Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 13

Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation

Devanagari script

भस्मीभूताङ्गसङ्गेन स्वर्याता: सगरात्मजा: । किं पुन: श्रद्धया देवीं सेवन्ते ये धृतव्रता: ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

bhasmībhūtāṅga-saṅgena svar yātāḥ sagarātmajāḥ kiṁ punaḥ śraddhayā devīṁ sevante ye dhṛta-vratāḥ

Translation

ദഹിച്ച ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ചാരവുമായി ഗംഗാജലം സ്പർശിച്ചതുമാത്രത്തിൽ സഗരപുത്രന്മാർ സ്വർഗ്ഗം പ്രാപിച്ചു; എന്നാൽ ധൃതവ്രതരായി ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ ദേവീ ഗംഗയെ സേവിച്ചു ആരാധിക്കുന്ന ഭക്തരുടെ ഫലം എത്ര അപാരം!

Synonyms

• भस्मीभूत-अङ्ग-सङ्गेन: by contact with the ash-burnt body (ashes)
• भस्मीभूत-अङ्ग-सङ्गेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मीभूत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भस्मीभूतस्य अङ्गस्य सङ्गः तेन); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• स्वः: to heaven
• स्वः: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्/स्वः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (heaven)

• याताः: gone
• याताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle, active sense here); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate of ‘सगरात्मजाः’

• सगर-आत्मजाः: the sons of Sagara
• सगर-आत्मजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सगरस्य आत्मजाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• किम्: what then?/how much more
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative particle used adverbially)

• पुनः: more/then
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: again/further; in phrase ‘किं पुनः’ = how much more)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• देवीम्: the goddess (Gaṅgā)
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• सेवन्ते: serve/worship
• सेवन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; relative pronoun

• धृत-व्रताः: of firm vows
• धृत-व्रताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धृतं व्रतं येषाम्/धृतव्रताः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; adjective of ‘ये’

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• Sagara’s sons (Sagarātmajāḥ)
• Goddess Gaṅgā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of Goddess Ganga to purify?

This verse states that even mere contact with Gaṅgā’s body granted Sagara’s sons a heavenly destination, implying that faithful worship by disciplined devotees yields still greater spiritual benefit.

Why does Shukadeva Goswami mention Sagara’s sons becoming ashes in this verse?

He uses their deliverance as a comparison to emphasize Gaṅgā’s extraordinary sanctity—if accidental contact helped those reduced to ashes, intentional service with faith is even more potent.

How can a modern devotee apply the teaching of this shloka in daily life?

Approach sacred practices with śraddhā (faith) and dhṛta-vrata (steady discipline)—regular worship, remembrance, and purity of conduct—rather than relying on occasional or accidental spirituality.