Shloka 35

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

सुधाप्लावितभूपृष्ठां त्रैलोक्यनमितां सदा । ध्यात्वा जलमयीं गंगां पूजयन्पुण्यभाग्भवेत् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

sudhāplāvitabhūpṛṣṭhāṃ trailokyanamitāṃ sadā | dhyātvā jalamayīṃ gaṃgāṃ pūjayanpuṇyabhāgbhavet || 35 ||

Translation

Wer über die Göttin-Fluss Gaṅgā meditiert—deren Wasser die Erde wie Nektar überfluten und die von den drei Welten stets verehrt wird—und sie in ihrer wässrigen Gestalt verehrt, erlangt großes Verdienst.

Word by Word

• सुधा-प्लावित-भू-पृष्ठाम्: whose earth-surface is flooded with nectar
• सुधा-प्लावित-भू-पृष्ठाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्लावित (कृदन्त; √प्लु/प्लाव् धातु) + भू (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त-विशेषण (fem. accusative singular)

• त्रैलोक्य-नमिताम्: bowed to by the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्य-नमिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नमित (कृदन्त; √नम् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त-विशेषण (fem. accusative singular)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated (upon)
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having meditated’

• जल-मयीम्: made of water
• जल-मयीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. accusative singular)

• गङ्गाम्: Ganga
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (fem. accusative singular)

• पूजयन्: worshipping
• पूजयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), प्रथमा एकवचन पुंलिङ्ग; ‘worshipping’

• पुण्य-भाग्: a sharer/recipient of merit
• पुण्य-भाग्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भाग्’ (ending in -ग्), कर्तृपद (masc. nominative singular)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular optative)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahātmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Gaṅgā is not merely a physical river but a universally revered sacred power; meditating on her nectar-like purity and worshipping her as water itself grants puṇya (spiritual merit).

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

It presents bhakti through simple, accessible acts—dhyāna (remembrance/meditation) and pūjā (reverent worship)—directed to Gaṅgā as a living tirtha, emphasizing heartfelt veneration over complexity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: the instruction to worship Gaṅgā specifically in her “jalamayī” form points to correct dravya (ritual substance) selection and tirtha-pūjā procedure.