Shloka 56

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

चांद्रायणसहस्राणां यत्फलं परिकीर्तितम् । ततोऽधिकफलं गंगातोयपानादवाप्यते ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

cāṃdrāyaṇasahasrāṇāṃ yatphalaṃ parikīrtitam | tato'dhikaphalaṃ gaṃgātoyapānādavāpyate || 57 ||

Translation

千回のチャンドラーやナ（Cāndrāyaṇa）行で得ると説かれる果報よりも、ガンガーの水を飲むことで、なお勝れた果報が得られる。

Word by Word

• चांद्रायण: Cāndrāyaṇa vows
• चांद्रायण: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चांद्रायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (usage varies), षष्ठी बहुवचन (as first member in compound with सहस्राणाम)

• सहस्राणाम्: of thousands
• सहस्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (relative pronoun; agreeing with फलम्)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc singular)

• परिकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु) → परिकीर्तित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• ततः: than that
• ततः: अपादान (Apādāna/Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तुलनार्थक (ablatival adverb: ‘than that’)

• अधिक: greater
• अधिक: — (समासाङ्ग/compound-member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (stem in compound with फलम्)

• फलम्: greater fruit
• फलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (अधिकं फलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• गङ्गा: of the Ganga
• गङ्गा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (as first member in compound)

• तोय: water
• तोय: — (समासाङ्ग/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (stem in compound)

• पानात्: from drinking
• पानात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पा (धातु) → पान (प्रातिपदिक; action-noun)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन (Ablative singular); ‘from drinking’

• अवाप्यते: is obtained
• अवाप्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘is obtained’

Speaker

Suta (narrating Purāṇic discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Cāndrāyaṇa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It elevates Gaṅgā-jala as an exceptionally potent purifier and merit-bestower, declaring that even the famed austerity of many Cāndrāyaṇa vows is surpassed by the sanctifying act of drinking Gaṅgā water with reverence.

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

By praising a simple, faith-filled act connected to a sacred tīrtha, it highlights that sincere reverence and sacred association can yield immense spiritual fruit, complementing rigorous austerities with accessible devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (Kalpa) is implied through the reference to the Cāndrāyaṇa vrata (a lunar-regulated vow), while the verse contrasts that structured austerity with tīrtha-vidhi—practical sacred practice centered on Gaṅgā-jala.