Shloka 25

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Goloka-tattva and Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa Upāsanā

Devanagari script

गंगा च ब्रह्मतनये नैव भेदोऽस्ति वस्तुतः । पंचधा सा स्थिता विद्याकामधेनुस्वरूपिणी ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgā ca brahmatanaye naiva bhedo'sti vastutaḥ | paṃcadhā sā sthitā vidyākāmadhenusvarūpiṇī || 25 ||

Translation

In Wahrheit gibt es keinen wirklichen Unterschied zwischen Gaṅgā und der Tochter Brahmās. Sie besteht in einer fünffachen Gestalt und trägt die Natur von Vidyā sowie von Kāmadhenu, der wunscherfüllenden Kuh.

Word by Word

• गङ्गा: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• ब्रह्मतनये: in/with regard to the daughter of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मतनये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + तनया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्मणः तनया (daughter of Brahmā)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात, अवधारण

• भेदः: difference
• भेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वस्तुतः: in reality
• वस्तुतः: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वस्तुतस् (अव्यय; वस्तु-तस्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), अर्थे: 'in reality/essentially'

• पञ्चधा: fivefold
• पञ्चधा: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्चधा (अव्यय)
• Form: धाप्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb of manner), 'in five ways'

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्थिताः: is situated/abides
• स्थिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकर्तरि कृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (स्थिताः/स्थिता; here read as स्थिता)

• विद्याकामधेनुस्वरूपिणी: having the form of the wish-fulfilling cow of knowledge
• विद्याकामधेनुस्वरूपिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या + कामधेनु + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: (विद्या-रूपा) (कामधेनु-स्वरूपिणी) इति—'having the nature/form of the wish-fulfilling cow of knowledge'; विशेषण

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Brahma
• Brahma-tanaya (daughter of Brahma)
• Kamadhenu
• Vidya

FAQs

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

The verse equates Gaṅgā with a divine Brahmā-born śakti, stressing that her sanctity is not merely physical water but a deeper, unified spiritual reality that grants purification, merit, and inner awakening.

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

By presenting Gaṅgā as both Vidyā (illumining knowledge) and Kāmadhenu (grace that fulfills), it frames tirtha-sevā and remembrance of the sacred as supports to bhakti—purifying the heart and making it fit for loving devotion to the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds Vidyā as a power that transforms the seeker; in practice, it aligns with Vedāṅga-style discipline where correct understanding and application of sacred learning (supported by śāstra-based study and ritual purity) are treated as spiritually efficacious.