Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 169

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

तपस्तप्त्वानयामास गङ्गां त्रैलोक्यपावनीम् ॥ १६९ ॥

Transliteration

tapastaptvānayāmāsa gaṅgāṃ trailokyapāvanīm || 169 ||

Translation

وبعد أن أتمّ رياضات الزهد (التَّبَس)، أظهر نهر الغانغا وأنزله—وهو مطهِّر العوالم الثلاثة.

Word by Word

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular neuter (object of ‘तप्त्वा’)

• तप्त्वा: having performed
• तप्त्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (पूर्वकर्म/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having performed (austerity)’

• अनयामास: brought
• अनयामास: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense not intended here—‘brought/led’

• गङ्गाम्: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular feminine

• त्रैलोक्य-पावनीम्: purifier of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्य-पावनीम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पावनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (त्रैलोक्यस्य पावनी) — Accusative singular feminine (agreeing with ‘गङ्गाम्’)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches that tapas (disciplined austerity) has world-purifying potency, culminating here in the manifestation/bringing of Gaṅgā, revered as a tirtha that purifies all three realms.

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

Though the verse centers on tapas, it supports bhakti by implying that sincere, disciplined spiritual practice undertaken with sacred intent yields divine grace and purification—qualities essential for steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is directly taught in this line; the practical takeaway is ritual-spiritual: tapas and tirtha-snāna (holy bathing) are presented as means of inner and outer purification within dharma.