Shloka 25

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

वर्ज्यं पर्युषितं तोयं वर्ज्यं पुर्युषितं दलम् । न वर्ज्यं जाह्नवीतोयं न वर्ज्यं तुलसीदलम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

varjyaṃ paryuṣitaṃ toyaṃ varjyaṃ puryuṣitaṃ dalam | na varjyaṃ jāhnavītoyaṃ na varjyaṃ tulasīdalam || 26 ||

Translation

പഴകിയ വെള്ളം ഒഴിവാക്കേണ്ടതും പഴകിയ ഇലകളും ഒഴിവാക്കേണ്ടതുമാണ്; എന്നാൽ ജാഹ്നവി (ഗംഗ) ജലം ഒഴിവാക്കേണ്ടതല്ല, തുളസിയിലയും (സൂക്ഷിച്ചിരുന്നാലും) ഒഴിവാക്കേണ്ടതല്ല.

Word by Word

• वर्ज्यम्: to be avoided
• वर्ज्यम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज्य (कृदन्त; √वृज्/वर्ज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्तव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: ‘to be avoided’)

• पर्युषितम्: stale, kept overnight
• पर्युषितम्: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्युषित (कृदन्त; √वस् धातु, उपसर्ग: परि-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle: ‘stale/kept overnight’)

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: अभिहित-विषय (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वर्ज्यम्: to be avoided
• वर्ज्यम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज्य (कृदन्त; √वृज्/वर्ज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्तव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त

• पुर्युषितम्: stale, kept overnight
• पुर्युषितम्: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुर्युषित (कृदन्त; √वस् धातु, उपसर्ग: पुरि-/पुर्- (पाठभेद/रूपभेद))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (stale/kept overnight)

• दलम्: leaf
• दलम्: अभिहित-विषय (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• वर्ज्यम्: to be avoided
• वर्ज्यम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज्य (कृदन्त; √वृज्/वर्ज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्तव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त

• जाह्नवी-तोयम्: water of the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)
• जाह्नवी-तोयम्: अभिहित-विषय (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवी (प्रातिपदिक) + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: ‘of Jāhnavī’)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• वर्ज्यम्: to be avoided
• वर्ज्यम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज्य (कृदन्त; √वृज्/वर्ज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्तव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त

• तुलसी-दलम्: tulasī leaf
• तुलसी-दलम्: अभिहित-विषय (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: ‘of tulasī’)

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana teachings in the Uttara-Bhaga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jahnavi (Ganga)
• Tulasi

FAQs

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

It distinguishes ordinary rules of ritual freshness from exceptional sacred substances: Gaṅgā water and Tulasī are treated as intrinsically purifying and therefore acceptable for devotional use even when kept over.

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

It highlights core bhakti-upacāras: offering Tulasī and using sanctifying tirtha-water in worship—showing that devotion-centered purity can override normal restrictions when the substance is revered and spiritually potent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style ritual procedure (prayoga) regarding dravya-śuddhi (purity of substances): what must be discarded as paryuṣita and what is exempt due to tirtha-mahātmyā and devotional convention.