Shloka 15

The Greatness of the Month of Māgha

Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

अभावे सरिदादीनां नवकुंभस्थितं जलम् । वायुना ताडितं रात्रौ स्नाने गंगासमं विदुः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

abhāve saridādīnāṃ navakuṃbhasthitaṃ jalam | vāyunā tāḍitaṃ rātrau snāne gaṃgāsamaṃ viduḥ || 15 ||

Translation

Wenn Flüsse und andere Gewässer nicht verfügbar sind, gilt Wasser, das in einem neuen Krug aufbewahrt und nachts dem Wind ausgesetzt und von ihm bewegt wird, zum Baden als der Gaṅgā gleich.

Word by Word

• अभावे: in the absence
• अभावे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण-भावे (in the absence)

• सरित्-आदीनाम्: of rivers and the like
• सरित्-आदीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (सरित्), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सरितः आदयः = rivers etc.)

• नव-कुम्भ-स्थितम्: kept in a new pot
• नव-कुम्भ-स्थितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (स्थित = placed); विशेषणम् (जलम्); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नवे कुम्भे स्थितम्)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वायुना: by wind
• वायुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण-भावे

• ताडितम्: struck/agitated
• ताडितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताडित (कृदन्त; √ताड् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; विशेषणम् (जलम्)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण (time-locative)

• स्नाने: in bathing
• स्नाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विषय/अधिकरण-भावे (in bathing/for bathing)

• गङ्गा-समम्: equal to the Ganga
• गङ्गा-समम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (गङ्गायाः समम् = equal to Ganga); विशेषणम् (जलम्)

• विदुः: they know/consider
• विदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha/vidhi context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches that purity and sacred merit can be accessed through proper vidhi (procedure) even without physical access to a tirtha, affirming dharma’s adaptability while still honoring Gaṅgā as the supreme purifier.

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

By allowing a faithful practitioner to perform snāna with sanctified substitute water, the verse supports steady devotional discipline—making it possible to maintain worship and daily observances even when ideal conditions (like a river-tirtha) are absent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application aligned with Kalpa (procedure) and Shaucha rules: selecting a new vessel, preparing water correctly, and timing (night exposure) to ensure a ritually acceptable snāna when tirtha access is unavailable.