Shloka 3

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

सप्तावरान् सप्तपरान् पितृंस्तेभ्यश्च ये परे । पुमांस्तारयते गंगां वीक्ष्य स्पृष्ट्वावगाह्य च ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

saptāvarān saptaparān pitṛṃstebhyaśca ye pare | pumāṃstārayate gaṃgāṃ vīkṣya spṛṣṭvāvagāhya ca || 3 ||

Translation

ただガンガーを拝し、触れ、そしてその水に沐浴するだけで、人は祖先を救済する――上七代・下七代、さらにその彼方の祖霊にまで及ぶ。

Word by Word

• सप्त-अवरान्: seven lower (generations)
• सप्त-अवरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मधारयः (सप्त च ते अवराः)

• सप्त-परान्: seven higher (generations)
• सप्त-परान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मधारयः (सप्त च ते पराः)

• पितॄन्: ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• तेभ्यः: from them
• तेभ्यः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative 5th) / चतुर्थी (Dative 4th), बहुवचन (plural); अत्र पञ्चमी (from them)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction: 'and')

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• परे: others/beyond
• परे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• पुमान्: a man/person
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• तारयते: saves/carries across
• तारयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); णिजन्त (causative) भावः: तॄ→तारयति ('causes to cross/saves')

• गङ्गाम्: the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participle): 'having seen'

• स्पृष्ट्वा: having touched
• स्पृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव: 'having touched'

• अवगाह्य: having immersed/bathed
• अवगाह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवगाह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव: 'having bathed/immersed'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It declares the exceptional tirtha-power (tīrtha-māhātmya) of the Gaṅgā: even simple contact—seeing, touching, and bathing—becomes a liberating merit that benefits one’s lineage, especially the Pitṛs.

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

The verse frames Gaṅgā-sevā as a sacred act that supports dharma and purification; such reverent approach to a divine tirtha functions as a practical expression of bhakti through humble, faith-filled engagement (darśana, sparśa, snāna).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied: tīrtha-snānā (holy bathing) and Pitṛ-related observances (śrāddha/tarpaṇa context) where purity and prescribed acts are central; it aligns most with Kalpa-style ritual application rather than technical Jyotiṣa or Vyākaraṇa.