Shloka 4

Devanagari script

ततः प्रभृति सा गङ्गा तुल्यपुण्यफलोदया / नाम्ना रावणगङ्गेति प्रथिमानमुपागता

Transliteration

tataḥ prabhṛti sā gaṅgā tulyapuṇyaphalodayā / nāmnā rāvaṇagaṅgeti prathimānamupāgatā

Translation

From that time onward, that stream—bestowing meritorious results equal to the Gaṅgā—became renowned by the name “Rāvaṇa-Gaṅgā,” and attained wide fame.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Hetu (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/कालवाचक (from then; thereafter)

• prabhṛti: from (that time)
• prabhṛti: Kāla (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prabhṛti (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भवाचक (from; starting from)

• sā: she/that (river)
• sā: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• gaṅgā: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā: Karta (Appositive subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tulya-puṇya-phala-udayā: yielding equal merit-fruit
• tulya-puṇya-phala-udayā: Viśeṣaṇa (of gaṅgā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक) + puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + udayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'she whose arising/result is equal (in) meritorious fruit'

• nāmnā: by the name
• nāmnā: Karaṇa (Instrument: by name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• rāvaṇa-gaṅgā: Rāvaṇa-Gaṅgā
• rāvaṇa-gaṅgā: Saṃjñā (Name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (as name); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rāvaṇasya gaṅgā)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-समाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणचिह्न

• prathimānam: renown; fame
• prathimānam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prathimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• upāgatā: attained; came to
• upāgatā: Kriyā (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) + upa- (उपसर्ग) → upāgata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle, active sense); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-mahātmyam: sacred geography yields merit; nāma (name) and itihāsa (origin story) confer devotional access to purification.

Vedantic Theme: Śraddhā and smṛti (faith and remembrance) as means to participate in sanctity; the sacred is approached through nāma and sambandha.

Application: If unable to reach Gaṅgā, honor local tīrthas with sincere practice; combine ritual bathing/charity with ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha / sacred river

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.70.1-1.70.3 (cause of sanctification); Garuda Purana 1.70.5 (jewel-laden banks motif)

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Ravana
• Ravana-Ganga

FAQs

What is the importance of Ravana-Ganga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the stream became famous as “Rāvaṇa-Gaṅgā” because it is said to grant meritorious results equal to the Gaṅgā, highlighting its status as a powerful tīrtha.

How does this verse relate to purification and spiritual merit?

By describing the river as producing “tulya-puṇya-phala” (equal merit), the verse frames sacred waters as instruments of purification and dharmic upliftment through contact, bathing, or pilgrimage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat tīrthas and sacred waters with reverence, and pair pilgrimage or ritual bathing with ethical conduct—since the verse emphasizes spiritual fruit (puṇya-phala), not mere tourism.