Shloka 36

The Greatness of the Month of Māgha

Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

न चान्यत्सुकृतं सुभ्रु पुराणे पठ्यते स्फुटम् । पापसंघविनाशाय मुक्त्वैकं हरिवासरम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

na cānyatsukṛtaṃ subhru purāṇe paṭhyate sphuṭam | pāpasaṃghavināśāya muktvaikaṃ harivāsaram || 36 ||

Translation

हे सुभ्रु, पापसमूहाच्या विनाशासाठी पुराणात दुसरे कोणतेही पुण्यकर्म स्पष्ट सांगितलेले नाही—एकमेव हरिवासर (एकादशी) सोडून।

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (सुकृतम्-विशेषण: ‘other’)

• सुकृतम्: merit/virtuous act
• सुकृतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन (पुण्यकर्म)

• सुभ्रु: O fair-browed lady
• सुभ्रु: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• पुराणे: in the Purāṇa
• पुराणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पठ्यते: is read/mentioned
• पठ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: ‘is read/mentioned’)

• स्फुटम्: clearly
• स्फुटम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (क्रियाविशेषण); स्पष्टार्थे (adverb: clearly)

• पाप-संघ-विनाशाय: for the destruction of the mass of sins
• पाप-संघ-विनाशाय: Sampradana/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + संघ (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पापानां संघस्य विनाशः; तस्मै)

• मुक्त्वा: excepting/leaving aside
• मुक्त्वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव-रूप कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having left/excepting’

• एकम्: one/only
• एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (हरिवासरम्-विशेषण)

• हरि-वासरम्: Hari’s day (Ekādaśī/Dvādaśī observance day)
• हरि-वासरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (हरेः वासरः)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic dialogue voice; teaching on Harivāsara/Ekādaśī within Uttara-Bhāga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Harivāsara (explicitly identified as Ekādaśī in the verse’s translation/context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It elevates Harivāsara (Ekādaśī, the day dedicated to Hari/Viṣṇu) as the uniquely emphasized means in this Purāṇic teaching for destroying accumulated sins, highlighting devotional observance as a direct purifier.

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

By presenting Hari’s day as the singularly praised practice for sin-destruction, the verse frames purification and spiritual progress as arising from Viṣṇu-centered devotion expressed through vrata/observance rather than merely miscellaneous good deeds.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to practical vrata-dharma and calendrical observance (tithi-based sacred timing for Ekādaśī/Harivāsara), aligning with the applied tradition of ritual discipline and time-reckoning used in Purāṇic practice.