Shloka 28

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

चिंतामणिगुणाच्चापि गंगायास्तोयबिंदवः । विशिष्टा यत्प्रयच्छंति भक्तेभ्यो वांछितं फलम् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

ciṃtāmaṇiguṇāccāpi gaṃgāyāstoyabiṃdavaḥ | viśiṣṭā yatprayacchaṃti bhaktebhyo vāṃchitaṃ phalam || 29 ||

Translation

بل إن قطراتِ ماءِ الغانغا أسمى من خصائصِ الجوهرةِ المُحقِّقةِ للأماني (تشِنتامَني)، لأنها تمنحُ العابدينَ بالمحبةِ ثمرةَ ما يشتهون.

Word by Word

• चिन्तामणि-गुणात्: than the quality of the cintāmaṇi
• चिन्तामणि-गुणात्: अपादान/तुलना (Ablative of comparison/तुलनापञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्तामणि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (quality of the wish-fulfilling gem); पञ्चमी-तुलना/अधिक्य (ablative of comparison: ‘than’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध-निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (even/also)

• गङ्गायाः: of Gaṅgā
• गङ्गायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तोय-बिन्दवः: drops of water
• तोय-बिन्दवः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक) + बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (drops of water)

• विशिष्टाः: superior, distinguished
• विशिष्टाः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट (कृदन्त; √शिष्/शेष् धातु, उपसर्ग: वि-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (distinguished/superior)

• यत्: which
• यत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun; correlating with ‘तत्’ implied)

• प्रयच्छन्ति: they bestow
• प्रयच्छन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• भक्तेभ्यः: to devotees
• भक्तेभ्यः: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (कृदन्त; √भज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन; सम्प्रदानार्थ (dative: recipient)

• वाञ्छितम्: desired
• वाञ्छितम्: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाञ्छित (कृदन्त; √वाञ्छ् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (agreeing with फलम्)

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (within the Gaṅgā-māhātmya narration; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumāra lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It elevates Gaṅgā-jala as a uniquely potent tīrtha: even a mere drop is said to surpass worldly wish-fulfillers by yielding meaningful results to the devoted, emphasizing sacred grace over material magic.

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

The verse links फल (phala) to भक्त (bhakta): the Gaṅgā’s sanctity becomes effective through devotion, implying that faith, reverence, and tīrtha-sevā are integral supports to bhakti-oriented practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught directly; the practical takeaway is ritual application (tīrtha-related dharma): using Gaṅgā-jala for स्नान (bathing), आचमन (sipping/ritual purification), and offerings as part of Purāṇic practice.