Shloka 5

Devanagari script

सद्यो निष्पातको भूत्वा मुच्यते भवबंधनात् । गंगा हि सर्वतः पुण्या ब्रह्महत्यापहारिणी ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

sadyo niṣpātako bhūtvā mucyate bhavabaṃdhanāt | gaṃgā hi sarvataḥ puṇyā brahmahatyāpahāriṇī || 5 ||

Translation

ಮನುಷ್ಯನು ತಕ್ಷಣವೇ ಶುದ್ಧನಾಗಿ ಭವಬಂಧನದಿಂದ ಮುಕ್ತನಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ; ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಗಂಗೆಯು ಎಲ್ಲ ರೀತಿಯಿಂದಲೂ ಪುಣ್ಯಮಯಿ, ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಹತ್ಯಾ ಪಾಪವನ್ನೂ ಹರಣಮಾಡುವಳು।

Word by Word

सद्यःimmediately

निष्पातकःone who has fallen down (from sin)/a fallen sinner

भूत्वाhaving become

मुच्यतेis freed

भव-बन्धनात्from the bondage of worldly existence

गङ्गाGanga

हिindeed/for

सर्वतःeverywhere/in every way

पुण्याholy/pure

ब्रह्महत्या-अपहारिणीremover of the sin of brahmin-slaying

Speaker

Suta (traditional Purana narrator, relaying the Ganga-mahatmya section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"Assurance of immediate purification leads into liberation from saṃsāra, climaxing in Gaṅgā’s all-pervasive holiness and her power to remove even brahmahatyā."}

Characters & Entities

Ganga

FAQs

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

It declares the Gaṅgā as universally sanctifying: contact with her (as a tīrtha) brings immediate purification and supports release from saṃsāric bondage, emphasizing tīrtha-mahātmyas as aids to spiritual uplift.

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

While not naming a specific deity here, the verse frames sacred geography (Gaṅgā) as a grace-bearing support for devotees—encouraging reverent approach, faith (śraddhā), and tīrtha-sevā as devotional disciplines that purify the heart for higher bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse aligns with dharma-śāstric prayāścitta principles (ritual expiation): it highlights tīrtha-snānā and sacred-river observance as practical means of pāpa-kṣaya, a ritual-application theme rather than a technical Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.