Shloka 2

The Greatness of Prayāga: Fruits of Pilgrimage, Remembrance, and Cow-Gift

Devanagari script

आर्तानां च दरिद्राणां निश्चितव्यवसायिनाम् । स्थानं मुक्त्वा प्रयागं तु नाक्षयं तु कदाचन

Transliteration

ārtānāṃ ca daridrāṇāṃ niścitavyavasāyinām | sthānaṃ muktvā prayāgaṃ tu nākṣayaṃ tu kadācana

Translation

ಆರ್ತರು, ದರಿದ್ರರು ಹಾಗೂ ದೃಢನಿಶ್ಚಯಿಗಳು—ತಮ್ಮ ಸ್ಥಳವನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಪ್ರಯಾಗಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದರೆ ಅವರ ಪುಣ್ಯಲಾಭವು ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಕ್ಷಯವಾಗದು.

Word by Word

• आर्तानाम्: of the afflicted
• आर्तानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन — masculine genitive plural

• च: and
• च: Discourse connector (Samuccaya)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय) — conjunction

• दरिद्राणाम्: of the poor
• दरिद्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दरिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन — masculine genitive plural

• निश्चितव्यवसायिनाम्: of the determined (fixed in resolve)
• निश्चितव्यवसायिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चित + व्यवसायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन — masculine genitive plural; ‘those whose resolve is fixed’

• स्थानम्: place, abode
• स्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — neuter accusative singular; मुक्त्वा इत्यस्य कर्म

• मुक्त्वा: having left
• मुक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √मुच् (धातु) → मुक्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund) — having left/abandoned

• प्रयागम्: Prayāga
• प्रयागम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — masculine accusative singular; गमन/आश्रयार्थे कर्म

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (Nipata/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) — particle

• न: not
• न: Negation (Nipata/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध) — negation particle

• अक्षयम्: imperishable, inexhaustible
• अक्षयम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — neuter accusative singular; (प्रयागम्) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (Nipata/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) — particle

• कदाचन: ever, at any time
• कदाचन: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक) — indeclinable adverb (ever/at any time)

Speaker

Unspecified (Svarga-khaṇḍa narrative voice; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाक्षयं = न + अक्षयम्.

Characters & Entities

• Prayāga

FAQs

What does this verse teach about Prayāga as a tīrtha?

It presents Prayāga as a place where spiritual merit becomes “akṣaya” (imperishable), emphasizing the enduring fruit of taking refuge in this sacred confluence.

Why are the afflicted and poor specifically mentioned?

The verse highlights inclusivity: even those burdened by suffering or lack of resources can attain lasting spiritual benefit through determined resolve and turning toward a powerful tīrtha.

What ethical lesson is implied here?

It elevates steadfast intention (niścita-vyavasāya) and sincere seeking over social status, implying that perseverance and faith can transform hardship into lasting spiritual progress.