Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Gaṅgā-māhātmya: Bāhu’s Envy, Defeat, Forest Exile, and Aurva’s Dharmic Consolation

Devanagari script

इति श्रीबृहन्नारदीयपुराणे पूर्वभागे प्रथमपादे गङ्गामाहात्म्यं नाम सप्तमोऽध्यायः ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

iti śrībṛhannāradīyapurāṇe pūrvabhāge prathamapāde gaṅgāmāhātmyaṃ nāma saptamo'dhyāyaḥ || 7 ||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ശ്രീബൃഹന്നാരദീയപുരാണത്തിന്റെ പൂർവഭാഗത്തിലെ പ്രഥമപാദത്തിൽ ‘ഗംഗാമാഹാത്മ്യം’ എന്ന ഏഴാം അധ്യായം സമാപിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्तिसमाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative/end marker)

• śrī-bṛhat-nāradīya-purāṇe: in the Śrī Bṛhannāradīya Purāṇa
• śrī-bṛhat-nāradīya-purāṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + bṛhat + nāradīya + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः (title-compound)

• pūrva-bhāge: in the former section
• pūrva-bhāge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—पूर्वः भāगः

• prathama-pāde: in the first quarter/part
• prathama-pāde: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prathama + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः

• gaṅgā-māhātmyam: the greatness of Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā-māhātmyam: Vishaya (विषय/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā + māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; शीर्षक-रूपे प्रथमा

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: नामनिर्देशक निपात (particle meaning ‘named/called’)

• saptamaḥ: seventh
• saptamaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/वाक्यविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (traditional colophon/narratorial closing formula)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhannāradīya Purāṇa
• Gaṅgā

FAQs

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

This is a colophon marking the completion of the “Gaṅgā-māhātmya” chapter, emphasizing the Purāṇa’s tīrtha-focused teaching that the Gaṅgā’s sanctity is a recognized source of purification (puṇya) within dharma literature.

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

Indirectly: by closing a chapter on Gaṅgā’s glory, it frames tīrtha-reverence as a supportive limb of bhakti—honoring sacred places and engaging in purifying practices that prepare the mind for devotion to the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It primarily reflects Purāṇic anukramaṇikā-style structuring (chapter naming and division) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; it is useful for textual navigation, citation, and ritual recitation referencing.