Shloka 5

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

अतो गङ्गेति सा ज्ञेया सर्वदा लोकपावनी / भक्त्या विष्णुपदीत्येव कीर्तिता नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

ato gaṅgeti sā jñeyā sarvadā lokapāvanī / bhaktyā viṣṇupadītyeva kīrtitā nātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Por ello debe ser conocida como “Gaṅgā”, siempre purificadora de los mundos; y con devoción es celebrada como “Viṣṇupadī”, el río que brota de los pies de Viṣṇu; de esto no hay duda.

Word by Word

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atas (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ अव्यय (causal adverb ‘therefore/from this’)

• gaṅgā: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (उक्तार्थ-नाम)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• jñeyā: is to be known
• jñeyā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (धातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तव्य/भाव्य (gerundive)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• loka-pāvanī: purifier of the world
• loka-pāvanī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + pāvanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘लोकान् पावयति’ (purifier of worlds/people)

• bhaktyā: by devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• viṣṇu-padī: Viṣṇupadī (Gaṅgā, from Viṣṇu’s foot)
• viṣṇu-padī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + padī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘विष्णोः पदी’ (connected with Viṣṇu’s foot/step; epithet of Gaṅgā)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• kīrtitā: is proclaimed/called
• kīrtitā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kīrt (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• na: no/not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotional remembrance of Gaṅgā as Viṣṇupadī and trust in her purificatory power.

Vedantic Theme: Grace (anugraha) mediated through sacred forms; purity as inner transformation supported by divine contact.

Application: Chant and remember ‘Viṣṇupadī’ with bhakti; engage in mindful snāna/ācamanam and ethical resolve as part of purification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river/tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha and purification themes; Gaṅgā as purifier (general internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Vishnu
• Vishnupadi

FAQs

What is the importance of calling Ganga ‘Viṣṇupadī’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that Ganga is praised as ‘Viṣṇupadī’ because she is associated with Lord Viṣṇu’s feet, establishing her supreme sanctity and power to purify.

How does this verse relate to purification themes in the Garuda Purana?

By declaring Ganga ‘lokapāvanī’ (purifier of the worlds), the verse supports the Purana’s broader emphasis on spiritual cleansing through sacred means—especially devotion (bhakti) and holy associations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred practices with bhakti: recite Ganga’s names (Gaṅgā, Viṣṇupadī) reverently, and cultivate inner purity alongside any external ritual acts.