Shloka 46

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

यत्फलं तल्लभेद्भक्त्या गंगातीरनिवासतः । यत्पुण्यं सत्यवचनैर्नैष्ठिकब्रह्मचारिणाम् ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

yatphalaṃ tallabhedbhaktyā gaṃgātīranivāsataḥ | yatpuṇyaṃ satyavacanairnaiṣṭhikabrahmacāriṇām || 47 ||

Translation

Ce même fruit s’obtient par la bhakti en demeurant sur la rive du Gaṅgā; et le même mérite (puṇya) des brahmacārī inébranlables, voués à la continence à vie, se gagne par la parole véridique.

Word by Word

• yat: whatever (which)
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन); correlating relative pronoun

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन); correlative pronoun

• labhet: would obtain
• labhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (लभ् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• bhaktyā: by devotion
• bhaktyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) singular (एकवचन)

• gaṅgā-tīra-nivāsataḥ: from (the merit of) residing on the bank of the Ganga
• gaṅgā-tīra-nivāsataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + tīra (प्रातिपदिक) + nivāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिलन्त/तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय) meaning 'from/owing to residence at the bank of Gaṅgā'

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन)

• puṇyam: merit
• puṇyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन)

• satya-vacanaiḥ: by truthful words
• satya-vacanaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) plural (बहुवचन)

• naiṣṭhika-brahmacāriṇām: of steadfast celibate students
• naiṣṭhika-brahmacāriṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naiṣṭhika (प्रातिपदिक) + brahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी) plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It equates the fruits of major austerities with accessible dharmic practices—devotional living near the Gaṅgā and unwavering truthfulness—showing how tirtha-sevā and satya generate high puṇya.

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

Bhakti is presented as a direct means to attain the same spiritual result associated with sacred residence at the Gaṅgā, implying that devotion sanctifies one’s tirtha-practice and makes it spiritually efficacious.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught; the practical dharmic takeaway is satya-vacana (truthful speech) as a daily discipline comparable in merit to rigorous brahmacarya.