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

Im Gaṅgā wird die Verehrung des Liṅga von keiner anderen Handlung auch nur zu einem Millionstel erreicht. Oder, den Pitṛs oder den Devas zugedacht, soll man sie mit dem Wasser des Gaṅgā besprengen und darbringen.

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).