Shloka 58

Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank

Devanagari script

रथयात्रादिने तस्मिन्विभवे सति कारयेत् । रथारूढप्रतिकृतिं गंगायास्तूत्तरामुखाम् ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

rathayātrādine tasminvibhave sati kārayet | rathārūḍhapratikṛtiṃ gaṃgāyāstūttarāmukhām || 58 ||

Translation

An jenem Tag der Ratha-yātrā soll man, wenn man die Mittel hat, ein Bildnis der Göttin Gaṅgā auf einem Wagen anfertigen lassen, nach Norden ausgerichtet.

Word by Word

• रथ-यात्रा-दिने: on the day of the chariot procession
• रथ-यात्रा-दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ + यात्रा + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘रथयात्रायाः दिनम्’ = on the day of the chariot-festival)

• तस्मिन्: on that (occasion)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन

• विभवे: when resources/means are present
• विभवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन

• सति: when (it) exists/being present
• सति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अस् (धातु) → सत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन, वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle) ‘सत्’; लोके सप्तमी (absolute locative): ‘(विभवे) सति’ = when there is (means)

• कारयेत्: should have (it) made
• कारयेत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative): ‘cause to be done/make’

• रथ-आरूढ-प्रतिकृतिम्: a replica/image (mounted) on a chariot
• रथ-आरूढ-प्रतिकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ + आरूढ (कृदन्त) + प्रतिकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘रथम् आरूढस्य प्रतिकृतिः’ = an image of one mounted on a chariot)

• गङ्गायाः: of the Ganga
• गङ्गायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th), एकवचन

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• उत्तर-मुखाम्: north-facing
• उत्तर-मुखाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘उत्तरं मुखं यस्याः’ = north-facing)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue tradition, teaching transmitted within the Narada Purana’s tirtha/vrata context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ratha-yātrā (Gaṅgā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It prescribes a merit-bearing ritual act on Ratha-yātrā: honoring Gaṅgā through a commissioned chariot-mounted image, emphasizing devotion expressed through sacred making (kārayet) when one has the capacity.

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

Bhakti is shown as tangible reverence—serving the sacred (Gaṅgā) through respectful icon-making and festival observance, aligning one’s resources and actions with dharma on an auspicious day.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual directionality is implied: specifying the image as uttarāmukha (north-facing) reflects applied kalpa/ritual procedure and traditional iconographic orientation used in vrata and tīrtha rites.