Shloka 19

Avanti–Narmadā–Puṣkara Tīrtha-Kathana (धौम्यकथितं तीर्थवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

यत्रायजत भूतात्मा पूर्वमेव पितामह: । प्रयागमिति विख्यातं तस्माद्‌ भरतसत्तम

Transliteration

yatrāyajata bhūtātmā pūrvam eva pitāmahaḥ | prayāgam iti vikhyātaṃ tasmād bharatasattama ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：“正因为太祖（Pitāmaha）——古老而以灵性遍满一切者——在往昔曾于彼处行祭，那地方便以‘普罗耶伽’（Prayāga）之名闻世，噢，婆罗多族中之最。”

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• आयजत: performed sacrifice/worshipped
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भूतात्मा: the great-souled one (of exalted nature)
• भूतात्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पूर्वम्: formerly, earlier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• पितामहः: the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रयागम्: Prayāga
• प्रयागम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इति: thus, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• विख्यातम्: well-known, famed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ख्यात
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that (reason/place)
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• भरतसत्तम: O best of the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-सत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Prayāga
• Bharatasattama (addressee from the Bharata lineage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse grounds a sacred place’s authority in exemplary ancient ritual: a tīrtha becomes revered because foundational figures performed yajña there, linking geography with ethical memory, tradition, and the pursuit of merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana explains the etymic and reputational basis of the place-name “Prayāga,” stating that it is famous because the Grandsire (Pitāmaha, i.e., Brahmā) once performed sacrifice there.