Shloka 17

The Account of the Fruits of Bathing at Particular Sacred Places

Tīrtha-viśeṣa-snāna-phala

Devanagari script

माघं सकलमेवापि नरो यो विधिपूर्वकम् । अरुणोदयके स्नायी स तु जातिस्मरो भवेत् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

māghaṃ sakalamevāpi naro yo vidhipūrvakam | aruṇodayake snāyī sa tu jātismaro bhavet || 17 ||

Translation

Người nào, suốt trọn tháng Māgha, tắm đúng theo nghi pháp vào lúc aruṇodaya (rạng đông), thì sẽ trở thành người nhớ được các đời trước của mình.

Word by Word

• माघम्: (throughout) the month of Magha
• माघम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd case), एकवचन; कालवाचक (the month of Māgha)

• सकलम्: entire
• सकलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (entire)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic ‘only/indeed’)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st case), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• विधिपूर्वकम्: according to prescribed rule
• विधिपूर्वकम्: Prakarana (प्रकार/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि-पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘according to rule’)

• अरुणोदयके: at dawn
• अरुणोदयके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुण-उदयक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोगभेदे, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अरुणस्य उदयः = dawn)

• स्नायी: one who bathes
• स्नायी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + इन् (कृदन्त/नामधातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (agent noun ‘bather’), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संकेत-सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• जातिस्मरः: one who remembers past births
• जातिस्मरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति-स्मर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जातिं स्मरति इति)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher within the Uttara-bhāga tīrtha-māhātmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Māgha-snāna (month-long Māgha bath)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined observance of Māgha-month bathing at aruṇodaya, performed as a regulated vow, can yield heightened spiritual cognition—specifically, the extraordinary fruit of remembering previous births (jātismaratā).

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

While not naming a deity here, the verse frames devotion as disciplined practice (niyama) and purity (śauca): regular sacred bathing at the prescribed time supports steadiness of mind and readiness for bhakti-oriented worship and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical emphasis is on correct timing (kāla)—bathing at aruṇodaya—reflecting jyotiṣa-style time awareness used in vrata and ritual scheduling, along with adherence to vidhi (ritual injunction).