Shloka 32

Devanagari script

गंगातोयाभिषिक्तां तु भिक्षामश्नाति यः सदा । सर्पवत्कंचुकं मुक्त्वा पापहीनो भवेत्स वै ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgātoyābhiṣiktāṃ tu bhikṣāmaśnāti yaḥ sadā | sarpavatkaṃcukaṃ muktvā pāpahīno bhavetsa vai || 33 ||

Translation

ಯಾವನು ಸದಾ ಗಂಗಾಜಲದಿಂದ ಅಭಿಷಿಕ್ತವಾದ ಭಿಕ್ಷಾನ್ನವನ್ನು ಭುಜಿಸುತ್ತಾನೋ, ಅವನು ಸರ್ಪವು ಚರ್ಮ ಬಿಟ್ಟುಹೋಗುವಂತೆ ಪಾಪವನ್ನು ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿ ಪಾಪರಹಿತನಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ।

Word by Word

गङ्गा-तोय-अभिषिक्ताम्(alms) sprinkled with Ganges water

तुindeed/but

भिक्षाम्alms/food obtained by begging

अश्नातिeats

यःwho

सदाalways

सर्पवत्like a snake

कञ्चुकम्(outer) sheath/skin

मुक्त्वाhaving shed

पाप-हीनःfree from sin

भवेत्would become

सःhe

वैindeed

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a tirtha-mahatmya context; dialogue tradition commonly frames Narada’s narration to sages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches that even ordinary acts like eating can be made purifying when connected to a sacred tirtha (Gaṅgā); the verse emphasizes papa-kshaya (destruction of sin) through consistent, reverent use of Gaṅgā water.

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

By sanctifying one’s daily sustenance with Gaṅgā water, the devotee keeps steady remembrance and reverence for sacred reality; this continuity of practice supports bhakti as lived discipline rather than occasional ritual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: the act of abhiṣeka/sprinkling to consecrate food reflects procedural purity rules used in dharmic and vaidika observances, even though no specific Vedanga like Jyotisha is named.