Shloka 5

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा माहात्म्यमतुलं गंगायाः पापनाशनम् । पश्चात्पापविनाशिन्यां स्नातुं यास्ये त्वया सह ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

śrutvā māhātmyamatulaṃ gaṃgāyāḥ pāpanāśanam | paścātpāpavināśinyāṃ snātuṃ yāsye tvayā saha || 6 ||

Translation

Nachdem ich die unvergleichliche Größe der Gaṅgā, der Vernichterin der Sünden, vernommen habe, werde ich danach mit dir gehen, um in diesem sündenvertreibenden Strom zu baden.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: हेतु (कारण/Hetu)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: श्रु, अर्थे: श्रवण (having heard)

• माहात्म्यम्: the greatness
• माहात्म्यम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying) माहात्म्यम्

• गंगायाः: of the Ganga
• गंगायाः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• पापनाशनम्: destroyer of sins
• पापनाशनम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: पापस्य नाशनम्

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• पापविनाशिन्याम्: in the sin-destroying (river)
• पापविनाशिन्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + विनाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: पापस्य विनाशिनी; अधिकरण (in/at)

• स्नातुम्: to bathe
• स्नातुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), धातु: स्ना; प्रयोजनार्थ (for the purpose of bathing)

• यास्ये: I shall go
• यास्ये: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वया: with you (by you)
• त्वया: सहकारक (Sahakāraka/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), द्वितीया/तृतीया-रूपे प्रचलित; अत्र तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: सह (Saha/Accompaniment marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-सम्बन्धक अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

The verse links śravaṇa (hearing sacred greatness) with karma of purification—specifically tīrtha-snānā (bathing at a holy ford)—presenting the Gaṅgā as a living purifier (pāpa-nāśinī) whose contact is a dhārmic means for cleansing sin.

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

It highlights a bhakti-pattern: first hearing and revering the Lord’s sacred manifestations (here, the Gaṅgā as a revered tirtha), then acting in faith through pilgrimage and ritual bathing—devotion expressed as humble participation in sanctifying practices.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: the efficacy of snāna at a tirtha after hearing its māhātmya, reflecting the Purāṇic application of dharma-vidhi rather than a technical lesson in grammar or astrology.