Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayaga: Manasa Tirtha

Devanagari script

गोभूहिरण्यदानेन यत्फलं प्राप्नुयान्नरः स तत्फलमवाप्नोति तत्तीर्थं स्मरते पुनः //

Transliteration

gobhūhiraṇyadānena yatphalaṃ prāpnuyānnaraḥ sa tatphalamavāpnoti tattīrthaṃ smarate punaḥ //

Translation

Whatever merit a person would obtain by gifting cows, land, and gold—he attains that very merit again simply by remembering that sacred tīrtha.

Word by Word

• go: cow

• bhū: land/earth

• hiraṇya: gold/wealth

• dānena: by donation/giving

• yat-phalam: whatever fruit/merit

• prāpnuyāt: would obtain

• naraḥ: a person/man

• saḥ: he

• tat-phalam: that same fruit/merit

• avāpnoti: attains

• tat-tīrtham: that sacred ford/pilgrimage site (tīrtha)

• smarate: remembers/calls to mind

• punaḥ: again/once more (i.e., additionally).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this discourse section)

Entities Mentioned

• Tīrtha
• Go (cow)
• Bhū (land)
• Hiraṇya (gold)

Tags

• Tirtha Mahatmya
• Dana
• Smriti (Remembrance)
• Punya (Merit)
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it teaches a dharmic principle that remembrance of a sacred tīrtha can yield merit comparable to major donations.

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

It supports household and royal dharma by valuing dāna (cow, land, gold) while also affirming that mental devotion—remembering tīrthas—can generate comparable puṇya, especially when one cannot physically perform large gifts.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu/temple-building rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is tīrtha-smaraṇa as a recognized merit-producing practice, placed alongside high-value dānas.