Shloka 18

The Glory of Prayāga: Merit of Bathing, Remembrance, and Divine Protection

Devanagari script

मनसा चिंतितान्कामान्सम्यक्प्राप्नोति पुष्कलान् । ततो गत्त्वा प्रयागं तु सर्वदेवाभिरक्षितम्

Transliteration

manasā ciṃtitānkāmānsamyakprāpnoti puṣkalān | tato gattvā prayāgaṃ tu sarvadevābhirakṣitam

Translation

മനസ്സിൽ ആഗ്രഹിച്ച സമൃദ്ധമായ വരഫലങ്ങൾ അവൻ പൂർണ്ണമായി പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു. തുടർന്ന് സർവദേവന്മാരാൽ സംരക്ഷിതമായ പ്രയാഗത്തിലേക്ക് പോകണം।

Word by Word

• manasā: by the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• cintitān: thought-of, desired
• cintitān: Karma (कर्म/Object) (qualifier of kāmān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cintita (कृदन्त; √cint (चिन्त्) धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kāmān: desires
• kāmān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• samyak: properly, fully
• samyak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• prāpnoti: attains
• prāpnoti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prāp (प्राप्) धातु
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• puṣkalān: abundant, plentiful
• puṣkalān: Karma (कर्म/Object) (qualifier of kāmān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣkala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/previous action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: gatvā (कृदन्त; √gam (गम्) धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable (अव्ययभाव)

• prayāgam: Prayāga
• prayāgam: Karma (कर्म/Object) (goal of going)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed, but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात/avyaya), contrast/emphasis

• sarva-devābhi-rakṣitam: protected by all the gods
• sarva-devābhi-rakṣitam: Karma (कर्म/Object) (qualifier of prayāgam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣita (कृदन्त; √rakṣ (रक्ष्) धातु)
• Form: Compound: sarva-devaiḥ (instrumental plural) + rakṣitam (PPP); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally qualifying 'prayāgam'

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within the Svarga-khaṇḍa context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: ciṃtitān kāmān → ciṃtitānkāmān; samyak prāpnoti → samyakprāpnoti; sarva-devaiḥ rakṣitam → sarvadevābhirakṣitam; tataḥ gatvā → tato gattvā (visarga sandhi and consonant assimilation).

Characters & Entities

• Prayāga
• Sarvadevāḥ (all the gods)

FAQs

What does this verse say about the fruit (phala) of inner intention or mental desire?

It states that wishes contemplated in the mind can be attained fully and abundantly, presenting mental intention as spiritually consequential.

Why is Prayāga highlighted as a sacred destination here?

Prayāga is described as “protected by all the gods,” marking it as an exceptionally safeguarded and potent tīrtha for pilgrimage.

What ethical or practical guidance does the verse imply for devotees?

It implies aligning one’s inner desires with sacred aims and then undertaking pilgrimage—moving from intention to disciplined religious action.