Shloka 38
Prayaga-mahatmya
Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni
तीर्थैर्व्रतैर्दानतपोभिरध्वरैः सार्द्धं विधात्रा तुलया धृतं पुरा । माघः प्रयागश्च तयोर्द्वयोरभून्माघो गरीयांश्चतुराननात्मजे ॥ ३८ ॥
tīrthairvratairdānatapobhiradhvaraiḥ sārddhaṃ vidhātrā tulayā dhṛtaṃ purā | māghaḥ prayāgaśca tayordvayorabhūnmāgho garīyāṃścaturānanātmaje || 38 ||
往昔，造物主毗陀特利（Vidhātṛ，梵天）曾以天平同称：诸圣地、诸誓戒、布施、苦行与祭祀仪轨。称量之中，“普拉亚伽（Prayāga）”与“摩伽月（Māgha）”最为显著；而对四面梵天之子而言，摩伽月更为“沉重”，即功德更胜于普拉亚伽。
Narada (narrating the Māhātmya within the Uttara-Bhāga dialogue tradition)
Vrata: Māgha (month-long sacred observance; Māgha-snāna implied by context)
Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"From cosmic wonder at Brahmā’s weighing of merits to a climactic exaltation of Māgha as surpassingly meritorious."}
FAQs
It declares a hierarchy of merit: among major dharmic means (tīrtha, vrata, dāna, tapas, yajña), the observances connected with Māgha—especially in relation to Prayāga—are portrayed as exceptionally potent, with Māgha singled out as ‘heavier’ in spiritual fruit.
By elevating sacred time (Māgha) and sacred place (Prayāga), the verse supports bhakti-style practice through intensified worship, bathing, vows, charity, and remembrance performed in auspicious settings—making devotion more concentrated and fruitful.
It implicitly uses Vedic calendrical discipline (Jyotiṣa/kalā—sacred timing such as the Māgha month) and ritual prioritization (Kalpa—how rites, vows, and sacrifices are valued and scheduled) to guide practitioners toward high-impact observances.