Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

लभते दैवपादोनयुगानां द्विसहस्रकम् । तपः कृत्वा तु नियमाद्यत्पुण्यं तदसंशयम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

labhate daivapādonayugānāṃ dvisahasrakam | tapaḥ kṛtvā tu niyamādyatpuṇyaṃ tadasaṃśayam || 36 ||

Translation

One attains merit equal to two thousand divine yugas. The merit gained by performing austerity in strict accord with the prescribed niyamas is, beyond doubt, exactly that.

Word by Word

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन — Present indicative, Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular

• दैव-पाद-ऊन-युगानाम्: of yugas that are a quarter less than divine (i.e., ‘daiva-pāda-ūna’ yugas)
• दैव-पाद-ऊन-युगानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊन (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Genitive (6th), Plural; तत्पुरुष-समास (निर्धारण/विशेषणपूर्वक): ‘दैवपादोन’ = दैवपादेन ऊनम् (a quarter less than divine) + युग

• द्वि-सहस्रकम्: two-thousand (a set of 2000)
• द्वि-सहस्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + सहस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular (object of ‘कृत्वा’)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) — Absolutive/gerund: ‘having done’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• नियमात्: from (following) observance/discipline
• नियमात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन — Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular

• यत्: which
• यत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular (relative pronoun; here qualifying ‘पुण्यम्’)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Pratijñā/Anuvāda (अनुवाद/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular (correlative)

• असंशयम्: without doubt
• असंशयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असंशयम् (अव्यय; a- + संशय)
• Form: निपात/क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana discourse; verse states phala of niyama-based tapas in the tirtha/vrata context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that disciplined austerity (tapas performed with niyama) has immense spiritual efficacy, yielding extraordinary punya described hyperbolically as the fruit of thousands of divine yugas.

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

While not naming a deity, it supports Bhakti in practice by stressing regulated conduct (niyama) and self-discipline—core supports that make worship, vows, and pilgrimage spiritually fruitful.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to the importance of correct rule-based practice (niyama), aligning with Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharma-śāstra style injunctions about how tapas and vows should be performed to yield intended results.