Shloka 59

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

ततो गत्वा प्रयागं तु सर्वदेवाभिरक्षितम् । ब्रह्मचारी वसन्मासं पितॄन्देवांश्च तर्पयन् ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

tato gatvā prayāgaṃ tu sarvadevābhirakṣitam | brahmacārī vasanmāsaṃ pitṝndevāṃśca tarpayan || 59 ||

Translation

பின்னர் எல்லாத் தேவர்களாலும் காக்கப்படும் பிரயாகத்திற்குச் சென்று, பிரம்மச்சாரியாக ஒரு மாதம் தங்கி, பித்ருக்களுக்கும் தேவர்களுக்கும் தர்ப்பணம் செய்ய வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/from there
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Discourse/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (ablative adverb)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); from √गम् ‘to go’

• प्रयागम्: to Prayāga
• प्रयागम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• सर्व-देव-अभिरक्षितम्: protected by all the gods
• सर्व-देव-अभिरक्षितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to ‘प्रयागम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि-रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वदेव); ततः ‘सर्वदेव’ + ‘अभिरक्षित’ (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to ‘प्रयागम्’)

• ब्रह्मचारी: a brahmacārin (celibate student)
• ब्रह्मचारी: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• वसन्: dwelling/staying
• वसन्: कर्ता (Kartā; participial, qualifying subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time-span)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कालावधि (duration)

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• तर्पयन्: satisfying (with offerings)
• तर्पयन्: कर्ता (Kartā; participial, qualifying subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप्/तर्पय् (धातु; √तृप् causative)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) from causative ‘तर्पयति’; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Prayāga-vāsa (tīrtha-vrata, implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Prayaga
• Pitrs
• Devas

FAQs

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

It presents Prayāga as a divinely protected tīrtha where disciplined residence (brahmacarya) combined with tarpana integrates devotion, purity, and gratitude to both devas and pitṛs—making pilgrimage a complete dharmic practice.

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

By framing the pilgrimage as reverent service—self-restraint in a sacred place and honoring divine and ancestral beings—this verse channels bhakti into concrete observance rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application is emphasized: the procedure-oriented idea of tarpana (a Kalpa/Smārta-prayoga domain) and vrata-style discipline (brahmacarya for a set period) as part of tīrtha-vidhi.