Shloka 17

The Greatness of the Month of Māgha

Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

अग्निप्रवेशादधिकं माघोषस्येव मज्जनम् । जीवता भुज्यते दुःखं मृतेन बहुलं सुखम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

agnipraveśādadhikaṃ māghoṣasyeva majjanam | jīvatā bhujyate duḥkhaṃ mṛtena bahulaṃ sukham || 17 ||

Translation

Для Мāгхоши погружение в священные воды считалось даже выше, чем вхождение в огонь. Пока человек жив, он вкушает страдание; после смерти обретает обильное блаженство.

Word by Word

• अग्नि-प्रवेशात्: than entering fire / from fire-entry
• अग्नि-प्रवेशात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अग्नेः प्रवेशः)

• अधिकम्: greater / more
• अधिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तुलनार्थे (comparative sense)

• माघ-उषस्य: of the dawn of Māgha (month)
• माघ-उषस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक) + उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (माघस्य उषा)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• मज्जनम्: bathing/immersion
• मज्जनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मज्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• जीवता: by one who is alive / while living
• जीवता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवत् (प्रातिपदिक; वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; वर्तमान-प्रत्ययान्त (present participle used substantively)

• भुज्यते: is experienced/enjoyed
• भुज्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे कर्तृस्थाने (in passive, nominative as logical object)

• मृतेन: by one who is dead / after death
• मृतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक; भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle used substantively)

• बहुलम्: abundant / much
• बहुलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे कर्तृस्थाने (in passive, nominative as logical object)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Tirtha-Mahatmya narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Māgha-snāna (implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Māghoṣa
• Agni

FAQs

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

It elevates tīrtha-snāna (sacred immersion) as a powerful purifier whose merit can surpass extreme acts like self-immolation, emphasizing the transformation of karma and the promise of posthumous well-being through dharmic practice.

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

Though it speaks in the idiom of tirtha-mahātmya, the underlying bhakti principle is faith-filled surrender to sacred means connected with dharma—approaching holy places and rites with reverence, which is treated as spiritually efficacious and grace-bearing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the act of majjana/tīrtha-snāna as a regulated religious observance; it is not primarily a verse on Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa, but on ritual merit (puṇya) and karma-phala.