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

پریاگ پہنچی ہوئی عورتوں کے لیے بال تراشنے کا طریقہ یوں بتایا گیا ہے کہ تمام بال سمیٹ کر دو انگلی کے برابر ہی کاٹ دیے جائیں۔

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.