Shloka 16

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

पक्षादौ कृष्णपक्षे तु भूमौ संनिहिता भवेत् । यावत्पुण्या ह्यमावास्या दिनानि दश मोहिनि ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

pakṣādau kṛṣṇapakṣe tu bhūmau saṃnihitā bhavet | yāvatpuṇyā hyamāvāsyā dināni daśa mohini || 17 ||

Translation

Zu Beginn der dunklen Monatshälfte (Kṛṣṇa-pakṣa) ist sie auf der Erde gegenwärtig. O Betörende, sie bleibt, solange der heilige Tag der Amāvāsyā währt—insgesamt zehn Tage.

Word by Word

• पक्ष-आदौ: at the beginning of the fortnight
• पक्ष-आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पक्षस्य आदौ)

• कृष्णपक्षे: in the dark fortnight
• कृष्णपक्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कृष्णः पक्षः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—विरोध/विशेषार्थक particle

• भूमौ: on the earth
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• संनिहिता: present/nearby
• संनिहिता: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + नि + धा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate adjective (गङ्गा implied)

• भवेत्: would be/should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यावत्: as long as/for as many as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—परिमाण/अवधि-निर्देशक (as long as/for as many as)

• पुण्या: holy
• पुण्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अमावास्या)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निश्चय/हेतौ particle

• अमावास्या: new-moon day
• अमावास्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावास्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिनानि: days
• दिनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/अवधि), बहुवचन; duration-accusative

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण; दिनानि इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मोहिनि: O enchantress (address)
• मोहिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue, traditionally addressed to/within the Narada–Sanatkumara discourse; vocative 'mohini' occurs within the verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Amāvāsyā observance (snāna/dāna context implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Amavasya

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Amāvāsyā as a highly meritorious sacred period within the kṛṣṇa-pakṣa, indicating a defined window when spiritual potency for rites (dāna, śrāddha, snāna, vrata) is considered especially accessible on earth.

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

By marking a sanctified time-span, it supports bhakti through disciplined timing—encouraging devotees to align worship, japa, and offerings with Amāvāsyā-focused observance to deepen steadiness (niyama) and reverence (śraddhā).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga time-reckoning: identifying the kṛṣṇa-pakṣa and the tithi (Amāvāsyā) as ritual determinants, underscoring how calendrical calculation governs dharmic practice.