Shloka 16

Prayaga-mahatmya

Glory of Prayaga and the Magha Bath at Triveni

Devanagari script

षष्ट्यब्देन फलं तद्धि मकरस्थे दिवाकरे । बहिः स्नानं तु वाप्यादौ द्वाशाब्दफलं स्मृतम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭyabdena phalaṃ taddhi makarasthe divākare | bahiḥ snānaṃ tu vāpyādau dvāśābdaphalaṃ smṛtam || 16 ||

Translation

当太阳在摩羯（Makara）之时，此行持所得功德等同六十年。若在外沐浴，如池塘等处，则被记为得十二年之功德。

Word by Word

• ṣaṣṭi-abdena: by (the measure of) sixty years
• ṣaṣṭi-abdena: Karaṇa/Parimāṇa (करण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + abda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); measure/extent expression

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); demonstrative referring to 'phalam'

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/emphasis (निपात)

• makara-sthe: when (the sun) is in Makara
• makara-sthe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: makara (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त from √sthā, प्रातिपदिक-वत्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); adjective qualifying 'divākare'

• divākare: in the sun
• divākare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• tu: but/and
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/विरोध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• vāpī-ādau: in a pond etc.
• vāpī-ādau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāpī (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī (Locative/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); 'in a pond etc.'

• dvāśa-abda-phalam: (it is) a twelve-year fruit/result
• dvāśa-abda-phalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + abda (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• smṛtam: is said/remembered (as)
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Napumsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); predicate to 'dvāśābdaphalam'

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Māgha-snāna (contextual)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

It teaches that the timing of a rite—specifically when the Sun is in Makara—magnifies its spiritual merit, and it also grades the merit based on the bathing setting (primary vs. outside locations like ponds).

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

By valuing disciplined, timely sacred practice, it supports Bhakti as lived devotion—expressed through reverent observances (snāna/vrata-like discipline) aligned with sacred cosmic order rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology/astronomy) is implied through the condition “Sun in Makara,” showing how calendrical-astral timing is used to determine ritual efficacy in Narada Purana.