Shloka 22

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

प्रयागं विदधे देवि प्रजानां हितकाम्यया । स्नानस्थानमिदं सम्यक् सितासितजलं किल ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

prayāgaṃ vidadhe devi prajānāṃ hitakāmyayā | snānasthānamidaṃ samyak sitāsitajalaṃ kila || 22 ||

Translation

Ô Déesse, désirant le bien de tous les êtres, (le Seigneur) a établi Prayāga. C’est en vérité un lieu de bain parfaitement juste et suprême, renommé pour la confluence des eaux « blanches » et « sombres ».

Word by Word

• prayāgam: Prayaga
• prayāgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object (कर्म)

• vidadhe: established/ordained
• vidadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धा) (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• devi: O goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana; vocative

• prajānām: of creatures/of people
• prajānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; genitive

• hitakāmyayā: with the wish for (their) welfare
• hitakāmyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita-kāmya (प्रातिपदिक; हित + काम्य)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental of motive (हेतु/करण); ‘with the desire for welfare’

• snānasthānam: a bathing place
• snānasthānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna-sthāna (प्रातिपदिक; स्नान + स्थान)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject complement

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• samyak: properly/fully
• samyak: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• sitāsitajalam: (having) the white and dark waters
• sitāsitajalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sita-asita-jala (प्रातिपदिक; सित + असित + जल)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; द्वन्द्वसमासः (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः) meaning ‘white and dark waters’

• kila: indeed/it is said
• kila: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: Smaraṇa/niścaya-nipāta (स्मरण/निश्चय-निपात, particle indicating tradition/indeed)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"A calm, benevolent origin statement: Prayāga is established for universal welfare, ending in reverent appreciation of its perfectly suited bathing confluence."}

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Prayaga

FAQs

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

It presents Prayāga as a divinely instituted tīrtha meant for the welfare of beings, emphasizing the purifying power of ritual bathing at the confluence of two distinct waters.

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

By portraying the tīrtha as established for universal benefit, it supports bhakti expressed through reverent pilgrimage, sacred bathing, and remembrance of the divine purpose behind holy places.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: identifying a sanctioned snāna-sthāna (proper bathing site) and performing tīrtha-snāna as a dharmic observance during pilgrimage.