Shloka 4
Prayaga-mahatmya
Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni
सहस्रगुणिता सापि भवेत्पश्चिमवाहिनी । सा देवि दर्शनादेव ब्रह्महत्यादिहारिणी ॥ ४ ॥
sahasraguṇitā sāpi bhavetpaścimavāhinī | sā devi darśanādeva brahmahatyādihāriṇī || 4 ||
वही (पावन धारा) जब पश्चिम की ओर बहती है, तब सहस्रगुण फलवती हो जाती है। हे देवी, उसके केवल दर्शन से ही ब्रह्महत्या आदि महापातक नष्ट हो जाते हैं।
Narada (narrating tirtha-mahatmya in Uttara-Bhaga)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that certain tirthas—especially a west-flowing sacred river—carry extraordinarily amplified purifying power, so that even simple darśana (reverent sight) functions as a potent form of prayāścitta.
By stressing darśana as transformative, the verse aligns with bhakti sensibility: approaching the sacred (the Devi as tirtha) with faith and reverence grants purification, preparing the devotee for steadier devotion to the Divine.
It reflects dharma-śāstra style prayāścitta logic and tirtha-vidhi (ritual protocol): the directionality of a river (paścimavāhinī) is treated as a meaningful tirtha-marker, guiding pilgrimage practice rather than grammar or astrology.