Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayaga: Manasa Tirtha

Devanagari script

गुणवान् रूपसम्पन्नो विद्वांश्च प्रियवाचकः भुक्त्वा तु विपुलान्भोगांस् तत्तीर्थं भजते पुनः //

Transliteration

guṇavān rūpasampanno vidvāṃśca priyavācakaḥ bhuktvā tu vipulānbhogāṃs tattīrthaṃ bhajate punaḥ //

Translation

Endowed with virtues and beauty—learned, and sweet of speech—having enjoyed abundant pleasures, one returns again to resort to that sacred tīrtha.

Word by Word

• गुणवान्: virtuous, possessed of good qualities

• रूपसम्पन्नः: endowed with beauty and comeliness

• विद्वान्: learned, wise

• च: and

• प्रियवाचकः: one who speaks pleasantly, sweet-tongued

• भुक्त्वा: having enjoyed/experienced

• तु: indeed

• विपुलान्: abundant, extensive

• भोगान्: enjoyments, pleasures (worldly and heavenly)

• तत्-तीर्थम्: that sacred ford/shrine (tīrtha)

• भजते: resorts to, worships, frequents

• पुनः: again, repeatedly.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution typical of Matsya Purana narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Tirtha

Tags

• Tirtha
• Punya
• Pilgrimage
• Dharma
• Merit

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it emphasizes the recurring spiritual pull of a tīrtha—after enjoying the fruits of merit, one returns again to the sacred place for further worship and purification.

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

It supports the householder/kingly ethic that dharma and merit (tīrtha-sevā, worship, good conduct) yield refined qualities—virtue, learning, pleasing speech—and that one should repeatedly renew merit through continued pilgrimage and devotion rather than stopping after enjoying worldly results.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights tīrtha-bhajana—regular resorting to a sacred site for worship/bathing; no specific Vastu or temple-construction rule is stated, but it implies the ongoing importance of maintaining and frequenting sacred pilgrimage centers.