Matsya Purana — Chapter 108

MtP 108.1

एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रयागस्य यत्त्वया परिकीर्तितम् विशुद्धं मे ऽद्य हृदयं प्रयागस्य तु कीर्तनात्

etacchrutvā prayāgasya yattvayā parikīrtitam viśuddhaṃ me 'dya hṛdayaṃ prayāgasya tu kīrtanāt

Having heard this about Prayāga, which you have proclaimed, my heart is today made pure by the very telling of Prayāga.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.2

अनाशकफलं ब्रूहि भगवंस्तत्र कीदृशम् यं च लोकमवाप्नोति विशुद्धः सर्वकिल्बिषैः

anāśakaphalaṃ brūhi bhagavaṃstatra kīdṛśam yaṃ ca lokamavāpnoti viśuddhaḥ sarvakilbiṣaiḥ

Tell (me), lord, what the fruit of fasting there is like, and which world he attains who is purified of all sins.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.3

शृणु राजन्प्रयागे तु अनाशकफलं विभो प्राप्नोति पुरुषो धीमाञ् श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः

śṛṇu rājanprayāge tu anāśakaphalaṃ vibho prāpnoti puruṣo dhīmāñ śraddadhāno jitendriyaḥ

Hear, O king, O mighty one, the fruit of fasting at Prayāga: an intelligent man, faithful, with senses subdued, obtains (it).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.4

अहीनाङ्गो ऽप्यरोगश्च पञ्चेन्द्रियसमन्वितः अश्वमेधफलं तस्य गच्छतस्तु पदे पदे

ahīnāṅgo 'pyarogaśca pañcendriyasamanvitaḥ aśvamedhaphalaṃ tasya gacchatastu pade pade

(He should be) not deficient in any limb, free of disease, and endowed with the five senses; as he walks, at every step there is for him the fruit of a horse-sacrifice.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.5

कुलानि तारयेद्राजन् दश पूर्वान्दशापरान् मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो गच्छेत्तु परमं पदम्

kulāni tārayedrājan daśa pūrvāndaśāparān mucyate sarvapāpebhyo gacchettu paramaṃ padam

He would carry across, O king, ten generations before and ten after; he is released from all sins and would go to the highest state.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.6

महाभाग्यं हि धर्मस्य यत्त्वं वदसि मे प्रभो अल्पेनैव प्रयत्नेन बहून्धर्मानवाप्नुते

mahābhāgyaṃ hi dharmasya yattvaṃ vadasi me prabho alpenaiva prayatnena bahūndharmānavāpnute

Great indeed is the good fortune of righteousness, in that you tell me, O lord, that by but small effort one obtains many merits,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.7

अश्वमेधैस्तु बहुभिः प्राप्यते सुव्रतैरिह इमं मे संशयं छिन्द्धि परं कौतूहलं हि मे

aśvamedhaistu bahubhiḥ prāpyate suvratairiha imaṃ me saṃśayaṃ chinddhi paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me

whereas here it is obtained by many horse-sacrifices, O you of good vows. Cut off this doubt of mine, for my curiosity is great.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.8

शृणु राजन्महावीर यदुक्तं ब्रह्मयोनिना ऋषीणां संनिधौ पूर्वं कथ्यमानं मया श्रुतम्

śṛṇu rājanmahāvīra yaduktaṃ brahmayoninā ṛṣīṇāṃ saṃnidhau pūrvaṃ kathyamānaṃ mayā śrutam

Hear, O king, great hero, what was said by the one born of Brahmā (or: born from Brahmā's womb), formerly told in the presence of the sages and heard by me.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.9

पञ्चयोजनविस्तीर्णं प्रयागस्य तु मण्डलम् प्रविष्टमात्रे तद्भूमाव् अश्वमेधः पदे पदे

pañcayojanavistīrṇaṃ prayāgasya tu maṇḍalam praviṣṭamātre tadbhūmāv aśvamedhaḥ pade pade

The circuit of Prayāga extends five yojanas; for one who has merely entered upon that ground, there is a horse-sacrifice at every step.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.10

व्यतीतान्पुरुषान्सप्त भविष्यांश्च चतुर्दश नरस्तारयते सर्वान् यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत्

vyatītānpuruṣānsapta bhaviṣyāṃśca caturdaśa narastārayate sarvān yastu prāṇānparityajet

A man carries across all seven past generations and fourteen to come, if he gives up his life (there).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.11

एवं ज्ञात्वा तु राजेन्द्र सदा सेवापरो भवेत् अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषाः पापोपहतचेतसः न प्राप्नुवन्ति तत्स्थानं प्रयागं देवरक्षितम्

evaṃ jñātvā tu rājendra sadā sevāparo bhavet aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣāḥ pāpopahatacetasaḥ na prāpnuvanti tatsthānaṃ prayāgaṃ devarakṣitam

Knowing this, O best of kings, one should be ever devoted to its service. Faithless men, their minds stricken by sin, do not reach that place, Prayāga, guarded by the gods.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.12

स्नेहाद्वा द्रव्यलोभाद्वा ये तु कामवशं गताः कथं तीर्थफलं तेषां कथं पुण्यफलं भवेत्

snehādvā dravyalobhādvā ye tu kāmavaśaṃ gatāḥ kathaṃ tīrthaphalaṃ teṣāṃ kathaṃ puṇyaphalaṃ bhavet

But those who have fallen under the sway of desire, whether from attachment or from greed for goods — how is there for them the fruit of the sacred ford, how would the fruit of merit come about?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.13

विक्रयः सर्वभाण्डानां कार्याकार्यमजानतः प्रयागे का गतिस्तस्य तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह

vikrayaḥ sarvabhāṇḍānāṃ kāryākāryamajānataḥ prayāge kā gatistasya tanme brūhi pitāmaha

(For one who engages in) the sale of all kinds of wares, not knowing what should and should not be done — what is his destiny at Prayāga? Tell me that, O grandfather.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MtP 108.14

शृणु राजन्महागुह्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् मासमेकं तु यः स्नायात् प्रयागे नियतेन्द्रियः मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यः स गच्छेत्परमं पदम्

śṛṇu rājanmahāguhyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam māsamekaṃ tu yaḥ snāyāt prayāge niyatendriyaḥ mucyate sarvapāpebhyaḥ sa gacchetparamaṃ padam

Hear, O king, the great secret that destroys all sins: he who bathes for one month at Prayāga with senses restrained is released from all sins and would go to the highest state.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.15

विश्रम्भघातकानां तु प्रयागे शृणु यत्फलम् त्रिकालमेव स्नायीत आहारं भैक्ष्यमाचरेत् त्रिभिर्मासैः स मुच्येत प्रयागे तु न संशयः

viśrambhaghātakānāṃ tu prayāge śṛṇu yatphalam trikālameva snāyīta āhāraṃ bhaikṣyamācaret tribhirmāsaiḥ sa mucyeta prayāge tu na saṃśayaḥ

Hear now what fruit there is at Prayāga for those who betray a trust: he should bathe at the three times (of day) and take begged food as his fare; in three months he would be released at Prayāga — there is no doubt.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.16

अज्ञानेन तु यस्येह तीर्थयात्रादिकं भवेत् सर्वकामसमृद्धस्तु स्वर्गलोके महीयते स्थानं च लभते नित्यं धनधान्यसमाकुलम्

ajñānena tu yasyeha tīrthayātrādikaṃ bhavet sarvakāmasamṛddhastu svargaloke mahīyate sthānaṃ ca labhate nityaṃ dhanadhānyasamākulam

But he whose pilgrimage to sacred fords and the like is done here in ignorance — he too, enriched with all desires, is honoured in the world of heaven, and obtains a lasting abode filled with wealth and grain.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.17

एवं ज्ञानेन सम्पूर्णः सदा भवति भोगवान् तारिताः पितरस्तेन नरकात्प्रपितामहाः

evaṃ jñānena sampūrṇaḥ sadā bhavati bhogavān tāritāḥ pitarastena narakātprapitāmahāḥ

Thus one who is complete with knowledge is always full of enjoyments; by him the fathers and forefathers are carried across from hell.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.18

धर्मानुसारि तत्त्वज्ञ पृच्छतस्ते पुनः पुनः त्वत्प्रियार्थं समाख्यातं गुह्यमेतत्सनातनम्

dharmānusāri tattvajña pṛcchataste punaḥ punaḥ tvatpriyārthaṃ samākhyātaṃ guhyametatsanātanam

O you who follow the law, knower of the truth, since you ask again and again, for your pleasure this eternal secret has been fully declared.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.19

अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे तारितं कुलम् प्रीतो ऽस्म्यनुगृहीतो ऽस्मि दर्शनादेव ते मुने

adya me saphalaṃ janma adya me tāritaṃ kulam prīto 'smyanugṛhīto 'smi darśanādeva te mune

Today my birth has borne fruit; today my family has been carried across. I am gladdened, I am favoured, by the very sight of you, O sage.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.20

त्वद्दर्शनात्तु धर्मात्मन् मुक्तो ऽहं चाद्य किल्बिषात् इदानीं वेद्मि चात्मानं भगवन्गतकल्मषम्

tvaddarśanāttu dharmātman mukto 'haṃ cādya kilbiṣāt idānīṃ vedmi cātmānaṃ bhagavangatakalmaṣam

"But by seeing you, O righteous one, I am today freed from sin; and now, Lord, I know my own self to be rid of stain."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.21

दिष्ट्या ते सफलं जन्म दिष्ट्या ते तारितं कुलम् कीर्तनाद्वर्धते पुण्यं श्रुतात्पापप्रणाशनम्

diṣṭyā te saphalaṃ janma diṣṭyā te tāritaṃ kulam kīrtanādvardhate puṇyaṃ śrutātpāpapraṇāśanam

"Happily is your birth fruitful, happily has your family been carried across; by (your) being proclaimed merit increases, and from hearing (of you) sin is destroyed."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.22

यमुनायां तु किं पुण्यं किं फलं तु महामुने एतन्मे सर्वमाख्याहि यथादृष्टं यथाश्रुतम्

yamunāyāṃ tu kiṃ puṇyaṃ kiṃ phalaṃ tu mahāmune etanme sarvamākhyāhi yathādṛṣṭaṃ yathāśrutam

"But what merit is there at the Yamunā, and what fruit, O great sage? Tell me all this, as you have seen it and as you have heard it."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.23

तपनस्य सुता देवी त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता समाख्याता महाभागा यमुना तत्र निम्नगा

tapanasya sutā devī triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā samākhyātā mahābhāgā yamunā tatra nimnagā

The daughter of the Sun, a goddess renowned in the three worlds, greatly blessed, is there declared (to be) the river Yamunā flowing down.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.24

येनैव निःसृता गङ्गा तेनैव यमुना गता योजनानां सहस्रेषु कीर्तनात्पापनाशिनी

yenaiva niḥsṛtā gaṅgā tenaiva yamunā gatā yojanānāṃ sahasreṣu kīrtanātpāpanāśinī

By the very way the Gaṅgā went forth, by that same way the Yamunā went; over thousands of leagues she destroys sin (even) by being named.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.25

तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च यमुनायां युधिष्ठिर कीर्तनाल्लभते पुण्यं दृष्ट्वा भद्राणि पश्यति

tatra snātvā ca pītvā ca yamunāyāṃ yudhiṣṭhira kīrtanāllabhate puṇyaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhadrāṇi paśyati

Having bathed there and drunk (there), in the Yamunā, O Yudhiṣṭhira, one obtains merit by proclaiming (her), and by seeing (her) one beholds good fortune.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.26

अवगाह्य च पीत्वा च पुनात्यासप्तमं कुलम् प्राणांस्त्यजति यस्तत्र स याति परमां गतिम्

avagāhya ca pītvā ca punātyāsaptamaṃ kulam prāṇāṃstyajati yastatra sa yāti paramāṃ gatim

By plunging in and by drinking (the water) one purifies (one's) family to the seventh (generation); whoever gives up his breath there goes to the supreme goal.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.27

अग्नितीर्थमिति ख्यातं यमुनादक्षिणे तटे पश्चिमे धर्मराजस्य तीर्थं तु नरकं स्मृतम्

agnitīrthamiti khyātaṃ yamunādakṣiṇe taṭe paścime dharmarājasya tīrthaṃ tu narakaṃ smṛtam

On the southern bank of the Yamunā (there is one) known as the Fire-tīrtha; and to the west the tīrtha of the King of Dharma is called Naraka.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.28

तत्र स्नात्वा दिवं यान्ति ये मृतास्ते ऽपुनर्भवाः एवं तीर्थसहस्राणि यमुनादक्षिणे तटे

tatra snātvā divaṃ yānti ye mṛtāste 'punarbhavāḥ evaṃ tīrthasahasrāṇi yamunādakṣiṇe taṭe

Bathing there they go to heaven; those who die (there) are not born again. Thus (there are) thousands of tīrthas on the southern bank of the Yamunā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.29

उत्तरेण प्रवक्ष्यामि आदित्यस्य महात्मनः तीर्थं निरञ्जनं नाम यत्र देवाः सवासवाः

uttareṇa pravakṣyāmi ādityasya mahātmanaḥ tīrthaṃ nirañjanaṃ nāma yatra devāḥ savāsavāḥ

On the north (bank) I shall declare (the tīrtha) of the great-souled Sun, the tīrtha named Nirañjana, where the gods together with Vāsava —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.30

उपासते स्म संध्यां ये त्रिकालं हि युधिष्ठिर देवाः सेवन्ति तत्तीर्थं ये चान्ये विबुधा जनाः

upāsate sma saṃdhyāṃ ye trikālaṃ hi yudhiṣṭhira devāḥ sevanti tattīrthaṃ ye cānye vibudhā janāḥ

— attend upon the twilight (worship) at the three times of day, O Yudhiṣṭhira; the gods frequent that tīrtha, and other wise people too.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.31

श्रद्दधानपरो भूत्वा कुरु तीर्थाभिषेचनम् अन्ये च बहवस्तीर्थाः सर्वपापहराः स्मृताः तेषु स्नात्वा दिवं यान्ति ये मृतास्ते ऽपुनर्भवाः

śraddadhānaparo bhūtvā kuru tīrthābhiṣecanam anye ca bahavastīrthāḥ sarvapāpaharāḥ smṛtāḥ teṣu snātvā divaṃ yānti ye mṛtāste 'punarbhavāḥ

Becoming wholly full of faith, perform the tīrtha-ablution. And many other tīrthas are declared to remove all sins; bathing in them they go to heaven, and those who die (there) are not born again.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.32

गङ्गा च यमुना चैव उभे तुल्यफले स्मृते केवलं ज्येष्ठभावेन गङ्गा सर्वत्र पूज्यते

gaṅgā ca yamunā caiva ubhe tulyaphale smṛte kevalaṃ jyeṣṭhabhāvena gaṅgā sarvatra pūjyate

The Gaṅgā and the Yamunā, both are declared to be of equal fruit; only by reason of seniority is the Gaṅgā everywhere honoured.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.33

एवं कुरुष्व कौन्तेय सर्वतीर्थाभिषेचनम् यावज्जीवकृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति

evaṃ kuruṣva kaunteya sarvatīrthābhiṣecanam yāvajjīvakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati

Thus, son of Kuntī, perform the ablution at all the tīrthas; the sin committed for as long as one has lived is destroyed that very instant.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 108.34

यस्त्विमं कल्य उत्थाय पठते च शृणोति च मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यः स्वर्गलोकं स गच्छति

yastvimaṃ kalya utthāya paṭhate ca śṛṇoti ca mucyate sarvapāpebhyaḥ svargalokaṃ sa gacchati

But whoever, rising at dawn, recites this and hears it, is freed from all sins and goes to the world of heaven.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition