Shloka 58

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

त्रिभिः सारस्वतं तोयं सप्तभिस्त्वथ यामुनम् । नार्मदं दशभिर्मासैर्गांगं वर्षेण जीर्यति ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

tribhiḥ sārasvataṃ toyaṃ saptabhistvatha yāmunam | nārmadaṃ daśabhirmāsairgāṃgaṃ varṣeṇa jīryati || 59 ||

Translation

ນ້ຳສາຣັສວະຕີເກົ່າໃນ 3 ມື້; ນ້ຳຢາມຸນາເກົ່າໃນ 7 ມື້. ນ້ຳນັຣມະດາເກົ່າໃນ 10 ເດືອນ; ແຕ່ນ້ຳຄົງຄາເກົ່າເມື່ອຄົບ 1 ປີ.

Word by Word

• त्रिभिः: by three (months)
• त्रिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Measure-instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• सारस्वतम्: Sarasvatī-related
• सारस्वतम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सारस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with तोयम्)

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• सप्तभिः: by seven (months)
• सप्तभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Measure-instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक/विरोधार्थक निपात

• अथ: then
• अथ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (sequencing particle: ‘then/next’)

• यामुनम्: Yamunā-related
• यामुनम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यामुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (elliptic with तोयम्)

• नार्मदम्: Narmadā-related
• नार्मदम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नार्मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (elliptic with तोयम्)

• दशभिः: by ten
• दशभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Measure-instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• मासैः: months
• मासैः: करण (Karaṇa/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• गाङ्गम्: Ganga-related
• गाङ्गम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (elliptic with तोयम्)

• वर्षेण: by a year
• वर्षेण: करण (Karaṇa/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• जीर्यति: decays/wanes
• जीर्यति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘decays/gets digested/loses potency’

Speaker

Narada (within a Tirtha-Mahatmya exposition of Uttara-Bhaga; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati
• Yamuna
• Narmada
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It ranks the enduring sacred potency of major river-waters used for snāna and ritual, highlighting Gaṅgā-jala as exceptionally preservative of purity in the tirtha-mahātmya context.

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

By exalting Gaṅgā-jala—widely associated with Hari-bhakti and purification—it points devotees toward faith-filled tirtha practices (snāna, ācamana, worship) as supports for a pure mind fit for devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implies practical ritual discipline (kalpa/ācāra): suitability and longevity of sacred water for ācamana, abhiṣeka, and other rites, especially in pilgrimage-based observances described in the Narada Purana.