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

Bagi yang menderita dan yang miskin, serta mereka yang berazam teguh—setelah meninggalkan tempat asal dan datang ke Prayāga, perolehan rohaninya tidak akan lenyap pada bila-bila masa.

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.