Shloka 77

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

त्र्यहस्नानफलं माघे पुरा कांचनमालिनी । राक्षसाय ददौ प्रीत्या तेन मुक्तः स पापकृत् ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

tryahasnānaphalaṃ māghe purā kāṃcanamālinī | rākṣasāya dadau prītyā tena muktaḥ sa pāpakṛt || 77 ||

Translation

Long ago, in the month of Māgha, Kāñcanamālinī lovingly offered to a rākṣasa the merit gained from bathing for three days; by that gift of merit, the sinful-doer was freed.

Word by Word

• tri-aha-snāna-phalam: the fruit of a three-day bath
• tri-aha-snāna-phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ahan (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (the fruit of bathing for three days)

• māghe: in Māgha
• māghe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (in Māgha)

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: formerly/once)

• kāṃcana-mālinī: Kāñcanamālinī (golden-garlanded woman)
• kāṃcana-mālinī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṃcana (प्रातिपदिक) + mālinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (a woman with a golden garland)

• rākṣasāya: to a rākṣasa
• rākṣasāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular (to a demon)

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्ष/परिपूर्ण भूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect 3rd sg (gave)

• prītyā: with affection
• prītyā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (with affection)

• tena: thereby
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by that/thereby)

• muktaḥ: freed
• muktaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (कृदन्त; √muc (धातु))
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (freed)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (he)

• pāpa-kṛt: a sinner
• pāpa-kṛt: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛt (कृदन्त; √kṛ (धातु), कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Agent noun (doer of sin) in nominative singular

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers, traditional dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Māgha-snāna (tryaha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kāñcanamālinī
• Rākṣasa
• Māgha (month)

FAQs

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

It teaches the purifying power of Māgha observances (like sacred bathing) and highlights that merit (puṇya) can be dedicated or gifted compassionately to uplift even a grievous sinner.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as heartfelt compassion and selfless giving: the devotee values another being’s redemption over personal spiritual “credit,” reflecting a Vishnu-aligned ethic of mercy and welfare for all.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly uses Kalpa (ritual practice) and Jyotiṣa-based sacred timekeeping (Māgha as an auspicious period) to frame a vrata/ स्नान discipline whose fruit is then offered as puṇya-dāna.