Shloka 26
The Greatness of the Month of Māgha
Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna
तीर्थस्नायी वरारोहे माघस्नायी फलाल्पकः । तीर्थस्नानादियात्स्वर्गं माघस्नानात्परं पदम् ॥ २६ ॥
tīrthasnāyī varārohe māghasnāyī phalālpakaḥ | tīrthasnānādiyātsvargaṃ māghasnānātparaṃ padam || 26 ||
હે વરારોહે! તીર્થસ્નાનનું ફળ અલ્પ છે, પરંતુ માઘસ્નાનનું ફળ અધિક છે. તીર્થસ્નાનથી સ્વર્ગ મળે, માઘસ્નાનથી પરમ પદ પ્રાપ્ત થાય.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, addressing a woman/listener as 'varārohe')
Vrata: Māgha-snāna
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It ranks Māgha-snāna as a uniquely potent observance: ordinary tīrtha-bathing yields svarga (heavenly merit), while Māgha-bathing is said to culminate in the highest goal, the param pada.
By presenting Māgha-snāna as leading to the supreme state, it frames a simple, disciplined devotional act—performed with faith and purity—as a direct support to the highest spiritual attainment often associated with the Lord’s supreme abode.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa (sacred timekeeping) are implicit: the verse emphasizes the specific lunar month Māgha as an auspicious ritual time and promotes a vrata-like discipline centered on timed bathing.