Shloka 103

Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth

Devanagari script

विस्मृतानि च शस्त्राणि प्रादुर्भावं प्रपेदिरे प्रभावस्तीर्थमुख्यानां तदा पुण्यतमो ऽभवत् //

Transliteration

vismṛtāni ca śastrāṇi prādurbhāvaṃ prapedire prabhāvastīrthamukhyānāṃ tadā puṇyatamo 'bhavat //

Translation

Even weapons that had fallen into oblivion manifested again; and at that time the sanctifying power of the foremost tīrthas became supremely meritorious.

Word by Word

• vismṛtāni: forgotten/long-unremembered

• ca: and

• śastrāṇi: weapons/arms

• prādurbhāvam: manifestation/appearance

• prapedire: attained/came to

• prabhāvaḥ: potency, sacred power, efficacy

• tīrtha-mukhyānām: of the chief tīrthas (principal pilgrimage sites)

• tadā: then/at that time

• puṇya-tamaḥ: most holy, most merit-giving

• abhavat: became/was

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) reporting the Matsya Purana’s tirtha-mahātmya narrative (traditionally framed as teaching ultimately rooted in Lord Matsya’s instruction).

Entities Mentioned

• Tirthas (sacred pilgrimage fords)

Tags

• Tirtha-Mahatmya
• Pilgrimage
• Punya
• Sacred Power
• Ritual Merit

FAQs

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

It does not directly describe pralaya; instead, it emphasizes extraordinary re-manifestation and heightened sacred efficacy, using “appearance again” as a sign of intensified tirtha-prabhāva (holy potency).

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

It supports the dharmic ideal that householders and rulers should seek purification and merit through recognized tirthas; honoring chief pilgrimage sites is presented as a powerful means to accrue puṇya and uphold social-religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is the primacy of tīrtha-prabhāva—bathing, worship, and offerings performed at major tirthas are portrayed as especially merit-giving; no specific vastu/temple-measurement rule is stated in this verse.