Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

गंगामाहात्म्यमखिलं महापापप्रणाशनम् । वृषध्वजेन कथितं शिवेन दयया पुरा ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgāmāhātmyamakhilaṃ mahāpāpapraṇāśanam | vṛṣadhvajena kathitaṃ śivena dayayā purā || 8 ||

Translation

This entire glory of the Gaṅgā—destroyer of even the greatest sins—was formerly spoken out of compassion by Śiva, the Bull-bannered Lord.

Word by Word

• gaṅgā-māhātmyam: the glory of the Ganga
• gaṅgā-māhātmyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• akhilam: entire/complete
• akhilam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; qualifies gaṅgā-māhātmyam

• mahā-pāpa-praṇāśanam: destroyer of great sins
• mahā-pāpa-praṇāśanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + praṇāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: mahataḥ pāpasya praṇāśanam (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective of gaṅgā-māhātmyam

• vṛṣa-dhvajena: by the Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• vṛṣa-dhvajena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: yasya dhvajaḥ vṛṣaḥ saḥ (one whose banner is a bull = Śiva); Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• kathitam: was told
• kathitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (कथ् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative, Singular; agrees with gaṅgā-māhātmyam

• śivena: by Śiva
• śivena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; apposition to vṛṣa-dhvajena

• dayayā: out of compassion
• dayayā: Hetu/Instrument (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• purā: formerly/once
• purā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Uttara-Bhaga Ganga Mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Ganga’s sanctity as a complete, authoritative Mahatmya whose core fruit is mahāpāpa-praṇāśa (the destruction of grave sins), and it grounds that teaching in Shiva’s compassionate instruction.

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

By presenting Shiva as compassionately revealing Ganga’s glory, the verse encourages shraddhā (faith) and reverent engagement with a sacred tirtha—an accessible devotional practice that supports inner purification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily supports tirtha-vidhi (pilgrimage/ritual practice) rather than a technical Vedanga; the practical takeaway is that Ganga-related rites are taught as purificatory disciplines within dharma.