Shloka 8

The Greatness of the Month of Māgha

Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

दुर्लभो माघमासो वै दुर्ल्लभं जन्म मानुषम् । दुर्ल्लभं चोषसि स्नानं दुर्लभं कृष्णसेवनम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

durlabho māghamāso vai durllabhaṃ janma mānuṣam | durllabhaṃ coṣasi snānaṃ durlabhaṃ kṛṣṇasevanam || 8 ||

Translation

Wahrlich selten ist der Monat Māgha; selten ist auch die Geburt als Mensch. Selten ist das Bad im Morgengrauen, und selten ist der hingebungsvolle Dienst (sevā) an Kṛṣṇa.

Word by Word

• दुर्लभः: rare/difficult to obtain
• दुर्लभः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + लभ (धातु) + घञ्/अच्-निष्पन्न प्रातिपदिक दुर्लभ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुणवाचक

• माघ-मासः: the month of Māgha
• माघ-मासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: माघस्य मासः

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मानुषम्: human
• मानुषम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; जन्म इति विशेषण

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उषसि: at dawn
• उषसि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; कालवाचक

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृष्ण-सेवनम्: service of Krishna
• कृष्ण-सेवनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कृष्णस्य सेवनम्

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Māgha-vrata / Māgha-snāna (implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

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

It ranks four spiritual opportunities as exceptionally rare—Māgha month, human birth, dawn bathing, and Kṛṣṇa-sevā—urging the seeker to value time-bound sacred seasons and convert them into devotion and liberation-oriented merit.

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

By declaring kṛṣṇa-sevanam “rare,” the verse implies that true bhakti is not merely belief but sustained service and practice; when paired with Māgha observances like uṣaḥ-snān, it becomes a concentrated path toward Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa’s grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights kāla-vidhi (time-discipline) relevant to Jyotiṣa/kalā (auspicious timing): observing Māgha and performing uṣaḥ-snān (dawn bath) as a regulated rite, emphasizing correct time and daily regimen in vrata practice.