Shloka 45

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

सायंकाले शतगुणमनन्तं शिवसन्निधौ । कपिलाकोटिदानाद्धि गंगास्नानं विशिष्यते ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

sāyaṃkāle śataguṇamanantaṃ śivasannidhau | kapilākoṭidānāddhi gaṃgāsnānaṃ viśiṣyate || 45 ||

Translation

يُعلَن أن الاغتسال في الغانغا أسمى حتى من هبة عشرة ملايين من الأبقار الكابِلا؛ ولا سيّما عند المساء إذ يصير الثواب مئة ضعف، ويغدو غير متناهٍ في حضرة شيفا.

Word by Word

• सायं-काले: in the evening time
• सायं-काले: अधिकरण (Locative time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायम् (अव्यय) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव: ‘सायं समये’

• शत-गुणम्: hundredfold
• शत-गुणम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक-विशेषण (hundredfold)

• अनन्तम्: endless
• अनन्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (limitless)

• शिव-सन्निधौ: in Shiva’s presence
• शिव-सन्निधौ: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कपिला-कोटि-दानात्: than the gift of ten million tawny cows
• कपिला-कोटि-दानात्: अपादान (Standard/source in comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तुलना/अधिक्यबोध (standard of comparison)

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• गङ्गा-स्नानम्: bathing in the Ganga
• गङ्गा-स्नानम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विशिष्यते: excels / is superior
• विशिष्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/कर्मणि: ‘is distinguished/excels’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates Gaṅgā-snāna as a foremost purifier and merit-producing act, surpassing even immense charity (kapilā-koṭi-dāna), and highlights that time (evening) and sacred proximity (Śiva-sannidhi) intensify spiritual fruit.

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

By praising Gaṅgā-snāna near Śiva, the verse frames pilgrimage and ritual purity as devotional acts—approaching a deity’s presence with reverence and performing tirtha-observances as offerings of faith.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalā/ritual timing is implied: the specified sāyaṃkāla (evening) indicates that correct time-selection for rites (a practical dharma-ritual principle aligned with Jyotiṣa-based muhurta sensibilities) enhances the stated merit.