Shloka 26

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

गंगातीरसमुद्भूतमृदा लिगानि शक्तितः । सलक्षणानि कृत्वा तु प्रतिष्ठाप्य दिने दिने ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgātīrasamudbhūtamṛdā ligāni śaktitaḥ | salakṣaṇāni kṛtvā tu pratiṣṭhāpya dine dine || 26 ||

Translation

Avec l’argile née de la rive de la Gaṅgā, selon ses forces, qu’on façonne des liṅga de Śiva portant les marques requises, puis qu’on les installe et consacre jour après jour.

Word by Word

• गंगातीरसमुद्भूतमृदा: with clay from the Ganga’s bank
• गंगातीरसमुद्भूतमृदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + तीर + समुद्भूत + मृद्/मृदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः (गङ्गातीरसमुद्भूता मृदा) = 'clay arisen from the Ganga-bank'

• लिङ्गानि: liṅgas (emblems)
• लिङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• शक्तितः: as able
• शक्तितः: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; 'according to ability'

• सलक्षणानि: with (proper) characteristics
• सलक्षणानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (with proper marks)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); 'having made'

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: having installed
• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + स्था (धातु) + णिच् + य (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); causative sense 'having installed'

• दिने: on a day
• दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दिने: day by day
• दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Narada–Sanatkumāra dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Śiva (Liṅga)

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred geography (Gaṅgā-tīra) and right ritual form (sa-lakṣaṇa) together sanctify worship; repeated daily installation of liṅgas becomes an ongoing act of merit (puṇya) at a tīrtha.

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

Bhakti is expressed through humble, capacity-based service—making and consecrating liṅgas as one can—showing steady, day-by-day devotional discipline rather than a one-time display.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa (ritual procedure): selecting proper material, ensuring correct lakṣaṇas (canonical features), and performing pratiṣṭhā (installation/consecration) in a regulated, repeatable manner.