Shloka 21

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

निर्दिष्टमृषिभिः स्नानं गंगायमुनसंगमे । पापौर्घैर्भुवि भारस्य दाहायेमं प्रजापतिः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

nirdiṣṭamṛṣibhiḥ snānaṃ gaṃgāyamunasaṃgame | pāpaurghairbhuvi bhārasya dāhāyemaṃ prajāpatiḥ || 21 ||

Translation

聖仙たちは、ガンガー（Gaṅgā）とヤムナー（Yamunā）の合流にて沐浴すべしと定めた。プラジャーパティ（Prajāpati）は、罪の奔流によって重くなった大地の負担を焼き尽くすために、この聖なる行を制定した。

Word by Word

• nirdiṣṭam: prescribed/indicated
• nirdiṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√diś (दिश्) (धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) PPP; Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with snānam

• ṛṣibhiḥ: by sages
• ṛṣibhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; instrumental agent (कर्तृ-करण) in passive construction

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of passive sense

• gaṃgāyamunasaṃgame: at the Ganga–Yamuna confluence
• gaṃgāyamunasaṃgame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṃgā-yamunā-saṃgama (प्रातिपदिक; गङ्गा + यमुना + संगम)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative (अधिकरण); compound ‘confluence of Ganga and Yamuna’

• pāpaurghaiḥ: by floods/masses of sins
• pāpaurghaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa-ogha (प्रातिपदिक; पाप + ओघ)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; instrumental (करण)

• bhuvi: on earth
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative (अधिकरण)

• bhārasya: of the burden
• bhārasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive relation

• dāhāya: for the burning/destruction
• dāhāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; dative of purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)

• imam: this
• imam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati (the Lord of creatures)
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā-pati (प्रातिपदिक; प्रजा + पति)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Yamuna
• Prajapati

FAQs

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

It elevates sangama-snana (bathing at the Gaṅgā–Yamunā confluence) as a divinely sanctioned tirtha-rite that purifies accumulated pāpa and lightens the earth’s moral burden.

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

By honoring a tirtha prescribed by ṛṣis and ordained by Prajāpati, the devotee expresses śraddhā and surrender through a sacred act; such reverent observance supports bhakti by cleansing obstacles (pāpa) that cloud devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/ritual discipline: the authorized performance of snāna at a specific tirtha (sangama) as a purificatory rite, emphasizing correct place-based observance within dharmic practice.