Shloka 15

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

गंगायां लिंगपूजायाः कोट्यंशेनापि नो समाः । पितॄनुदिश्य वा देवान्गंगांभिभिः प्रसिंचयेत् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgāyāṃ liṃgapūjāyāḥ koṭyaṃśenāpi no samāḥ | pitṝnudiśya vā devāngaṃgāṃbhibhiḥ prasiṃcayet || 15 ||

Translation

গঙ্গায় লিঙ্গপূজার সমান অন্য কোনো কর্ম কোটি ভাগের এক ভাগও নয়। অথবা পিতৃগণ কিংবা দেবতাদের উদ্দেশ করে গঙ্গাজল দ্বারা তাদের সিঞ্চন করা উচিত।

Word by Word

• gaṅgāyām: in the Ganga
• gaṅgāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• liṅga-pūjāyāḥ: of liṅga-worship
• liṅga-pūjāyāḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘liṅgasya pūjā’

• koṭi-aṃśena: even by a croreth part
• koṭi-aṃśena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘koṭyāḥ aṃśaḥ’ (a fraction of a crore)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning ‘even/also’

• naḥ: for us
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी) or Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural (बहुवचन); here with samāḥ: ‘for us / in our view’

• samāḥ: equal/comparable
• samāḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); predicate adjective (not equal)

• pitṝn: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• pitṝn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• udiśya: intending/dedicating to
• udiśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-diś (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (क्त्वान्त) absolutive/gerund; ‘having intended/addressed (for)’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात) ‘or’

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• gaṅgā-ambhibhiḥ: with Ganga-water
• gaṅgā-ambhibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + ambhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘gaṅgāyāḥ ambhāṃsi’ (waters of Ganga)

• prasiñcayet: should sprinkle
• prasiñcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sic (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्) Optative; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Linga
• Pitrs
• Devas

FAQs

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

It elevates Gaṅgā as a supreme tīrtha: acts done with her waters—especially liṅga-pūjā and offerings to Pitṛs/Devas—are said to yield extraordinary merit beyond ordinary comparisons.

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

Bhakti is expressed through tangible sacred service: worship (pūjā) and reverent use of Gaṅgā-jala as an offering to divine beings and ancestors, turning ritual acts into devotional dedication (saṅkalpa/udiśya).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (Kalpa/Śrauta-Smārta practice) is implied: performing tarpaṇa or sprinkling/libation with consecrated water for Pitṛs and Devas, emphasizing correct intention (udiśya) and proper offering medium (Gaṅgā-ambhas).