Shloka 14

Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation

Devanagari script

न ह्येतत् परमाश्चर्यं स्वर्धुन्या यदिहोदितम् । अनन्तचरणाम्भोजप्रसूताया भवच्छिद: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

na hy etat param āścaryaṁ svardhunyā yad ihoditam ananta-caraṇāmbhoja- prasūtāyā bhava-cchidaḥ

Translation

Es ist keineswegs verwunderlich, was hier über Mutter Gaṅgā gesagt wird; denn sie entspringt dem Lotoszeh Anantadevas, der Höchsten Persönlichkeit Gottes, und vermag so die Fesseln des materiellen Daseins zu durchtrennen.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used substantively

• parama-āścaryam: a supreme wonder
• parama-āścaryam: Pratijñā/Predicative (विशेषण-भाव/पूरक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + āścarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (विशेषण-विशेष्य)

• svardhunyā: by the heavenly river (Gaṅgā)
• svardhunyā: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svardhunī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/Instrumental), एकवचन

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun referring to 'etat'

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• uditam: spoken/declared
• uditam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + √i (इ/गत्यर्थ) → udita (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत्-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/uttered’

• ananta-caraṇa-ambhoja-prasūtāyāḥ: of (her) who is born from the lotus-feet of Ananta
• ananta-caraṇa-ambhoja-prasūtāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक) + caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ambhoja (प्रातिपदिक) + prasūtā (प्रसूत/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अनन्तस्य चरणाम्भोजात् प्रसूता) qualifying 'svardhunī'

• bhava-chidaḥ: of the destroyer of saṁsāra
• bhava-chidaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + chid (प्रातिपदिक from √chid छिद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (भवस्य छिद् = destroyer of worldly existence)

Purport

It has actually been seen that anyone who regularly worships mother Ganges simply by bathing in her water keeps very good health and gradually becomes a devotee of the Lord. This is the effect of bathing in the water of the Ganges. Bathing in the Ganges is recommended in all Vedic śāstras, and one who takes to this path will certainly be completely freed from all sinful reactions. The practical example of this is that the sons of Mahārāja Sagara went to the heavenly planets when water from the Ganges merely touched the ashes of their burnt bodies.

Characters & Entities

• Ananta
• Gaṅgā (Svardhunī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the spiritual power of the Ganga?

This verse says Gaṅgā is not ordinary because she originates from the Lord’s lotus feet (Ananta) and therefore has the potency to destroy bhava—material bondage.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī say it is 'not astonishing' about Gaṅgā’s glory?

Because her greatness naturally follows from her divine origin: being born from the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet, her purifying and liberating power is to be expected.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

Remember the Lord as the source of all purification, and approach sacred practices (like tīrtha, mantra, and bhakti) with faith that genuine connection to Bhagavān cleanses the heart and loosens material attachment.