Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

प्रयागमाधवं भक्त्या प्रयागेशं च कामदम् । प्रयागे तपसि स्नात्वा येर्चयंत्यन्वहं सदा

Transliteration

prayāgamādhavaṃ bhaktyā prayāgeśaṃ ca kāmadam | prayāge tapasi snātvā yercayaṃtyanvahaṃ sadā

Translation

凡在普拉雅伽（Prayāga）的苦行圣渡（Tapas-tīrtha）沐浴之后，以虔敬之心日日不辍礼拜普拉雅伽·摩达婆（Prayāga-Mādhava）与满愿的普拉雅格伊沙（Prayāgeśa，Kāmada）者，

Word by Word

• प्रयागमाधवम्: Mādhava of Prayāga (Viṣṇu)
• प्रयागमाधवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग + माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रयागस्य माधवः)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• प्रयागेशम्: the Lord of Prayāga
• प्रयागेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• कामदम्: wish-granting
• कामदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रयागेशम्)

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

• तपसि: in penance
• तपसि: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रियाविशेषण (absolutive)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अर्चयन्ति: worship
• अर्चयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अन्वहम्: every day
• अन्वहम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्वहम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: ‘daily’)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Tapas-tīrtha with Prayāga-Mādhava and Prayāgeśa worship

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrims seeking a complete Prayāga regimen

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim couple or ascetic, fresh from bathing, stands between two sanctums: one with Viṣṇu as Mādhava holding śaṅkha-cakra, the other with the Prayāgeśa liṅga; offerings and lamps arranged symmetrically to show Hari-Hara unity.

Characters & Entities

• Prayāga
• Tapas-tīrtha
• Prayāga-Mādhava
• Prayāgeśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred bathing followed by steady daily devotion—honoring both Hari and Hara—forms a complete path of tīrtha-dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prayāga, particularly Tapas-tīrtha, along with the deities Prayāga-Mādhava and Prayāgeśa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Bathe at Tapas-tīrtha in Prayāga and perform daily worship (arcana) of Prayāga-Mādhava and Prayāgeśa.