Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

Devanagari script

तुलसीदलप्रदलसंम्मिश्रमपि सर्षपमात्रकम् । गङ्गाजलं पुनात्येव कुलानामेकविंशतिम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

tulasīdalapradalasaṃmmiśramapi sarṣapamātrakam | gaṅgājalaṃ punātyeva kulānāmekaviṃśatim || 25 ||

Translation

Même une goutte d’eau de la Gaṅgā, grande comme une graine de moutarde et mêlée de feuilles et de pétales de Tulasi, purifie réellement vingt et une générations d’une lignée.

Word by Word

• तुलसीदलप्रदलसंमिश्रम्: mixed with tulasī leaves and petals
• तुलसीदलप्रदलसंमिश्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुलसी-दल-प्रदल-संमिश्र (प्रातिपदिक; components: तुलसी + दल + प्रदल + संमिश्र)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying सर्षपमात्रकम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive/emphatic

• सर्षपमात्रकम्: a mere mustard-seed measure (tiny amount)
• सर्षपमात्रकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्षप-मात्रक (प्रातिपदिक; components: सर्षप + मात्रक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• गङ्गाजलम्: Ganga water
• गङ्गाजलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा-जल (प्रातिपदिक; components: गङ्गा + जल)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• पुनाति: purifies
• पुनाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• एव: indeed; certainly
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• कुलानाम्: of families/lineages
• कुलानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• एकविंशतिम्: twenty-one
• एकविंशतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-विंशति (प्रातिपदिक; components: एक + विंशति)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विंशति-शब्द), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Tulasi
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches that even a minute quantity of Gaṅgā water, when sanctified with Tulasi, carries extraordinary purificatory power—extending beyond the individual to one’s ancestral lineage (twenty-one generations).

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

Tulasi is a primary emblem of Vaiṣṇava devotion; combining Tulasi with sacred Gaṅgā water frames purification as an act of bhakti—sanctifying the body and family through simple, faith-filled offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical kalpa-style ritual guidance (proper sacred substances and their use): employing Tulasi and Gaṅgā-jala in purification rites and devotional observances.