Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

तन्माहात्म्यं ममाख्याहि तीर्थयात्राविधानयुक् । स मान्यानां विशेषाणां तीर्थानां गमने द्विज ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tanmāhātmyaṃ mamākhyāhi tīrthayātrāvidhānayuk | sa mānyānāṃ viśeṣāṇāṃ tīrthānāṃ gamane dvija || 4 ||

Translation

ତାହାର ମାହାତ୍ମ୍ୟ ମୋତେ ବିସ୍ତାରେ କହ, ତୀର୍ଥଯାତ୍ରାର ବିଧି ସହିତ। ହେ ଦ୍ୱିଜ, ପୂଜ୍ୟ ଓ ବିଶେଷ ତୀର୍ଥମାନଙ୍କୁ ଯିବା ନିୟମ ମଧ୍ୟ କହ ॥୪॥

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun stem

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness, glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• मम: of me, my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; pronoun

• आख्याहि: tell, explain
• आख्याहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तीर्थ-यात्रा-विधान-युक्: endowed with the prescribed procedure for pilgrimage to sacred places
• तीर्थ-यात्रा-विधान-युक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + युज्/युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासान्त-विशेषण; ‘विधानयुक्तः’ = endowed with proper procedure

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मान्यानाम्: of venerable (ones)
• मान्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; qualifying ‘विशेषाणाम्/तीर्थानाम्’

• विशेषाणाम्: of distinctions, special features
• विशेषाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• तीर्थानाम्: of sacred places (tirthas)
• तीर्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• गमने: in going, in the act of visiting
• गमने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (questioning a Brahmin sage/teacher within the tīrtha-māhātmya dialogue of Uttara-Bhāga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

The verse frames pilgrimage as both a sacred subject (māhātmya) and a disciplined practice (vidhāna), implying that spiritual benefit arises from understanding the tīrtha’s sanctity and following proper conduct while visiting it.

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

While not naming a deity here, the request for tīrtha-māhātmya and correct procedure supports Bhakti in practice: tīrtha-yātrā is undertaken with reverence, humility, and rule-based worship, which are core devotional dispositions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on vidhāna (ritual procedure), aligning most closely with Kalpa (rules of rites and observances) rather than technical Vedāṅgas like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa in this specific verse.