Shloka 58

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

त्रिभिः सारस्वतं तोयं सप्तभिस्त्वथ यामुनम् । नार्मदं दशभिर्मासैर्गांगं वर्षेण जीर्यति ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

tribhiḥ sārasvataṃ toyaṃ saptabhistvatha yāmunam | nārmadaṃ daśabhirmāsairgāṃgaṃ varṣeṇa jīryati || 59 ||

Translation

Das Wasser der Sarasvatī wird nach drei Tagen schal, das der Yamunā nach sieben. Das Wasser der Narmadā wird nach zehn Monaten schal, doch das Wasser der Gaṅgā erst nach einem Jahr.

Word by Word

• त्रिभिः: by three (months)
• त्रिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Measure-instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• सारस्वतम्: Sarasvatī-related
• सारस्वतम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सारस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with तोयम्)

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• सप्तभिः: by seven (months)
• सप्तभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Measure-instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक/विरोधार्थक निपात

• अथ: then
• अथ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (sequencing particle: ‘then/next’)

• यामुनम्: Yamunā-related
• यामुनम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यामुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (elliptic with तोयम्)

• नार्मदम्: Narmadā-related
• नार्मदम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नार्मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (elliptic with तोयम्)

• दशभिः: by ten
• दशभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Measure-instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• मासैः: months
• मासैः: करण (Karaṇa/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• गाङ्गम्: Ganga-related
• गाङ्गम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (elliptic with तोयम्)

• वर्षेण: by a year
• वर्षेण: करण (Karaṇa/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• जीर्यति: decays/wanes
• जीर्यति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘decays/gets digested/loses potency’

Speaker

Narada (within a Tirtha-Mahatmya exposition of Uttara-Bhaga; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati
• Yamuna
• Narmada
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It ranks the enduring sacred potency of major river-waters used for snāna and ritual, highlighting Gaṅgā-jala as exceptionally preservative of purity in the tirtha-mahātmya context.

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

By exalting Gaṅgā-jala—widely associated with Hari-bhakti and purification—it points devotees toward faith-filled tirtha practices (snāna, ācamana, worship) as supports for a pure mind fit for devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implies practical ritual discipline (kalpa/ācāra): suitability and longevity of sacred water for ācamana, abhiṣeka, and other rites, especially in pilgrimage-based observances described in the Narada Purana.