Shloka 31

The Greatness of Haridvāra

Gaṅgādvāra-māhātmya

Devanagari script

यत्र कोटिगुणं पुण्यं भवेत्कोटीशदर्शनात् । ओष्यैकां रजनीं तत्र पुंडरीकमवाप्नुयात् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

yatra koṭiguṇaṃ puṇyaṃ bhavetkoṭīśadarśanāt | oṣyaikāṃ rajanīṃ tatra puṃḍarīkamavāpnuyāt || 31 ||

Translation

An jenem Ort wird durch den bloßen Anblick von Koṭīśa das Verdienst um das Zehnmillionenfache vermehrt. Wer dort nur eine Nacht verweilt, erlangt Puṇḍarīka, die heilige Frucht jenes Pilgerortes.

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सम्बन्ध-स्थानवाचक (relative locative adverb: where)

• कोटिगुणम्: million-fold
• कोटिगुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: कोट्या गुणः (million-fold); विशेषण (पुण्यम्)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be/arise
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कोटीश-दर्शनात्: from seeing Koṭīśa
• कोटीश-दर्शनात्: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटीश + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: कोटीशस्य दर्शनम् (sight of Koṭīśa)

• ऊष्य: having stayed
• ऊष्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive) from √वस् (to dwell): ऊष्य = having stayed

• एकाम्: one
• एकाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (रजनीम्)

• रजनीम्: night
• रजनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, स्थानवाचक (there)

• पुण्डरीकम्: Puṇḍarīka (lotus / a reward named Puṇḍarīka)
• पुण्डरीकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्डरीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (either lotus or a named reward/place; context suggests a फल/प्राप्ति)

• अवाप्नुयात्: would obtain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: अव; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher within the Tirtha-Mahatmya discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Koṭīśa
• Puṇḍarīka

FAQs

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

It teaches that tirtha-darśana (sacred visitation) is not merely travel but a dharmic act whose fruit can be exponentially magnified; even a single night’s stay at the Koṭīśa site is presented as spiritually transformative.

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

By emphasizing darśana—reverential seeing/encountering the sacred—the verse aligns with bhakti practice where sincere approach to a holy form or holy place yields grace-like merit beyond ordinary calculation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-oriented ritual pragmatics: specific acts (darśana and one-night residence) are prescribed with defined results, illustrating how pilgrimage observances are framed as actionable dharma.