Shloka 38

The Greatness of the Month of Māgha

Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

न समं ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तमधिकं हरिवासरम् । तस्मिन्वराहवपुषं कृत्वा देवं तु हाटकम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

na samaṃ brahmaṇā proktamadhikaṃ harivāsaram | tasminvarāhavapuṣaṃ kṛtvā devaṃ tu hāṭakam || 38 ||

Translation

لقد أعلن براهما أنّه لا شيء يساوي—بل لا شيء يفوق—يوم هري (Harivāsara). وفي ذلك اليوم، يُصاغ الربّ على هيئة فراهـا (Varāha)، وتُصنع (أو تُنصَّب) صورة الإله من الذهب.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• समम्: equal
• समम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (equal)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अधिकम्: greater
• अधिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (greater/superior)

• हरि-वासरम्: Hari’s day (Ekādaśī)
• हरि-वासरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हरेः वासरः)

• तस्मिन्: in that (day/occasion)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वराह-वपुषम्: the boar-form (Varāha form)
• वराह-वपुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वराहस्य वपुः)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुक्रम)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having made/done)

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• हाटकम्: golden
• हाटकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हाटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (made of gold)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic teaching; within the larger Narada–Sanatkumāra transmission on tīrtha/vrata-mahātmyas)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Harivāsara

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Hari (Viṣṇu)
• Varāha

FAQs

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

It elevates Harivāsara (the sacred day of Hari, commonly understood as Ekādaśī) as the foremost observance, endorsed even by Brahmā, and links it to focused Viṣṇu-upāsanā through the Varāha form.

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

Bhakti is expressed as prioritizing Hari’s day and performing tangible acts of reverence—such as creating/commissioning a Varāha image and worship—showing devotion through time-sanctification (vrata) and deity-centered worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily kalpa (ritual procedure): the verse implies a vrata-oriented ritual act (murti-making/installation and worship on a prescribed sacred day), emphasizing correct observance and timing.