Shloka 85

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

दैवतो ज्ञानमाश्रित्य प्रयागं समुपागतः । महामाघीं पुरस्कृत्य सस्नौ तत्र दिनत्रयम् ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

daivato jñānamāśritya prayāgaṃ samupāgataḥ | mahāmāghīṃ puraskṛtya sasnau tatra dinatrayam || 85 ||

Translation

他依凭天赐的觉知来到普拉亚伽（Prayāga）；并恭敬奉行神圣的“摩诃摩伽仪”（Mahā-māghī）之行，在那里沐浴三日。

Word by Word

• दैवतः: divinely guided
• दैवतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of divine disposition/‘guided by fate’)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to
• आश्रित्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+√श्रि (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/ल्यप्); ‘having resorted to/depending on’

• प्रयागम्: Prayaga
• प्रयागम्: Karma/Gati (कर्म/गति; goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्थाननाम

• समुपागतः: arrived
• समुपागतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उप+√गम् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used predicatively: ‘arrived’)

• महामाघीम्: the great Māghī (holy bath/rite)
• महामाघीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामाघी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महती माघी/‘the great Māghī [bath/observance]’)

• पुरस्कृत्य: having undertaken/observed
• पुरस्कृत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पुरस्+√कृ (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/ल्यप्); ‘having put in front/undertaken/observed’

• सस्नौ: bathed
• सस्नौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• दिनत्रयम्: for three days
• दिनत्रयम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/Time extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि दिनानि/‘three days’)

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mahāmāghī (Māgha observance / Māgha-snāna at Prayāga)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Prayaga
• Mahamaghi

FAQs

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

It presents Prayāga as a powerfully sanctifying tīrtha where divinely guided seekers undertake the Mahāmāghī discipline; the three-day bath emphasizes sustained vrata-like purity rather than a single, casual dip.

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

By highlighting reverent observance—“honoring” Mahāmāghī and bathing with intention—it frames tīrtha practice as an act of faith and devotion expressed through disciplined ritual conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-oriented ritual discipline is implied: choosing the Māgha period and performing regulated snāna for a fixed duration (three days) reflects applied knowledge of auspicious timing and correct observance procedures.