Shloka 42

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

वाराणस्यां विशेषण गंगा सद्यस्तु मोक्षदा । प्रतिमासं चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां चैव सर्वदा ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

vārāṇasyāṃ viśeṣaṇa gaṃgā sadyastu mokṣadā | pratimāsaṃ caturdaśyāmaṣṭamyāṃ caiva sarvadā || 43 ||

Translation

おお殊勝なる者よ、ヴァーラーナシーにおいてガンガーはまさに即座に解脱を授ける。常にそうであり、ことに毎月の第十四日（十四夜）と第八日（八夜）には殊更である。

Word by Word

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• विशेषण: O distinguished one
• विशेषण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; Vocative singular (addressing)

• गंगा: the Gaṅgā
• गंगा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• मोक्ष-दा: granting liberation
• मोक्ष-दा: Pradhana/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (कृदन्त; √दा धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular; उपपद-कृदन्त ‘दा’ = giver; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मोक्षं ददाति)

• प्रति-मासम्: every month
• प्रति-मासम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘प्रति’ उपसर्गार्थे अव्ययम्; अर्थः ‘प्रत्येकं मासम्’ (every month)

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the fourteenth lunar day
• चतुर्दश्याम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• अष्टम्याम्: on the eighth lunar day
• अष्टम्याम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dialogue context associated with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Varanasi (Kashi)

FAQs

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

It declares Kashi’s Ganga as a direct means to moksha, emphasizing that contact with the Ganga in Varanasi has exceptional liberating potency, with special monthly sanctity on Ashtami and Chaturdashi.

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

By highlighting reverence for a Vishnu-associated tirtha (the Ganga in Kashi), it frames liberation as accessible through faithful sacred practice—pilgrimage, purity, and devotional observance on holy tithis.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It relies on calendrical discipline through tithi-observance (Ashtami and Chaturdashi), aligning ritual timing with dharma—an applied aspect of Jyotisha (Vedanga astrology/astronomy) used in Narada Purana rituals.