Shloka 35
The Greatness of the Month of Māgha
Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna
न गगा यमुना चैव प्रयागो न च देवका । न सरांसि नदाश्चान्ये होमदानतपांसि च ॥ ३५ ॥
na gagā yamunā caiva prayāgo na ca devakā | na sarāṃsi nadāścānye homadānatapāṃsi ca || 35 ||
ഗംഗയും അല്ല, യമുനയും അല്ല; പ്രയാഗവും അല്ല, ദേവികയും അല്ല; തടാകങ്ങളും അല്ല, മറ്റു നദികളും അല്ല—ഹോമം, ദാനം, തപസ്സും അല്ല।
Narada (teaching in a Tirtha-Mahatmya discourse; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)
Vrata: none (implicit Hari-vāsara observance)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
The verse asserts a hierarchy of spiritual efficacy: the praised sacred context/tirtha being described is said to surpass even famed rivers (Gaṅgā, Yamunā), major pilgrimage centers (Prayāga), and common merit-producing acts like homa, dāna, and tapas.
By downplaying ritual and ascetic merit when compared to the sanctity of the highlighted tirtha, the verse supports the Purāṇic theme that grace-filled sacred association and God-centered pilgrimage/remembering can outweigh purely performative religiosity—an orientation aligned with bhakti.
Ritual practice is referenced through homa (Kalpa/Vedic ritual procedure). The verse implicitly teaches comparative dharma—how different religious acts are evaluated in Purāṇic tradition—useful for understanding applied Kalpa and Dharma-śāstra priorities.