

• शृणु: listen

• राजन्: O King

• प्रयागस्य: of Prayāga

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness, sacred glory

• पुनः एव: once again

• तु: indeed/and

• यत्: which

• श्रुत्वा: having heard

• सर्वपापेभ्यः: from all sins

• मुच्यते: is released/freed

• न: not

• अत्र: here/in this matter

• संशयः: doubt

Speaker

• Sage Mārkaṇḍeya

Entities Mentioned

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Prayāga
• King (Rājan)

Tags

• Tirtha Mahatmya
• Prayaga
• Pilgrimage
• Punya
• Papakshaya

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it introduces the tīrtha-māhātmya of Prayāga and emphasizes moral purification (release from sin) through hearing its sacred account.

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

By addressing the listener as “O King,” the text frames dharmic leadership as grounded in śravaṇa (hearing sacred teachings) and promoting pilgrimage culture and ethical purification—values a king/householder is expected to uphold and support.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is that attentive hearing of Prayāga’s māhātmya itself is treated as a purificatory act leading to pāpa-kṣaya (diminution of sin).