Shloka 3
Prayāga’s Supremacy Among Tīrthas: Faith, Yoga, Charity, and the Ethics of Attainment
प्रयागमपि लोकानां कुरुक्षेत्रं विशिष्यते । सर्वाणि संपरित्यज्य कथमेकं प्रशंससि
prayāgamapi lokānāṃ kurukṣetraṃ viśiṣyate | sarvāṇi saṃparityajya kathamekaṃ praśaṃsasi
പ്രയാഗവും ജനങ്ങളിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്; എങ്കിലും കുരുക്ഷേത്രം അതിലും വിശിഷ്ടമെന്നു കരുതപ്പെടുന്നു. എല്ലാം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് നീ എങ്ങനെ ഒരൊന്നിനേ മാത്രം പുകഴ്ത്തുന്നു?
Unspecified interlocutor (contextual questioner within the chapter’s dialogue)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: tirtha
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रयागम् + अपि = प्रयागमपि (m+a→ma). कथम् + एकम् = कथमेकम् (m+e→me).
FAQs
It reflects a common Purāṇic pattern of ranking pilgrimage sites, stating that Kurukṣetra is regarded as especially distinguished even compared to famed Prayāga.
The question challenges exclusive praise of a single holy place, implying that many tīrthas are revered and asking for the reasoning behind elevating one above the rest.
The verse encourages discernment about sacred places and invites the tradition’s explanation for Kurukṣetra’s special status, rather than assuming all tīrthas are identical in merit.