Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

The Outline (Anukramaṇī) of the Vāyavīya (Vāyu) Purāṇa

Devanagari script

मासानां चैव माहात्म्यं माघस्योक्तं फलाधिकम् । दानधर्मा राजधर्मा विस्तरेणोदिता स्तथा ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

māsānāṃ caiva māhātmyaṃ māghasyoktaṃ phalādhikam | dānadharmā rājadharmā vistareṇoditā stathā || 5 ||

Translation

Keagungan bulan-bulan juga dijelaskan, terutama kemuliaan bulan Māgha yang memberi buah pahala lebih tinggi; demikian pula dharma derma (dāna) dan dharma raja diuraikan dengan rinci.

Word by Word

• मासानाम्: of the months
• मासानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness, glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Karma (कर्म) (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• माघस्य: of Māgha (month)
• माघस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• उक्तम्: is stated
• उक्तम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् ‘to say’ + क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Past passive participle, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• फलाधिकम्: having superior fruit/benefit
• फलाधिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फलाधिक (प्रातिपदिक; फल + अधिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; विशेषणम् (qualifying माहात्म्यम्)

• दानधर्माः: charity-duties
• दानधर्माः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानधर्म (प्रातिपदिक; दान + धर्म)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजधर्माः: kingly duties/state duties
• राजधर्माः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजधर्म (प्रातिपदिक; राजन् + धर्म)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विस्तरेण: in detail
• विस्तरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; ‘in detail’ (manner)

• उदिताः: are declared/told
• उदिताः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उदित (कृदन्त; √वद्/√उद्? here √वद् ‘to speak’ with उद्- + क्त; ‘declared’)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/also)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana’s contents in summary/anukramanika style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Māgha observances (māsa-vrata, implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Magha

FAQs

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

It functions as a topical summary, highlighting that Māgha is singled out as especially merit-producing and that the Purana also teaches practical dharma—charity (dāna) and royal duty (rāja-dharma)—in an expanded way.

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

By emphasizing Māgha’s superior spiritual “fruit,” it points to time-based sacred observances (vratas, holy bathing, giving) that are traditionally performed with devotion, aligning daily conduct and ritual discipline toward divine merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it reflects kalā/ritual time-keeping and dharma-śāstric application: knowing sacred months and appropriate rites (a practical, calendrical-ritual competency often supported by jyotiṣa-style timing).