Shloka 6

The Account of the Fruits of Bathing at Particular Sacred Places

Tīrtha-viśeṣa-snāna-phala

Devanagari script

विषुवेऽयनसंक्रांतौ विशेषात्फलमीरितम् । तपःसमं कार्तिकेऽपि गङ्गास्नाने फलं विदुः ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

viṣuve'yanasaṃkrāṃtau viśeṣātphalamīritam | tapaḥsamaṃ kārtike'pi gaṅgāsnāne phalaṃ viduḥ || 6 ||

Translation

Провозглашено, что омовение в дни равноденствия и в переходы солнцестояний приносит особую заслугу. Также известно, что омовение в Ганге в месяце Картика дарует плод, равный великой тапасье (аскезе).

Word by Word

• viṣuve: at the equinox
• viṣuve: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ayana-saṃkrāṃtau: at the solstitial transition
• ayana-saṃkrāṃtau: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayana (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkrānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (ayanasya saṃkrāntiḥ)

• viśeṣāt: especially/for a special reason
• viśeṣāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause)

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र कर्म/उद्देश्य-रूपे (object/that which is stated)

• īritam: is declared
• īritam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īr (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः (stated/declared)

• tapaḥ-samam: equal to (the fruit of) austerity
• tapaḥ-samam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies phalam); समासः तत्पुरुष (tapasā samam = equal to austerity)

• kārtike: in (the month of) Kārtika
• kārtike: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārtika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; मास-नाम (month name)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात

• gaṅgā-snāne: in bathing in the Ganga
• gaṅgā-snāne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (gaṅgāyāṃ snānam)

• phalam: the fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• viduḥ: they know/declare
• viduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a tirtha-mahatmya context; dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara lineage implied)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kārtika-snāna (month-long/seasonal bathing observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Kartika (month)
• Vishuva (equinox)
• Ayana-sankranti (solstitial transition)

FAQs

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

It elevates specific sacred times (equinox and ayana-saṃkrānti) and the month of Kārtika as exceptionally potent for tirtha-bathing, stating that such snāna yields heightened punya, with Kārtika-Gaṅgā snāna equated to the fruit of tapas.

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

Though framed as ritual merit, it supports bhakti-oriented practice by recommending simple, accessible acts (snāna at sacred times) that purify and prepare the devotee for sustained worship and vrata-observance, commonly associated with Viṣṇu-centered Kārtika observances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly uses Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy) by identifying ritual efficacy with calendrical junctions—viṣuva (equinox) and ayana-saṃkrānti (solstitial transition)—as key timings for dharmic rites.