Shloka 9

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

पूर्वे वयसि पापानि कृत्वा कर्माणि ये नराः । शेषे गंगां निषेवंते तेऽपि यांति परां गतिम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

pūrve vayasi pāpāni kṛtvā karmāṇi ye narāḥ | śeṣe gaṃgāṃ niṣevaṃte te'pi yāṃti parāṃ gatim || 10 ||

Translation

যে মানুষরা যৌবনে পাপকর্ম করেছে, জীবনের শেষভাগে যদি শ্রদ্ধাভরে গঙ্গার আশ্রয় নেয়, তারাও পরম গতি লাভ করে।

Word by Word

• पूर्वे: in the earlier
• पूर्वे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण वयसि (in early)

• वयसि: in age (youth)
• वयसि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकर्म/हेतु (Prior action/Cause)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: कृ

• कर्माणि: deeds
• कर्माणि: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पापानि कर्माणि (appositional)

• ये: who
• ये: विशेषण (Relative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण नराः

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शेषे: in the remaining (time)
• शेषे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the remainder/at the end [of life])

• गंगाम्: Ganga
• गंगाम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निषेवन्ते: resort to/serve
• निषेवन्ते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: नि

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: समुच्चय (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय (also/even)

• यान्ति: go/attain
• यान्ति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पराम्: supreme
• पराम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण गतिम्

• गतिम्: goal/state
• गतिम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Ganga-mahatmya discourse of Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere later-life turning toward Gaṅgā-sevā (reverent resort to the sacred river) can purify even earlier wrongdoing and lead one to the supreme spiritual destination (parā gati).

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

By emphasizing niṣeva—devoted resorting/serving—this verse frames Gaṅgā not merely as water but as a sacred presence approached with faith, humility, and continued practice, aligning with bhakti-oriented purification and upliftment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Rather than a technical Vedāṅga lesson (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa), the verse highlights applied Dharma: tīrtha-sevana as a recognized purificatory discipline (prāyaścitta) within Purāṇic ritual culture.