Shloka 35

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

सुधाप्लावितभूपृष्ठां त्रैलोक्यनमितां सदा । ध्यात्वा जलमयीं गंगां पूजयन्पुण्यभाग्भवेत् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

sudhāplāvitabhūpṛṣṭhāṃ trailokyanamitāṃ sadā | dhyātvā jalamayīṃ gaṃgāṃ pūjayanpuṇyabhāgbhavet || 35 ||

Translation

Barangsiapa bermeditasi pada Dewi Gaṅgā—yang airnya membasahi bumi laksana amerta dan yang senantiasa dihormati oleh tiga dunia—serta memujanya dalam wujud air, ia memperoleh pahala kebajikan yang agung.

Word by Word

• सुधा-प्लावित-भू-पृष्ठाम्: whose earth-surface is flooded with nectar
• सुधा-प्लावित-भू-पृष्ठाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्लावित (कृदन्त; √प्लु/प्लाव् धातु) + भू (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त-विशेषण (fem. accusative singular)

• त्रैलोक्य-नमिताम्: bowed to by the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्य-नमिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नमित (कृदन्त; √नम् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त-विशेषण (fem. accusative singular)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated (upon)
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having meditated’

• जल-मयीम्: made of water
• जल-मयीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. accusative singular)

• गङ्गाम्: Ganga
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (fem. accusative singular)

• पूजयन्: worshipping
• पूजयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), प्रथमा एकवचन पुंलिङ्ग; ‘worshipping’

• पुण्य-भाग्: a sharer/recipient of merit
• पुण्य-भाग्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘भाग्’ (ending in -ग्), कर्तृपद (masc. nominative singular)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular optative)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahātmya context)

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?

The verse teaches that Gaṅgā is not merely a physical river but a universally revered sacred power; meditating on her nectar-like purity and worshipping her as water itself grants puṇya (spiritual merit).

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

It presents bhakti through simple, accessible acts—dhyāna (remembrance/meditation) and pūjā (reverent worship)—directed to Gaṅgā as a living tirtha, emphasizing heartfelt veneration over complexity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: the instruction to worship Gaṅgā specifically in her “jalamayī” form points to correct dravya (ritual substance) selection and tirtha-pūjā procedure.