Shloka 106

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

किं गयापिंडदानेन काश्यां वा मरणेन किम् । किं कुरुक्षेत्रदानेन प्रयागे मुंडनं यदि ॥ १०६ ॥

Transliteration

kiṃ gayāpiṃḍadānena kāśyāṃ vā maraṇena kim | kiṃ kurukṣetradānena prayāge muṃḍanaṃ yadi || 106 ||

Translation

若无内在的真诚奉爱（bhakti）与正行——在伽耶（Gayā）供奉皮恩达有何益？甚至死于迦尸（Kāśī）又有何益？在俱卢之野布施、在普罗耶伽剃发，又有何益？

Word by Word

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/particle-like)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative; interrogative), एकवचन

• गयापिण्डदानेन: by piṇḍa-offering at Gayā
• गयापिण्डदानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया + पिण्ड + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (गयायां पिण्डदानम्)

• काश्याम्: in Kāśī
• काश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (alternative particle)

• मरणेन: by dying
• मरणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/particle-like)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative; interrogative), एकवचन

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/particle-like)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative; interrogative), एकवचन

• कुरुक्षेत्रदानेन: by charity at Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रदानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुक्षेत्र + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; समासः सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (कुरुक्षेत्रे दानम्)

• प्रयागे: at Prayāga
• प्रयागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मुण्डनम्: head-shaving
• मुण्डनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्डन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Tirtha-Mahatmya/ritual-critique tone, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Kāśī
• Kurukṣetra
• Prayāga

FAQs

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

It warns that famous pilgrimage acts (piṇḍa at Gayā, death at Kāśī, charity at Kurukṣetra, tonsure at Prayāga) become spiritually fruitless when performed as mere externals without the essential inner transformation—faith, purity, and dharmic living.

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

By implying that liberation-oriented merit does not arise from location-based rites alone; it depends on sincere devotion and right intention—Bhakti and inner surrender are presented as the core that makes any tirtha practice meaningful.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It indirectly critiques ritual formalism: external saṃskāra-style acts (like muṇḍana/tonsure) and śrāddha-related offerings (piṇḍa-dāna) must be aligned with dharma and intent—emphasizing correct ritual purpose rather than merely technical performance.