Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 110

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

पुरा सङ्क्रुश्यमानेन ये यमेनातिपीडिताः । त एव पूजितास्तेन गङ्गाजलपरिप्लुताः ॥ ११० ॥

Transliteration

purā saṅkruśyamānena ye yamenātipīḍitāḥ | ta eva pūjitāstena gaṅgājalapariplutāḥ || 110 ||

Translation

أولئك الذين كان ياما قديمًا يجرّهم ويعذّبهم أشدّ العذاب، إذا اغتسلوا وتشرّبوا بماء الغانغا صاروا مُكرَّمين لديه.

Word by Word

• purā: formerly
• purā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय: 'formerly/once'

• saṅkruśyamānena: by the tormenting one
• saṅkruśyamānena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅkruśyamāna (कृदन्त; sam-√kruś/क्रुश्)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'by (him) who is causing to cry out/tormenting'

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; relative pronoun 'who'

• yamena: by Yama
• yamena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'by Yama'

• ati-pīḍitāḥ: greatly tormented
• ati-pīḍitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + pīḍita (कृदन्त; √pīḍ/पीड्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) with उपसर्ग/अव्यय 'ati' (intensifier); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'greatly afflicted'

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'they'

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात: 'indeed/just'

• pūjitāḥ: were honoured
• pūjitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; passive-subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjita (कृदन्त; √pūj/पूज्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'honoured/worshipped'

• tena: by him
• tena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'by him' (refers to Yama)

• gaṅgā-jala-pariplutāḥ: bathed/immersed in Ganga water
• gaṅgā-jala-pariplutāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक) + paripluta (कृदन्त; pari-√plu/प्लु)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः समास: 'flooded/immersed with Ganga-water'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It declares the transformative power of Gaṅgā-jala: even those suffering Yama’s punishments are elevated to honor once purified by immersion in the Gaṅgā, emphasizing tirtha-snana as a potent means of pāpa-kṣaya.

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

By presenting Gaṅgā as a sacred purifier revered in Vaiṣṇava dharma, the verse supports bhakti-inclined practice: approaching holy waters with faith and reverence becomes a devotional act that softens karmic consequences.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-style conduct) is implied: tīrtha-snana—bathing/immersing in sacred waters as a prescribed dharmic act for purification—rather than a technical lesson in grammar or astrology.