Shloka 34

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

स्नानमात्रेण गंगायाः सद्यः स्यात्पुण्यभाजनम् । अन्यस्थानकृतं पापं गंगातीरे विनश्यति ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

snānamātreṇa gaṃgāyāḥ sadyaḥ syātpuṇyabhājanam | anyasthānakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ gaṃgātīre vinaśyati || 34 ||

Translation

ພຽງແຕ່ອາບນ້ຳໃນແມ່ນ້ຳຄົງຄາ ກໍຈະເປັນພາຊະນະແຫ່ງບຸນທັນທີ. ແມ່ນແຕ່ບາບທີ່ເຮັດໃນບ່ອນອື່ນ ກໍສູນໄປຢູ່ຝັ່ງຄົງຄາ.

Word by Word

• स्नान-मात्रेण: by mere bathing
• स्नान-मात्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अवधारणार्थ: ‘स्नानस्य मात्रम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन

• गङ्गायाः: of the Ganga
• गङ्गायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kālādhi-kriyāviśeṣaṇa (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: ‘immediately’)

• स्यात्: would become
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• पुण्य-भाजनम्: a receptacle of merit (merit-worthy)
• पुण्य-भाजनम्: Karta/Predicative (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भाजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘पुण्यस्य भाजनम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• अन्य-स्थान-कृतम्: done in another place
• अन्य-स्थान-कृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त, √कृ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘अन्यस्थाने कृतम्’); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (पापम् इति विशेषणम्)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• गङ्गा-तीरे: on the bank of the Ganga
• गङ्गा-तीरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘गङ्गायाः तीरम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन

• विनश्यति: is destroyed
• विनश्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Narada (in a Ganga-mahatmya discourse context of the Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_journey":"From immediacy (‘by mere bathing’) to expansive reassurance: even distant-place sins dissolve at Gaṅgā’s bank."}

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It declares the Gaṅgā as a supremely purifying tīrtha: even a simple bath there rapidly generates puṇya and destroys prior pāpa, emphasizing the extraordinary sanctity of Ganga-tīra.

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

While centered on tīrtha-mahātmyā, it supports bhakti by directing the devotee to approach a sacred embodiment of divine grace (Gaṅgā) with faith (śraddhā), where purification becomes an aid to sustained worship and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: tīrtha-snānā is presented as a recognized dhārmic act of purification (prāyaścitta-like effect), focusing on correct observance of sacred bathing at a designated holy site.