Shloka 30

The Greatness of the Month of Māgha

Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

अज्ञानं च यथा ज्ञानं कुशौचं शुचितां यथा । यथा हंत्यनृतं सत्यं वादस्संवादमेव च ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

ajñānaṃ ca yathā jñānaṃ kuśaucaṃ śucitāṃ yathā | yathā haṃtyanṛtaṃ satyaṃ vādassaṃvādameva ca || 30 ||

Translation

Wie Erkenntnis die Unwissenheit zerstört und Reinheit die Unreinheit überwindet, so erschlägt Wahrheit die Lüge; und wahrer Dialog beendet bloßen streitsüchtigen Wortkampf.

Word by Word

• अज्ञानम्: ignorance
• अज्ञानम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र उपमान-प्रयोगे कर्मरूपे (ज्ञानं हन्ति इति भावः)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यथा: as
• यथा: उपमान (Simile marker/उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुलनार्थक-अव्यय

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुशौचम्: impurity / bad cleanliness
• कुशौचम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कु + शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कु (दुष्टम्) शौचम् (कर्मधारयः)

• शुचिताम्: purity
• शुचिताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘शुचित्व’ अर्थे

• यथा: as
• यथा: उपमान (Simile marker/उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुलनार्थक-अव्यय

• यथा: as
• यथा: उपमान (Simile marker/उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुलनार्थक-अव्यय

• हन्ति: kills/destroys
• हन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अनृतम्: falsehood
• अनृतम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वादः: quarrel / disputation
• वादः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संवादम्: good conversation / concord
• संवादम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner transformation happens by opposites: jñāna removes ajñāna, śauca removes impurity, and satya removes anṛta—so spiritual progress requires cultivating the purifying causes rather than fighting symptoms.

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

Bhakti is sustained by satya (truthfulness), śauca (purity), and disciplined speech; sincere devotion grows through humble saṃvāda (truth-seeking dialogue) rather than ego-driven vāda (quarrelsome debate).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the practical discipline of vāṅ-niyama (regulation of speech): choosing satya and saṃvāda over anṛta and vāda—an applied ethical principle aligned with dharma and supported by clear understanding (jñāna).