Shloka 11

The Account of the Fruits of Bathing at Particular Sacred Places

Tīrtha-viśeṣa-snāna-phala

Devanagari script

पूर्णिमा माधवे पुण्या तथा कार्तिकमाघयोः । अमावस्यास्तथैतेषां गंगास्नाने सुदुर्लभाः ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

pūrṇimā mādhave puṇyā tathā kārtikamāghayoḥ | amāvasyāstathaiteṣāṃ gaṃgāsnāne sudurlabhāḥ || 11 ||

Translation

إنّ يوم البدر في شهر ماذافا (فيشاكها) يومٌ مقدّس، وكذلك أيام البدر في شهري كارتِّيكا وماغها. وكذلك أيضًا أيام الأَمَاوَاسْيَا (المحاق) في هذه الشهور، إذا اغتسل المرء في الغانغا، فهي نادرةٌ جدًّا وعظيمةُ الثواب.

Word by Word

• पूर्णिमा: the full-moon day (Pūrṇimā)
• पूर्णिमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्णिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• माधवे: in (the month of) Mādhava
• माधवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; मास-निर्देशः (माधव = चैत्र/वैशाख-पर्यायः, संदर्भानुसार)

• पुण्या: holy/meritorious
• पुण्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘पूर्णिमा’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Particle (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थक-अव्यय (likewise/also)

• कार्तिक-माघयोः: in Kārttika and Māgha
• कार्तिक-माघयोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक) + माघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन-रूप (genitive/locative dual); मास-द्वन्द्वः—‘कार्तिके माघे च’ इत्यर्थः

• अमावस्या: the new-moon day (Amāvāsyā)
• अमावस्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावस्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha/Particle (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• एतेषाम्: of these (days)
• एतेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम—‘एतेषां (तिथीनां)’

• गङ्गा-स्नाने: in (the matter of) bathing in the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा-स्नाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विषय/स्थान-निर्देशः

• सु-दुर्लभाः: very rare
• सु-दुर्लभाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण—(तिथयः/अवसराः) इति अध्याहार्य

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Madhava (Vaisakha month)
• Karttika (month)
• Magha (month)
• Purnima
• Amavasya

FAQs

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

It elevates specific lunar days (Pūrṇimā and Amāvasyā) in Vaiśākha (Mādhava), Kārttika, and Māgha as exceptionally merit-producing when joined with Gaṅgā-snāna, framing pilgrimage-bathing as a high-value dharmic act.

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

By prescribing sacred times and a sacred tirtha (Gaṅgā) for purificatory practice, it supports bhakti through disciplined observance—using holy calendar moments to intensify remembrance, humility, and religious merit that nourishes devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on Jyotiṣa/Vedic calendrics: identifying months and lunar days (Pūrṇimā, Amāvasyā) as ritual timings, a key practical rule-set for planning vrata and tirtha-based rites described in Narada Purana.