Shloka 26

The Greatness of the Month of Māgha

Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

तीर्थस्नायी वरारोहे माघस्नायी फलाल्पकः । तीर्थस्नानादियात्स्वर्गं माघस्नानात्परं पदम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

tīrthasnāyī varārohe māghasnāyī phalālpakaḥ | tīrthasnānādiyātsvargaṃ māghasnānātparaṃ padam || 26 ||

Translation

ਹੇ ਵਰਾਰੋਹੇ! ਤੀਰਥ-ਸਨਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਦਾ ਫਲ ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਮਾਘ-ਸਨਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਦਾ ਫਲ ਵੱਡਾ ਹੈ। ਤੀਰਥ-ਸਨਾਨ ਨਾਲ ਸਵਰਗ, ਮਾਘ-ਸਨਾਨ ਨਾਲ ਪਰਮ ਪਦ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• tīrtha-snāyī: a tīrtha-bather
• tīrtha-snāyī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + snāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agent noun 'one who bathes in tīrthas'

• varārohe: O fair-hipped lady
• varārohe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varārohā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• māgha-snāyī: a Māgha-bather
• māgha-snāyī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māgha (प्रातिपदिक) + snāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'one who bathes in Māgha (month)'

• phala-alpakaḥ: (having) little fruit
• phala-alpakaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + alpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'having little fruit'

• tīrtha-snānāt: from bathing at a tīrtha
• tīrtha-snānāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); 'from tīrtha-bathing'

• iyāt: would go/attain
• iyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √i (इ धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• svargam: heaven
• svargam: Gati-karma (गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• māgha-snānāt: from Māgha-bathing
• māgha-snānāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māgha (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• param: supreme
• param: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying padam

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Gati-karma (गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, addressing a woman/listener as 'varārohe')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Māgha-snāna

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Māgha (month)
• Tīrtha
• Svarga
• Param Pada

FAQs

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

It ranks Māgha-snāna as a uniquely potent observance: ordinary tīrtha-bathing yields svarga (heavenly merit), while Māgha-bathing is said to culminate in the highest goal, the param pada.

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

By presenting Māgha-snāna as leading to the supreme state, it frames a simple, disciplined devotional act—performed with faith and purity—as a direct support to the highest spiritual attainment often associated with the Lord’s supreme abode.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa (sacred timekeeping) are implicit: the verse emphasizes the specific lunar month Māgha as an auspicious ritual time and promotes a vrata-like discipline centered on timed bathing.