Shloka 57

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

अंते ज्ञानासिना छित्वा अविद्यां पंचपर्विकाम् । परं वैराग्यमापन्नः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

aṃte jñānāsinā chitvā avidyāṃ paṃcaparvikām | paraṃ vairāgyamāpannaḥ paraṃ brahmādhigacchati || 57 ||

Translation

In the end, having cut down ignorance—with its five joints—by the sword of knowledge, and having attained supreme dispassion, one reaches the Supreme Brahman.

Word by Word

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण (at the end)

• ज्ञान-असिना: with the sword of knowledge
• ज्ञान-असिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ज्ञानस्य असिना = ‘with the sword of knowledge’)

• छित्वा: having cut
• छित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √छिद् (छेदने)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund): ‘having cut’

• अविद्याम्: ignorance
• अविद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पञ्च-पर्विकाम्: five-knotted (fivefold)
• पञ्च-पर्विकाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पर्विका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (पञ्च पर्वाणि यस्याः/या = ‘five-jointed/five-knotted’)

• परम्: supreme, highest
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion
• वैराग्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• आपन्नः: having attained
• आपन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आपन्न (कृदन्त, √आप् प्राप्तौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP): ‘having attained’

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म: Brahman, the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अधिगच्छति: attains, reaches
• अधिगच्छति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (गतौ) + अधि
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a moksha-oriented instruction within the Narada Purana narrative tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

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

It states the liberation principle: ignorance (avidyā) is destroyed by true knowledge (jñāna), and when this culminates in supreme dispassion (vairāgya), the seeker realizes the Supreme Brahman.

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

While the verse speaks in jñāna-vairāgya language, in Purāṇic framing it supports bhakti by implying that mature devotion purifies attachment, produces vairāgya, and culminates in direct realization of the Supreme.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is sādhanā-oriented—cultivating viveka (discernment) and vairāgya as the applied method for removing avidyā.