Shloka 38
The Greatness of the Month of Māgha
Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna
न समं ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तमधिकं हरिवासरम् । तस्मिन्वराहवपुषं कृत्वा देवं तु हाटकम् ॥ ३८ ॥
na samaṃ brahmaṇā proktamadhikaṃ harivāsaram | tasminvarāhavapuṣaṃ kṛtvā devaṃ tu hāṭakam || 38 ||
ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तं—हरिवासरात् समं न किञ्चिदस्ति, अधिकं तु नास्त्येव। तस्मिन्दिने वराहवपुषं देवं कृत्वा हाटकेन सुवर्णेन प्रतिष्ठापयेत्॥
Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic teaching; within the larger Narada–Sanatkumāra transmission on tīrtha/vrata-mahātmyas)
Vrata: Harivāsara
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It elevates Harivāsara (the sacred day of Hari, commonly understood as Ekādaśī) as the foremost observance, endorsed even by Brahmā, and links it to focused Viṣṇu-upāsanā through the Varāha form.
Bhakti is expressed as prioritizing Hari’s day and performing tangible acts of reverence—such as creating/commissioning a Varāha image and worship—showing devotion through time-sanctification (vrata) and deity-centered worship.
Primarily kalpa (ritual procedure): the verse implies a vrata-oriented ritual act (murti-making/installation and worship on a prescribed sacred day), emphasizing correct observance and timing.