Shloka 13

The Greatness of the Month of Māgha

Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

धर्म्मसेवार्थकं स्नानं नांगनैर्मल्यहेतुकम् । होमार्थं सेवनं वह्नेर्न च शीतादिहानये ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

dharmmasevārthakaṃ snānaṃ nāṃganairmalyahetukam | homārthaṃ sevanaṃ vahnerna ca śītādihānaye || 13 ||

Translation

Bathing is to be undertaken for the sake of serving Dharma—not for mere bodily cleanliness. Likewise, tending the sacred fire is for the purpose of sacrifice (homa), and not simply to ward off cold and the like.

Word by Word

• धर्म-सेवा-अर्थकम्: meant for serving dharma
• धर्म-सेवा-अर्थकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (स्नानम्); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धर्मसेवायै अर्थकम् = for the purpose of serving dharma)

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

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अङ्गनैः: with the body/limbs
• अङ्गनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; साधन-भावे (by limbs/body)

• माल्य-हेतुकम्: for the sake of adornment (garlands)
• माल्य-हेतुकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (स्नानम्); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (माल्यस्य हेतु: for garlands/ornamentation)

• होम-अर्थम्: for sacrifice (homa)
• होम-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of)

• सेवनम्: service/attendance
• सेवनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वह्नेः: of fire
• वह्नेः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

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

• शीत-आदि-हानये: for removing cold etc.
• शीत-आदि-हानये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + हानि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शीतादीनां हानिः → शीतादिहानिः; तस्यै)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration in Uttara-Bhaga style; traditional dialogue frame often places Narada as the teacher within the Purana’s discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It redirects common religious acts (snana and fire-tending) from a merely physical or comfort-based motive to a dharmic motive—service to Dharma and performance of yajna—emphasizing inner intention (bhāva) behind outward ritual.

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

By insisting that actions be performed as sacred service rather than self-oriented utility, it aligns practice with worshipful intent—an essential bhakti principle: offering one’s acts as devotional service instead of seeking only worldly benefit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Kalpa (the Vedanga of ritual procedure and purpose): snana is framed as a dharma-anga (ritual discipline), and Agni-sevā is tied specifically to homa/yajna rather than mundane heating—clarifying correct ritual telos.