Shloka 30

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

अपूर्वपुण्यप्राप्तिश्च सद्यो मोहिनि जायते । स्नातानां शुचिभिस्तोयैर्गांगेयैः प्रयतात्मनाम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

apūrvapuṇyaprāptiśca sadyo mohini jāyate | snātānāṃ śucibhistoyairgāṃgeyaiḥ prayatātmanām || 30 ||

Translation

ಹೇ ಮೋಹಿನಿ, ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಿಸಿ ಗಂಗೆಯ ಶುದ್ಧ ಜಲಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡುವವರಿಗೆ ಅಪೂರ್ವ ಪುಣ್ಯಪ್ರಾಪ್ತಿ ಉಂಟಾಗುತ್ತದೆ—ಅದು ಅದೇ ಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಉದಯಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

Word by Word

• अपूर्व-पुण्य-प्राप्तिः: attainment of unprecedented merit
• अपूर्व-पुण्य-प्राप्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अपूर्वं पुण्यं यस्याः सा/अपूर्वपुण्यस्य प्राप्तिः = attainment of unprecedented merit)

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

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (immediately)

• मोहिनि: O enchantress (O Devi)
• मोहिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• जायते: arises/is born
• जायते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• स्नातानाम्: of those who have bathed
• स्नातानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used substantively), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of those who have bathed’

• शुचिभिः: pure
• शुचिभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘waters’)

• तोयैः: with waters
• तोयैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• गाङ्गेयैः: Ganga-born/of the Ganga
• गाङ्गेयैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाङ्गेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; तद्धित (patronymic/derivative) from गङ्गा: ‘belonging to Gaṅgā’

• प्रयत-आत्मनाम्: of the self-controlled
• प्रयत-आत्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रयतः आत्मा येषाम् = of those whose selves are disciplined)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context; addressing Mohinī)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches that bathing in the Gaṅgā with inner discipline and purity yields immediate and exceptional spiritual merit (puṇya), highlighting the Gaṅgā as a supremely efficacious tīrtha.

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

By stressing sincere, disciplined participation in a sacred act (tīrtha-snānā), it supports bhakti as lived reverence—approaching holy places and rites with a restrained mind and purity of intention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: tīrtha-snānā is effective when performed with śauca (purity) and prayatātman (self-restraint), emphasizing correct dharmic procedure rather than technical astrology or grammar.