Shloka 18

The Greatness of the Month of Māgha

Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

एतस्मात्कारणाद्भद्रे माघस्नानं विशिष्यते । अहन्यहनि दातव्यास्तिलाः शर्करयान्विताः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

etasmātkāraṇādbhadre māghasnānaṃ viśiṣyate | ahanyahani dātavyāstilāḥ śarkarayānvitāḥ || 18 ||

Translation

C’est pour cette raison même, ô dame de bon augure, que le bain au mois de Māgha est tenu pour particulièrement méritoire. Et, jour après jour, on doit offrir en don des graines de sésame mêlées de sucre.

Word by Word

• एतस्मात्: from this
• एतस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कारणात्: from the reason/cause
• कारणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• भद्रे: O auspicious lady
• भद्रे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• माघ-स्नानम्: Māgha-bath (bath in Māgha)
• माघ-स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (माघस्य स्नानम्)

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished/excels
• विशिष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विशिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अहनि-अहनि: day after day / daily
• अहनि-अहनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial) = प्रतिदिन (day by day)

• दातव्याः: to be given / should be given
• दातव्याः: Vidhi (विधेय/आज्ञा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्य (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory)

• तिलाः: sesame seeds
• तिलाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• शर्करया: with sugar
• शर्करया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्करा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• अन्विताः: accompanied/combined
• अन्विताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue form)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Māgha-snāna

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It elevates Māgha-snāna as a specially efficacious purification practice and pairs it with a concrete daily discipline—tiladāna with sugar—showing that inner merit is strengthened by regular outward charity.

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

By prescribing steady, repeated observances (daily bathing and daily giving), it supports bhakti as a lived discipline—purifying the devotee’s body and intention and cultivating a generous, sattvic disposition conducive to worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: it specifies a time-bound rite (Māgha month snāna) and a daily dāna item (sesame with sugar), reflecting practical dharma-ritual application rather than grammar or astrology.