Shloka 53

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

भूमिं निवर्तनमितां गंगातीरे ददाति यः । भूमिरेणुप्रमाणाब्दं ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवातिगः ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

bhūmiṃ nivartanamitāṃ gaṃgātīre dadāti yaḥ | bhūmireṇupramāṇābdaṃ brahmaviṣṇuśivātigaḥ || 53 ||

Translation

Wer am Ufer der Gaṅgā ein Stück Land im Maß eines Nivartana spendet, überragt selbst Brahmā, Viṣṇu und Śiva für so viele Jahre, wie Staubkörnchen in jenem Land sind.

Word by Word

• भूमिम्: land, earth
• भूमिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• निवर्तन-मिताम्: measured as one nivartana (measure)
• निवर्तन-मिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + मित (कृदन्त, √मा माने/मितौ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (निवर्तन-परिमाणेन मिता = ‘measured by a nivartana’)

• गङ्गा-तीरे: on the bank of the Ganga
• गङ्गा-तीरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गङ्गायाः तीरम्)

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (दाने)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• भूमि-रेणु-प्रमाण-अब्दम्: a ‘year’ of dust-particle measure (very long time)
• भूमि-रेणु-प्रमाण-अब्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + रेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—बहु-तत्पुरुष (भूमेः रेणु-प्रमाणः अब्दः = ‘a year measured by a dust-particle of earth’, i.e., extremely long time)

• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-शिव-अतिगः: one who surpasses Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva
• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-शिव-अतिगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अतिग (कृदन्त, √गम् + अति उपसर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्म-विष्णु-शिवान् अतिगः = ‘surpassing Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva’)

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana’s Gaṅgā-māhātmya section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates Gaṅgā-tīra bhūmi-dāna (donation of land at the Ganga) as an exceptionally potent dharmic act, whose merit is described as immeasurable—counted by the land’s dust-particles—highlighting the unique sanctity of the Gaṅgā and tīrthas.

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

The verse frames charity at a sacred tīrtha as an offering aligned with divine presence (especially in Uttara-Bhāga tīrtha-māhātmya contexts), where devotion expresses itself through selfless giving and reverence for holy places associated with the Lord’s grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical takeaway is the use of traditional measurement terminology (nivartana) relevant to ritual-dāna procedure—showing how dharma texts integrate precise conventional measures and rules for valid gifts (dāna-vidhi).