Shloka 21

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayaga: Manasa Tirtha

Devanagari script

एकरात्रोषितः स्नात्वा ऋणैः सर्वैः प्रमुच्यते स्वर्गलोकमवाप्नोति अनृणश्च सदा भवेत् //

Transliteration

ekarātroṣitaḥ snātvā ṛṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ pramucyate svargalokamavāpnoti anṛṇaśca sadā bhavet //

Translation

After staying for a single night and then bathing (at that sacred place), one is released from all debts; one attains the heavenly world and becomes ever free from indebtedness.

Word by Word

• eka-rātra-uṣitaḥ: having stayed one night

• snātvā: having bathed

• ṛṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ: from all debts/obligations

• pramucyate: is completely released

• svarga-lokam: the world of heaven

• avāpnoti: attains

• anṛṇaḥ: free from debt/obligation

• ca: and

• sadā: always

• bhavet: becomes

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s tīrtha-snānaphala teachings, traditionally in response to sages’ inquiry)

Entities Mentioned

• Svarga

Tags

• Tirtha
• Snana
• Karma
• Punya
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it teaches tīrtha-mahātmyam—how a brief holy stay and sacred bathing yield merit, including release from ṛṇa (obligations) and attainment of Svarga.

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

It addresses ṛṇa—the moral and social obligations (to ancestors, gods, sages, and society) central to householder/royal dharma—stating that prescribed tīrtha residence and bathing can ritually mitigate such burdens and support a life of dharmic “freedom from indebtedness.”

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual point is tīrtha-vidhi: staying even one night at a sacred site and performing snāna is presented as a potent rite (snānaphala). No Vastu or temple-construction rule is stated in this specific verse.