Shloka 102

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

त्रिकालमेकस्नायी चाहारमुक्तिं य आचरेत् । विश्वासघातपापात्तु त्रिभिर्मासैः स शुद्ध्यति ॥ १०२ ॥

Transliteration

trikālamekasnāyī cāhāramuktiṃ ya ācaret | viśvāsaghātapāpāttu tribhirmāsaiḥ sa śuddhyati || 102 ||

Translation

One who bathes once daily at the three junctions of time and practices abstinence from food becomes purified of the sin of betraying trust within three months.

Word by Word

• त्रिकालम्: thrice a day
• त्रिकालम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative) = ‘त्रिषु कालेषु/त्रिवारम्’

• एकस्नायी: one who bathes once (daily)
• एकस्नायी: कर्तृ (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नायी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—एकवारं स्नायी (one-time bather)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• आहारमुक्तिम्: abstaining from food (fasting)
• आहारमुक्तिम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—आहारस्य मुक्ति: (abstention from food/fasting)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्तृ (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• आचरेत्: should practice
• आचरेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विश्वास-घात-पापात्: from the sin of betraying trust
• विश्वास-घात-पापात्: अपादान (Apādāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक) + घात (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Ablative singular); समासः—विश्वासस्य घातः (breach of trust) तस्मात् पापम्; ‘from the sin of betraying trust’

• तु: however/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात

• त्रिभिः: by three
• त्रिभिः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural); संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• मासैः: months
• मासैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural); कालपरिमाणे करण (instrument of time span)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्तृ (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• शुद्ध्यति: becomes purified
• शुद्ध्यति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (intransitive)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a prāyaścitta context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames betrayal of trust (viśvāsaghāta) as a serious ethical fault and prescribes a structured prāyaścitta—discipline of body and mind through trikāla observance and food-restraint—leading to inner purification over a defined period.

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

While primarily an expiation rule, it supports bhakti indirectly: purity (śuddhi) gained through regulated living and self-control is treated as a foundation for sincere worship and steadiness in devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse relies on time-discipline tied to trikāla/sandhyā practice (a ritual-time framework associated with kalpa and daily observances), emphasizing precise scheduling of snāna and restraint as part of prāyaścitta.