Prayaga-mahatmya
Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni
अश्वमेधफलं तत्र स्नानमात्रेण लभ्यते । यावच्चंद्रश्च सूर्यश्च तावत्स्वर्गे महीयते ॥ ९६ ॥
aśvamedhaphalaṃ tatra snānamātreṇa labhyate | yāvaccaṃdraśca sūryaśca tāvatsvarge mahīyate || 96 ||
तत्र स्नानमात्रेण अश्वमेधफलं लभ्यते। यावच्चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च तावत्स्वर्गे महीयते॥
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It elevates tīrtha-snāna (bathing at a sacred pilgrimage site) as a powerful dharmic act, stating that its merit can equal the famed Aśvamedha sacrifice and yields long-lasting heavenly honor.
While framed as tīrtha-māhātmya, it supports bhakti-oriented practice by emphasizing accessible sacred actions (like bathing with faith at a holy place) as spiritually efficacious, not only elite royal sacrifices.
Kalpa/ritual practice is implied: the verse contrasts a major śrauta rite (Aśvamedha) with the simple rite of tīrtha-snāna, teaching the ritual principle that place (deśa) and prescribed act (snāna) can generate great puṇya.