Shloka 52

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

यमुना गंगाया सार्द्धं संगता लोकपावनी । गांगयमुनयोर्मध्ये पृथिव्यां यत्परं स्मृतम् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

yamunā gaṃgāyā sārddhaṃ saṃgatā lokapāvanī | gāṃgayamunayormadhye pṛthivyāṃ yatparaṃ smṛtam || 52 ||

Translation

The Yamunā, purifier of the worlds, merges together with the Gaṅgā. And that sacred tract of land on earth which lies between the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā is remembered as the most excellent.

Word by Word

• यमुना: Yamunā
• यमुना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• गङ्गायाः: of the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sahakaraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (postposition/adverb) — 'together with' (सह-अर्थे)

• सङ्गता: has joined/met
• सङ्गता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + गम् (धातु) → सङ्गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Past participle used predicatively; 'has met/come together'

• लोकपावनी: purifier of the world
• लोकपावनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पावनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकान् पावयति इति)

• गाङ्गयमुनयोः: of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā
• गाङ्गयमुनयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + यमुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (गाङ्गा च यमुना च), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन — Dual, Gen./Loc. (here governing मध्ये)

• मध्ये: between/in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Locative, Singular; 'in the middle/between'

• पृथिव्याम्: on the earth
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Feminine, Locative, Singular

• यत्: which (that)
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular (relative pronoun)

• परम्: supreme/best
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular; विशेषण (of यत्)

• स्मृतम्: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Past participle used predicatively; 'is considered/remembered'

Speaker

Narada (teaching Tirtha-mahatmya in Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Yamuna
• Ganga

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It identifies the Gaṅgā–Yamunā confluence and the region between them as supremely sacred on earth, emphasizing tirtha-mahattva—places whose very geography is held to purify and elevate the pilgrim.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By praising the purifying power of holy rivers and their confluence, the verse supports Bhakti through tīrtha-sevā—approaching sacred places with श्रद्धा (faith), humility, and remembrance of the divine, which traditionally strengthens devotion and inner purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It most directly reflects kalpa-oriented pilgrimage practice (tīrtha-yātrā and snāna as dharmic observances), rather than technical Vedāṅga topics like vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa.