Shloka 108

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

प्रयागप्राप्तनारीणां मुंडनं त्वेवमीरयेत् । सर्वान्केशान्समुद्धृत्य छेदयेदंगुलद्वयम् ॥ १०८ ॥

Transliteration

prayāgaprāptanārīṇāṃ muṃḍanaṃ tvevamīrayet | sarvānkeśānsamuddhṛtya chedayedaṃguladvayam || 108 ||

Translation

பிரயாகம் வந்த பெண்களுக்கு கேசச் சீரமைப்பு இவ்விதம் கூறப்படுகிறது—எல்லா முடிகளையும் சேர்த்து இரண்டு விரல் அளவு மட்டும் வெட்ட வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• प्रयाग-प्राप्त-नारीणाम्: of the women who have reached Prayaga
• प्रयाग-प्राप्त-नारीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राप्त (कृदन्त, √प्राप् धातु) + नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); समासः—प्रयागं प्राप्ताः नारीः (तत्पुरुष)

• मुण्डनम्: shaving/tonsure
• मुण्डनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्डन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ईरयेत्: should prescribe/should state
• ईरयेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• केशान्: hairs
• केशान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• समुद्धृत्य: having pulled out/uprooted
• समुद्धृत्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-√हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• छेदयेत्: should cut
• छेदयेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √छिद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), णिच् (causative sense: cause to cut)

• अङ्गुल-द्वयम्: two finger-breadths
• अङ्गुल-द्वयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—द्वे अङ्गुली प्रमाणम् (द्विगु)

Speaker

Sage Narada (teaching in the Prayaga Mahatmya context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Prayaga

FAQs

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

It frames a measured, modest form of hair-cutting for women at Prayaga as a regulated tirtha-observance, emphasizing discipline (niyama) and ritual propriety rather than extreme austerity.

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

By prescribing a simple, rule-based act performed at a sacred tirtha, it supports bhakti through embodied reverence—devotion expressed as careful observance while undertaking pilgrimage rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: the verse gives a concrete ritual specification using a traditional measure (aṅgula), reflecting how rites are standardized through precise, repeatable instructions.