Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

The exposition of the Pañcamī vow to be observed in the twelve months

Devanagari script

यदश्वमेधावभृथे फलं स्नानेन कीर्तितम् । तत्फलं प्राप्यते विप्रस्नानेनापि जयादिने ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

yadaśvamedhāvabhṛthe phalaṃ snānena kīrtitam | tatphalaṃ prāpyate viprasnānenāpi jayādine || 57 ||

Translation

Welcher Verdienst auch vom Bad beim Avabhṛtha (avabhṛtha), der abschließenden Waschung des Aśvamedha-Opfers, gepriesen wird—o Brāhmaṇa—derselbe Verdienst wird auch durch das Bad am Jayā-Tag erlangt.

Word by Word

• यत्: which
• यत्: Vishaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचनम्; Relative pronoun ‘which/that (which)’

• अश्वमेध-अवभृथे: in the Avabhṛtha (final bath) of the Aśvamedha
• अश्वमेध-अवभृथे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक) + अवभृथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; Locative singular

• फलम्: the fruit/result
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Nominative singular

• स्नानेन: by bathing
• स्नानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्; Instrumental singular

• कीर्तितम्: is declared
• कीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु) → कीर्तित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः: ‘is declared/has been stated’

• तत्-फलम्: that fruit (same result)
• तत्-फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘that very fruit’

• प्राप्यते: is obtained
• प्राप्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः: ‘is obtained’

• विप्र-स्नानेन: by the brāhmaṇa’s bath / by bathing (as prescribed for a brāhmaṇa)
• विप्र-स्नानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्; Instrumental singular

• अपि: also
• अपि: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/अवधानार्थः (also/even)

• जया-दिने: on the day of Jayā
• जया-दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जया (प्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; Locative singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Jayā-vrata (Jayā-dina snāna)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Aśvamedha
• Avabhṛtha
• Jayā (tithi/day)

FAQs

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

It teaches that immense sacrificial merit (like the Aśvamedha’s avabhṛtha bath) can be accessed through a simpler dharmic act—bathing on the auspicious Jayā day—highlighting the Purāṇic principle that time (tithi) and devotion amplify results.

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

By equating a grand yajña’s fruit with a humble observance, the verse implies that sincere, faith-filled practice is valued over sheer ritual magnitude—supporting a bhakti-friendly, accessible approach to dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to calendrical discipline—choosing specific sacred days (tithi/vāra)—which aligns with Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology/astronomy) as applied to vrata and snāna timings.