Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

प्रयागे माघमासे तु त्र्यहं स्नातस्य यत्फलम् । नाश्वमेघसहस्रेण तत्फलं लभते भुवि ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

prayāge māghamāse tu tryahaṃ snātasya yatphalam | nāśvameghasahasreṇa tatphalaṃ labhate bhuvi || 74 ||

Translation

Das Verdienst, das man durch dreitägiges Baden in Prayāga im Monat Māgha erlangt, wird auf Erden nicht einmal durch tausend Aśvamedha-Opfer erreicht.

Word by Word

• prayāge: at Prayāga
• prayāge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (sg.)

• māgha-māse: in the month of Māgha
• māgha-māse: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māgha (प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: माघः मासः = in the month of Māgha

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: indeed/but)

• tri-aham: three days (period)
• tri-aham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); द्विगु-समास: त्र्यहम् = a period of three days

• snātasya: of one who has bathed
• snātasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (स्ना धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘स्नात’; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (sg.); अर्थ: of one who has bathed

• yat-phalam: whatever result
• yat-phalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मधारय/सर्वनाम-विशेषणसमास: यत् फलम् = whatever fruit/result

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation particle)

• aśvamedha-sahasreṇa: by a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices
• aśvamedha-sahasreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvamedha (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: अश्वमेधानां सहस्रम् = a thousand Aśvamedhas; करणार्थे: ‘even by’

• tat-phalam: that result
• tat-phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मधारय: तत् फलम् = that result

• labhate: obtains
• labhate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (लभ् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), आत्मनेपद; अर्थ: obtains

• bhuvi: on earth
• bhuvi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (भू) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (sg.)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Māgha-snāna-vrata (Prayāga-specific phala)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Prayaga
• Magha
• Ashvamedha

FAQs

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

It exalts Māgha-snāna at Prayāga as an exceptionally potent tirtha-practice, declaring its punya to surpass even grand Vedic royal sacrifices in accessible spiritual efficacy.

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

By valuing a humble, faith-filled observance (tirtha-snāna in Māgha) over monumental sacrificial display, it aligns with the Purāṇic emphasis that sincere devotional discipline and sacred association can yield immense spiritual fruit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa (sacred calendrics) are implied: the specified timing (Māgha month) and the defined observance period (three days) show how vrata/ritual merit depends on correct season and method.