Shloka 43

The Greatness of the Month of Māgha

Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

बहुजन्मार्ज्जितं पापं ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतं च यत् । तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति तमः सूर्योदये यथा ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

bahujanmārjjitaṃ pāpaṃ jñānājñānakṛtaṃ ca yat | tatsarvaṃ nāśamāyāti tamaḥ sūryodaye yathā || 43 ||

Translation

അനേകം ജന്മങ്ങളിൽ സമ്പാദിച്ച പാപം—അറിയിച്ചെയ്തതോ അറിയാതെയോ—എല്ലാം നശിക്കുന്നു; സൂര്യോദയത്തിൽ ഇരുട്ട് അകലുന്നതുപോലെ।

Word by Word

• बहु-जन्म-अर्जितम्: accumulated over many births
• बहु-जन्म-अर्जितम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जित (कृदन्त; √अर्ज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa): ‘बहुषु जन्मसु अर्जितम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.)

• ज्ञान-अज्ञान-कृतम्: done knowingly or unknowingly
• ज्ञान-अज्ञान-कृतम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु, क्त)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (Dvandva) in first part ‘ज्ञान-अज्ञान’ + तत्पुरुष with कृत: ‘ज्ञानात् अज्ञानात् वा कृतम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative/Connector)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.), सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.), निर्देशार्थक सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.)

• नाशम्: destruction
• नाशम्: गति/कर्म (Karma/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• आयाति: goes/comes to
• आयाति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तमः: darkness
• तमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• सूर्य-उदये: at sunrise
• सूर्य-उदये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa): ‘सूर्यस्य उदयः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg.)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: उपमान (Upamāna/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानवाचक (comparative particle): ‘as/just as’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an instructive passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that true spiritual awakening—likened to sunrise—eradicates even long-standing karmic darkness (pāpa) accumulated across many births, emphasizing the transformative power of inner illumination.

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

Though it uses the image of knowledge/light, the Purāṇic intent aligns with bhakti and dharmic practice: sincere turning toward the Divine brings clarity that dissolves past wrongdoing, whether intentional or accidental.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga procedure is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discernment (knowing/unknowing action) and the principle that spiritual discipline and right understanding purify accumulated karmic effects.