Shloka 90

Devanagari script

धनुर्विंशतिविस्तीर्णे सितनीलांबुसंगमे । माघादपुनरावृत्ती राजसूयात्पुनर्भवेत् ॥ ९० ॥

Transliteration

dhanurviṃśativistīrṇe sitanīlāṃbusaṃgame | māghādapunarāvṛttī rājasūyātpunarbhavet || 90 ||

Translation

白き水と青き水の合流、幅二十ダヌに及ぶその地にて、マーガ月に沐浴し（修行を行えば）「不還」—再生に戻らぬ解脱—を得る。しかるにラージャスーヤ祭でさえ、なお再び生を招く。

Word by Word

• dhanuḥ-viṃśati-vistīrṇe: in (a place) extended to twenty bow-lengths
• dhanuḥ-viṃśati-vistīrṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanuḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द) + vistīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; PPP)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी 7), Singular (एकवचन); द्विगु-समास: measure 'twenty bows' + 'extended'; qualifying an implied 'place/area'

• sita-nīla-ambu-saṃgame: at the confluence of white and dark waters
• sita-nīla-ambu-saṃgame: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक) + nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी 7), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'confluence of white and dark/blue waters'

• māghāt: from (the rite in) Māgha / from Māgha
• māghāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी 5), Singular (एकवचन)

• apunar-āvṛttiḥ: non-return (no rebirth)
• apunar-āvṛttiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + punar (अव्यय) + āvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा 1), Singular (एकवचन); नञ्-तत्पुरुष: 'non-return'

• rājasūyāt: from the Rājasūya (sacrifice)
• rājasūyāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājasūya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी 5), Singular (एकवचन)

• punar: again
• punar: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• bhavet: would be / may occur
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a tirtha-mahatmya context)

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 tīrtha-sevā—especially Māgha स्नान (Māgha bathing) at a powerful confluence—as a direct means toward apunarāvṛtti (freedom from rebirth), even surpassing the merit of grand royal sacrifices.

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

By valuing sacred observance at a tīrtha over prestige-yajñas, it points to humility and faith-centered practice—typical of Purāṇic bhakti culture—where sincere devotion expressed through pilgrimage and holy bathing is spiritually transformative.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/ritual practice and sacred time-keeping are implied: the specific month (Māgha) and prescribed act (tīrtha-snāna) show how timing and rite determine spiritual result, contrasting it with the complex śrauta rite of the Rājasūya.