Shloka 33

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

देविकायां देवदेहो नरो भवति माघतः । माघस्नानेन विधिजे गोमत्यां न पुनर्भवः ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

devikāyāṃ devadeho naro bhavati māghataḥ | māghasnānena vidhije gomatyāṃ na punarbhavaḥ || 33 ||

Translation

En accomplissant l’observance de Māgha à Devikā, l’homme obtient un corps divin. Ô né de Brahmā, en se baignant durant le mois de Māgha dans la Gomatī, il n’y a plus de nouvelle naissance.

Word by Word

• देविकायाम्: in/at the (river/place) Devikā
• देविकायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देविका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• देवदेहः: a divine body
• देवदेहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवस्य देहः)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• माघतः: from/through (the merit of) Māgha
• माघतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• माघस्नानेन: by Māgha-bathing
• माघस्नानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (माघस्य स्नानम्)

• विधिजे: O son of Brahmā (Vidhijā)
• विधिजे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधिज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचन (Vocative); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विधेः जः/जः = पुत्रः)

• गोमत्याम्: in/at the (river/place) Gomati
• गोमत्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• पुनर्भवः: rebirth (returning to existence)
• पुनर्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुनर्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Māgha-vrata / Māgha-snāna (Māgha observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devikā
• Gomatī
• Māgha-snāna
• Brahmā (implied by 'vidhija')

FAQs

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

It teaches the tīrtha-mahātmya of Devikā and Gomatī: observing Māgha with sacred bathing purifies karma, grants divine attainment, and is praised as leading to freedom from rebirth.

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

While stated as a ritual fruit, the verse aligns with Bhakti-oriented tīrtha-sevā: approaching holy rivers with faith, discipline, and remembrance of the divine is presented as a powerful means to spiritual elevation and final release.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the timing of Māgha, the observance of Māgha-vrata, and the prescribed act of snāna (sacred bathing) at specific tīrthas as a dharmic practice.