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Shloka 1

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

वसिष्ठ उवाच । वसोर्वचनमाकर्ण्य गङ्गामाहात्म्यसूचकम् । पुनः पप्रच्छ राजेन्द्रं तं विप्रं स्वपुरोहितम् ॥ १ ॥

vasiṣṭha uvāca | vasorvacanamākarṇya gaṅgāmāhātmyasūcakam | punaḥ papraccha rājendraṃ taṃ vipraṃ svapurohitam || 1 ||

Dijo Vasiṣṭha: Al oír las palabras de Vasu, que señalaban la grandeza del Gaṅgā, el rey volvió a preguntar a aquel brāhmaṇa, su propio sacerdote familiar.

vasiṣṭhaḥVasiṣṭha
vasiṣṭhaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
vasoḥof Vasu
vasoḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
TypeNoun
Rootvasu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
vacanamstatement/words
vacanam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvacana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
ākarṇyahaving heard
ākarṇya:
Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootā-√karṇ (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय/ल्यप्), indeclinable; meaning ‘having heard’
gaṅgā-māhātmya-sūcakamindicating the greatness of the Gaṅgā
gaṅgā-māhātmya-sūcakam:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootgaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक) + sūcaka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम् vacanam-शब्दस्य; समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गङ्गायाः माहात्म्यस्य सूचकम्)
punaḥagain
punaḥ:
Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpunaḥ (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)
papracchaasked
papraccha:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√prach (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
rājendramthe lord of kings (king)
rājendram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootrājendra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; संबोधनार्थक-उपाधि as object of asking
tamhim
tam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun
vipramthe brāhmaṇa
vipram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvipra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition to tam
sva-purohitamhis own priest
sva-purohitam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsva (प्रातिपदिक) + purohita (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य पुरोहितः)

Vasiṣṭha

Vrata: none

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_journey":"From attentive listening to renewed inquiry, the mood shifts gently into curiosity about Gaṅgā’s greatness."}

V
Vasiṣṭha
V
Vasu
G
Gaṅgā
R
Rājendra (the king)
P
Purohita (family priest)

FAQs

It frames the Gaṅgā-Māhātmya as authoritative teaching transmitted through respectful inquiry—showing that sacred knowledge about tīrthas is received by listening (śravaṇa) and asking (praśna) the qualified teacher.

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it models a bhakti-aligned attitude: humble attentiveness to sacred topics (Gaṅgā’s greatness) and reliance on a learned guide, which supports practices like tīrtha-sevā, śravaṇa, and dharma-centered living.

It highlights the applied role of the purohita (ritual specialist) in guiding dharmic action; the verse implies the use of Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharmaśāstra-based counsel when discussing tīrtha-related observances.