Shloka 10

The Account of the Fruits of Bathing at Particular Sacred Places

Tīrtha-viśeṣa-snāna-phala

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यां श्रवणर्क्षे च अष्टम्यां पुष्ययोगतः । आर्द्रायां च चतुर्दश्यां गंगास्नानं सुदुर्लभम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśyāṃ śravaṇarkṣe ca aṣṭamyāṃ puṣyayogataḥ | ārdrāyāṃ ca caturdaśyāṃ gaṃgāsnānaṃ sudurlabham || 10 ||

Translation

ಶ್ರವಣ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ದ್ವಾದಶಿ, ಪುಷ್ಯಯೋಗಯುಕ್ತ ಅಷ್ಟಮಿ, ಹಾಗೂ ಆರ್ಧ್ರಾ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಚತುರ್ದಶಿ—ಈ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಗಂಗಾಸ್ನಾನ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ದುರ್ಲಭವೂ ಮಹಾಪುಣ್ಯಪ್ರದವೂ ಆಗಿದೆ.

Word by Word

• द्वादश्याम्: on the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथि-निर्देशः

• श्रवण-ऋक्षे: when (the nakṣatra is) Śravaṇa
• श्रवण-ऋक्षे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; नक्षत्र-निर्देशः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Particle (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• अष्टम्याम्: on the Aṣṭamī (8th lunar day)
• अष्टम्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथि-निर्देशः

• पुष्य-योगतः: due to the Puṣya conjunction
• पुष्य-योगतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘योगतः’ = कारण/निमित्तात् (because of the conjunction)

• आर्द्रायाम्: when (the nakṣatra is) Ārdrā
• आर्द्रायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्द्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; नक्षत्र-निर्देशः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Particle (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the Caturdaśī (14th lunar day)
• चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथि-निर्देशः

• गङ्गा-स्नानम्: bathing in the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा-स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सु-दुर्लभम्: very rare/difficult to obtain
• सु-दुर्लभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘गङ्गास्नानम्’

Speaker

Sage Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Shravana (Nakshatra)
• Pushya (Yoga)
• Ardra (Nakshatra)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Gaṅgā-snāna becomes exceptionally potent when performed at specific tithi–nakṣatra–yoga alignments, indicating that sacred acts gain heightened fruit when harmonized with dharmic time (kāla).

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

By emphasizing Gaṅgā-snāna at sanctified times, it supports bhakti through disciplined observance—approaching the sacred (Gaṅgā) with faith, purity, and right timing as an offering-like act.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): it references tithi (Dvādaśī, Aṣṭamī, Caturdaśī), nakṣatra (Śravaṇa, Ārdrā), and yoga (Puṣya-yoga) as factors for selecting auspicious ritual timing.