Shloka 48

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

गंगाभक्तिस्तारयते संसारार्णवतो ध्रुवम् । संतोषः परमैश्वर्यं तत्त्वज्ञानं सुखात्मनाम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgābhaktistārayate saṃsārārṇavato dhruvam | saṃtoṣaḥ paramaiśvaryaṃ tattvajñānaṃ sukhātmanām || 49 ||

Translation

गंगा-भक्ति निश्चय ही संसार-समुद्र से पार उतार देती है। संतोष परम ऐश्वर्य है, और तत्त्व-ज्ञान सुखस्वरूप जनों का आनंद है।

Word by Word

• gaṅgā-bhaktiḥ: devotion to the Ganga
• gaṅgā-bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन)

• tārayate: saves/carries across
• tārayate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (तॄ धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); causative sense 'causes to cross/save'

• saṃsāra-arṇavataḥ: from the ocean of worldly existence
• saṃsāra-arṇavataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsāra (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी) singular (एकवचन)

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषणवत्), indeclinable sense 'certainly'

• saṃtoṣaḥ: contentment
• saṃtoṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃtoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन)

• parama-aiśvaryam: supreme wealth/prosperity
• parama-aiśvaryam: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन); predicate nominative

• tattva-jñānam: knowledge of reality
• tattva-jñānam: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन); predicate nominative

• sukha-ātmanām: of the happy-souled (people)
• sukha-ātmanām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी) plural (बहुवचन); bahuvrīhi 'those whose nature is happiness'

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana’s Uttara-Bhaga teaching on Ganga-mahatmya)

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 presents Gaṅgā-bhakti as a direct liberating aid—capable of carrying a devotee across saṃsāra—while also defining inner virtues (contentment and tattva-jñāna) as the true spiritual riches that mature liberation.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical and salvific: devotion to a sacred tirtha-personality (Gaṅgā) becomes a vehicle for deliverance, and it naturally harmonizes with inner purification—contentment and truth-knowledge—rather than mere external piety.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-soteriological: cultivate santoṣa (contentment) and pursue tattva-jñāna (discernment of reality) alongside tirtha-bhakti as part of a disciplined dharmic life.