Shloka 19

Prayāga’s Supremacy Among Tīrthas: Faith, Yoga, Charity, and the Ethics of Attainment

Devanagari script

कथं योगेन तत्प्राप्तिः स्वर्गलोकस्तु कर्मणा । तदा च लभते भोगान्गां च तत्कर्मणां फलम्

Transliteration

kathaṃ yogena tatprāptiḥ svargalokastu karmaṇā | tadā ca labhate bhogāngāṃ ca tatkarmaṇāṃ phalam

Translation

कथं योगेन तत्प्राप्तिः स्वर्गलोकस्तु कर्मणा? तदा च लभते भोगान्गां च तत्कर्मणां फलम्।

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न (Interrogative relation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• योगेन: by yoga
• योगेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• प्राप्तिः: attainment
• प्राप्तिः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• स्वर्गलोकः: the heaven-world
• स्वर्गलोकः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वर्गस्य लोकः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• कर्मणा: by action (karma)
• कर्मणा: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Present indicative

• भोगान्: enjoyments
• भोगान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• गाम्: a cow / the earth (go)
• गाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: of those
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive determiner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; genitive plural used as determiner with कर्मणाम् in compound-like phrase

• कर्मणाम्: of actions
• कर्मणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent dialogue within Svarga-khaṇḍa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्प्राप्तिः = तत् + प्राप्तिः; स्वर्गलोकस्तु = स्वर्गलोकः + तु; भोगान्गाम् = भोगान् + गाम्; तत्कर्मणां = तत् + कर्मणाम् (orthographic sandhi).

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā

FAQs

What contrast does this verse draw between yoga and karma?

It contrasts yoga as a means to attain a higher spiritual goal, while svarga (heaven) is described as attainable through karma (ritual and meritorious actions), which yields enjoyments as its result.

Why is Gaṅgā mentioned alongside the fruits of actions?

The verse presents reaching/obtaining Gaṅgā as a karmic fruit—suggesting that access to sacred places or purifying encounters (like Gaṅgā) can be framed as results of accumulated merit.

What ethical lesson is implied about seeking results?

It implies discernment between temporary results (bhoga and svarga as karma-phala) and a deeper attainment associated with yoga, encouraging prioritization of lasting spiritual realization over transient rewards.