Shloka 23

The Greatness of the Month of Māgha

Māgha-snāna, Harivāsara, and the Kāṣṭhīlā-Upākhyāna

Devanagari script

स्रोतोमुखः सरिति चान्यत्र भास्करसंमुखः । स्नायादावाह्य तीर्थानि गंगादीन्य कर्मण्डलात् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

srotomukhaḥ sariti cānyatra bhāskarasaṃmukhaḥ | snāyādāvāhya tīrthāni gaṃgādīnya karmaṇḍalāt || 23 ||

Translation

在河中沐浴时，应面向上游；在别处，则应面向太阳。应先将恒河等诸圣地（tīrtha）之水观想并迎请入自持的水器（kamaṇḍalu）中，然后再行沐浴。

Word by Word

• srotaḥ-mukhaḥ: the river-mouth/current-mouth (downstream-facing)
• srotaḥ-mukhaḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: srotas (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: srotasaḥ mukhaḥ

• sariti: in a river
• sariti: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• anyatra: elsewhere
• anyatra: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'elsewhere/otherwise'

• bhāskara-saṃmukhaḥ: facing the sun
• bhāskara-saṃmukhaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāskara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: bhāskarasya saṃmukhaḥ; used adjectivally

• snāyāt: should bathe
• snāyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धा॒तु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• āvāhya: having invoked
• āvāhya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√vah (वा॒ह् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), meaning 'having invoked/brought near'

• tīrthāni: sacred waters/holy places (tīrthas)
• tīrthāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• gaṅgā-ādīni: Ganga and the like
• gaṅgā-ādīni: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); 'Ganga etc.' qualifying tīrthāni

• karmaṇḍalāt: from a water-pot (kamaṇḍalu)
• karmaṇḍalāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karmaṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (teaching tīrtha-snāna procedure within Uttara-bhāga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhaskara (Surya)
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It codifies tīrtha-snāna as a disciplined dharmic act: correct orientation and the ritual invocation (āvāhana) of sacred waters align the bather with cosmic order (Sūrya) and the sanctity of revered rivers like Gaṅgā.

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

Though procedural, it supports bhakti by treating bathing as reverent worship—invoking Gaṅgā and holy tīrthas is an act of remembrance and surrender, preparing the body-mind for Hari/Vishnu-oriented devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: it gives a concise rule for snāna—directional discipline and āvāhana of tīrtha-waters via a kamaṇḍalu—showing applied ritual science rather than abstract philosophy.