Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 197

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

इदं तु गङ्गामाहात्म्यं यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि । देवालये नदीतीरे सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

idaṃ tu gaṅgāmāhātmyaṃ yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādapi | devālaye nadītīre so'śvamedhaphalaṃ labhet || 97 ||

Translation

Quiconque récite—ou même écoute—ce récit de la grandeur de Gaṅgā, dans un temple ou sur la rive d’un fleuve, obtient le mérite du sacrifice Aśvamedha.

Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (object of implied ‘is/exists’ or topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative)

• तु: indeed, however
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• गङ्गा-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness of Ganga
• गङ्गा-माहात्म्यम्: कर्म (object/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गङ्गायाः माहात्म्यम्)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (relative pronoun)

• पठेत्: should recite/read
• पठेत्: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शृणुयात्: should listen
• शृणुयात्: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (particle: also/even)

• देव-आलये: in a temple
• देव-आलये: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् आलयः)

• नदी-तीरे: on a riverbank
• नदी-तीरे: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नद्याः तीरम्)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अश्वमेध-फलम्: the fruit of the Aśvamedha (sacrifice)
• अश्वमेध-फलम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अश्वमेधस्य फलम्)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching to Nārada, within the Purāṇic dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Aśvamedha
• Devalaya (temple)
• Nadī-tīra (riverbank)

FAQs

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

It elevates śravaṇa (listening) and pāṭha (recitation) of Gaṅgā-māhātmya as powerful spiritual acts, declaring that doing so in sacred settings (temple/riverbank) yields extraordinary puṇya comparable to a major Vedic sacrifice.

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

By emphasizing hearing and reciting sacred praise, it supports bhakti practice through devotion-filled engagement with tīrtha-glories—accessible acts of reverence that generate merit without requiring elaborate sacrificial performance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-practice orientation: it points to deśa-kāla-niyama (importance of sacred place) and phala-śruti (stated results), aligning with Dharma-śāstra style guidance on when and where recitation/listening is most efficacious.