Shloka 21

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

निर्दिष्टमृषिभिः स्नानं गंगायमुनसंगमे । पापौर्घैर्भुवि भारस्य दाहायेमं प्रजापतिः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

nirdiṣṭamṛṣibhiḥ snānaṃ gaṃgāyamunasaṃgame | pāpaurghairbhuvi bhārasya dāhāyemaṃ prajāpatiḥ || 21 ||

Translation

رِشیوں نے گنگا اور یمنا کے سنگم پر اشنان مقرر کیا ہے۔ گناہوں کے سیلاب سے زمین پر بڑھتے بوجھ کو جلا دینے کے لیے پرجاپتی نے یہ ودھی قائم کی۔

Word by Word

• nirdiṣṭam: prescribed/indicated
• nirdiṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√diś (दिश्) (धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) PPP; Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with snānam

• ṛṣibhiḥ: by sages
• ṛṣibhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; instrumental agent (कर्तृ-करण) in passive construction

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject of passive sense

• gaṃgāyamunasaṃgame: at the Ganga–Yamuna confluence
• gaṃgāyamunasaṃgame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṃgā-yamunā-saṃgama (प्रातिपदिक; गङ्गा + यमुना + संगम)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative (अधिकरण); compound ‘confluence of Ganga and Yamuna’

• pāpaurghaiḥ: by floods/masses of sins
• pāpaurghaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa-ogha (प्रातिपदिक; पाप + ओघ)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; instrumental (करण)

• bhuvi: on earth
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative (अधिकरण)

• bhārasya: of the burden
• bhārasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive relation

• dāhāya: for the burning/destruction
• dāhāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; dative of purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)

• imam: this
• imam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati (the Lord of creatures)
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā-pati (प्रातिपदिक; प्रजा + पति)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Yamuna
• Prajapati

FAQs

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

It elevates sangama-snana (bathing at the Gaṅgā–Yamunā confluence) as a divinely sanctioned tirtha-rite that purifies accumulated pāpa and lightens the earth’s moral burden.

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

By honoring a tirtha prescribed by ṛṣis and ordained by Prajāpati, the devotee expresses śraddhā and surrender through a sacred act; such reverent observance supports bhakti by cleansing obstacles (pāpa) that cloud devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/ritual discipline: the authorized performance of snāna at a specific tirtha (sangama) as a purificatory rite, emphasizing correct place-based observance within dharmic practice.