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

Người ta tuyên bố rằng tắm vào ngày xuân phân/thu phân và vào các thời điểm chuyển ayana (chí điểm) đem lại công đức đặc biệt. Lại nữa, họ biết rằng tắm sông Gaṅgā trong tháng Kārtika ban quả báo ngang với đại khổ hạnh (tapas).

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.