Shloka 52

Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya

Devanagari script

प्रयागव्यतिरेके तु गंगायां मुंडनं न हि । योऽन्यथा कुरुते मोहात्स महारौरवं विशेत् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

prayāgavyatireke tu gaṃgāyāṃ muṃḍanaṃ na hi | yo'nyathā kurute mohātsa mahārauravaṃ viśet || 52 ||

Translation

Salvo en Prayāga, no está prescrito afeitarse la cabeza en el Gaṅgā. Quien, por engaño, haga lo contrario, entrará en el gran infierno llamado Mahāraurava.

Word by Word

• प्रयाग-व्यतिरेके: except at Prayāga
• प्रयाग-व्यतिरेके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यतिरेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: प्रयागस्य व्यतिरेकः (except Prayāga)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• गङ्गायाम्: in the Ganga
• गङ्गायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुण्डनम्: tonsure (is)
• मुण्डनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्डन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — निश्चय/हेतु (indeed/for)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — प्रकारवाचक (otherwise)

• कुरुते: does
• कुरुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• मोहात्: from delusion
• मोहात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• महा-रौरवम्: Mahāraurava (great Raurava hell)
• महा-रौरवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: महत् रौरवम्

• विशेत्: should enter
• विशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sage Narada (teaching within the Tirtha-Mahatmya section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Prayaga
• Ganga
• Maharaurava

FAQs

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

It frames pilgrimage as vidhi-governed (rule-bound): even sacred waters like the Gaṅgā require correct place-and-procedure; violating tirtha-vidhi out of ignorance is treated as adharma with severe karmic consequence.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as humble obedience to dharma and tīrtha-vidhi—honoring the sacred by following prescribed conduct rather than acting on personal whim.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: it specifies a restriction on muṇḍana in the Gaṅgā, emphasizing correct ritual context (deśa/kshetra—place) as part of dharmic practice.