Shloka 53

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

देवाः सोमार्कसंस्थानि यथा शक्रादयो मुखैः । अमृतान्युपभुंजंति तथा गंगाजलं नराः ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

devāḥ somārkasaṃsthāni yathā śakrādayo mukhaiḥ | amṛtānyupabhuṃjaṃti tathā gaṃgājalaṃ narāḥ || 54 ||

Translation

Wie Indra (Śakra) und die anderen Götter in den Wohnstätten von Mond und Sonne die Nektare genießen, so genießen auch die Menschen das Wasser der Gaṅgā.

Word by Word

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सोम-अर्क-संस्थानि: abodes/places of Soma and the Sun
• सोम-अर्क-संस्थानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (सोमश्च अर्कश्च; तयोः संस्थानानि/स्थानानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative: as/just as)

• शक्र-आदयः: Indra and others
• शक्र-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शक्रः आदिः येषाम्/शक्रादयः = ‘Indra and others’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मुखैः: with (their) mouths
• मुखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण

• अमृतानि: nectars/ambrosia
• अमृतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• उपभुञ्जन्ति: enjoy/consume
• उपभुञ्जन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: so/in the same way
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुलनावाचक-अव्यय (so/in the same way)

• गङ्गा-जलं: Ganga water
• गङ्गा-जलं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘गङ्गायाः जलम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context; dialogue tradition associated with Narada’s narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shakra (Indra)
• Soma (Moon)
• Arka (Sun)
• Ganga

FAQs

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

The verse elevates Ganga-water to an amrita-like status for humans, implying that contact and reverent use of Gaṅgā-jala grants purification and sacred merit comparable (in human context) to the divine enjoyment of nectar.

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

By presenting Gaṅgā-jala as a divine gift accessible to people, it supports bhakti through reverent engagement with a Vishnu-associated tirtha—honoring the Ganga becomes a tangible act of devotion expressed through faith, gratitude, and purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied: the disciplined use of sacred water in achamana and tirtha-sevana aligns with kalpa-oriented observance (ritual procedure), emphasizing purity rules and proper sacred conduct rather than technical astrology or grammar.