Shloka 22

Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya

Devanagari script

यज्ञाधिकारेऽप्यथवा निवृत्ते विप्रस्तु तीर्थानि परिभ्रमेच्च । तीर्थेष्वलं यज्ञफलं हि यस्मात्प्रोक्तं मुनींद्रैरमलस्वभावैः ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

yajñādhikāre'pyathavā nivṛtte viprastu tīrthāni paribhramecca | tīrtheṣvalaṃ yajñaphalaṃ hi yasmātproktaṃ munīṃdrairamalasvabhāvaiḥ || 22 ||

Translation

ଯଜ୍ଞ କରିବାର ଅଧିକାର ଥାଉ କିମ୍ବା ଯଜ୍ଞରୁ ନିବୃତ୍ତ ହୋଇଥାଉ, ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ତୀର୍ଥମାନେ ପରିଭ୍ରମଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ; କାରଣ ତୀର୍ଥରେ ଯଜ୍ଞଫଳ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ମିଳେ—ଏହା ଅମଳ ସ୍ୱଭାବର ମୁନୀନ୍ଦ୍ରମାନେ କହିଛନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• yajña-adhikāre: when entitled to perform sacrifices
• yajña-adhikāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña + adhikāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—यज्ञस्य अधिकारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/समुच्चयार्थक निपात (even)

• athavā: or
• athavā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• nivṛtte: when withdrawn/retired
• nivṛtte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nivṛtta (प्रातिपदिक; ni-√vṛt, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘when retired/ceased’ (context: from yajña)

• vipraḥ: a Brahmin
• vipraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tu: however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• tīrthāni: sacred places
• tīrthāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• paribhramet: should wander/visit
• paribhramet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√bhram (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• tīrtheṣu: in sacred places
• tīrtheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• alam: sufficient
• alam: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/assessment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पर्याप्त्यर्थक (enough/sufficient)

• yajña-phalam: the fruit of sacrifice
• yajña-phalam: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st)/द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—यज्ञस्य फलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); here as subject-complement ‘(there is) sacrifice-fruit’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/हेतौ निपात (indeed/for)

• yasmāt: because
• yasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; यत्-शब्द (because/from which reason)

• proktam: has been declared
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रिया/वचन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• muni-indraiḥ: by the best of sages
• muni-indraiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘by the best sages’

• amala-svabhāvaiḥ: of pure nature
• amala-svabhāvaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala + svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—अमलः स्वभावः येषां ते (pure-natured)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-context; traditional dialogue attribution in Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"Calmly reconciles sacrificial life and renunciation by recommending tīrtha-wandering in either case, concluding with an authoritative appeal to stainless sages."}

Characters & Entities

• Munis (great sages)
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

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

It elevates tīrtha-yātrā as a complete means of gaining yajña-phala, showing that sacred places can confer the same ritual merit through purity, faith, and contact with sanctified geography.

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

By directing the seeker to tīrthas—centers of worship, darśana, and remembrance—it implicitly supports bhakti-practice through pilgrimage, satsanga, and repeated engagement with sacred narratives and deity worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights dharma-śāstric adhikāra (ritual eligibility) and pravṛtti–nivṛtti (engagement vs. withdrawal), guiding when yajña may be replaced or complemented by tīrtha-yātrā as a recognized dharmic practice.