Shloka 166

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

तीर्थानि संति विधिजे सेवितानि मुनीश्वरैः । तेषु स्नाता दिवं यांति ये मृतास्तेऽपुनर्भवाः ॥ १६६ ॥

Transliteration

tīrthāni saṃti vidhije sevitāni munīśvaraiḥ | teṣu snātā divaṃ yāṃti ye mṛtāste'punarbhavāḥ || 166 ||

Translation

Ó nascido de Brahmā, existem lugares sagrados de peregrinação, visitados e reverenciados pelos maiores sábios. Aqueles que neles se banharam e depois deixam esta vida vão ao céu; os que assim partem não retornam novamente (alcançam a libertação do renascer).

Word by Word

• तीर्थानि: sacred fords/places
• तीर्थानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सन्ति: are
• सन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• विधिजे: O one born of Brahma (O Brahma)
• विधिजे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधिज (प्रातिपदिक; विधि+ज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (विधेः जातः) — ‘O Brahma’

• सेवितानि: served/visited
• सेवितानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् √सेव् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (served/visited)

• मुनीश्वरैः: by great sages
• मुनीश्वरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; मुनि+ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (muni-īśvara = lord among sages)

• तेषु: in those (places)
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अधिकरण (in those)

• स्नाताः: (those) who have bathed
• स्नाताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नात (कृदन्त; स्ना √स्ना (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (having bathed/bathed)

• दिवम्: to heaven
• दिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक: दिव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या √या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त; मृ √मृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अपुनर्भवाः: free from rebirth
• अपुनर्भवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपुनर्भव (प्रातिपदिक; अ+पुनर्+भव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Narada (teaching within Uttara-Bhaga tīrtha discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (implied by vidhije)
• Munis (sages)

FAQs

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

It glorifies tīrthas as sanctified by the presence and practice of great sages, teaching that tīrtha-snān (ritual bathing at holy sites) can elevate the soul after death and culminate in apunarbhava—freedom from returning to rebirth.

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

While it speaks directly of tīrtha practice, the implied bhakti element is reverence—approaching sacred places with faith and humility, following the footsteps of munis; such śraddhā-filled observance is treated as spiritually transformative in Purāṇic devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: tīrtha-snān as a prescribed act of dharma. The verse also uses precise doctrinal language like apunarbhava (non-return), aligning ritual merit with soteriological outcome.