Shloka 11

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

नैमिषे च कुरुक्षेत्रे नर्मदायां च पुष्करे । स्नानात्संस्पर्शना सेव्य यत्फलं लभते नरः ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

naimiṣe ca kurukṣetre narmadāyāṃ ca puṣkare | snānātsaṃsparśanā sevya yatphalaṃ labhate naraḥ || 11 ||

Translation

നൈമിഷം, കുരുക്ഷേത്രം, നർമദ, പുഷ്കരം എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിൽ സ്നാനം ചെയ്‌താൽ—അഥവാ വെറും സ്പർശം കൊണ്ടും—ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ സേവിച്ചാൽ ലഭിക്കുന്ന ഫലം മനുഷ്യൻ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• नैमिषे: at Naimiṣa
• नैमिषे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुरुक्षेत्रे: at Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• नर्मदायाम्: in the Narmadā (river)
• नर्मदायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• पुष्करे: at Puṣkara
• पुष्करे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• स्नानात्: from bathing
• स्नानात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान: source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• संस्पर्शनात्: from (ritual) touching
• संस्पर्शनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्पर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• सेव्य: to be served/visited
• सेव्य: Vidhi (विधि/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) + य (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/णीयत्-तुल्य: to be served/should be resorted to); प्रायः नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (contextual)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/object: with फलम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"A calm catalog of famed tīrthas and the acts (bathing/contact) that yield their merit, encouraging steady pilgrimage-faith."}

Characters & Entities

• Naimisha
• Kurukshetra
• Narmada
• Pushkara

FAQs

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

It teaches that certain renowned tīrthas confer dhārmic merit not only through full ritual bathing but even through simple physical contact, emphasizing the sanctity (māhātmya) of these places.

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

Bhakti is implied through “sevyā”—reverent resorting to holy places—showing that devotion expressed as humble pilgrimage and sacred observance becomes a means to accrue spiritual merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is highlighted: the verse distinguishes snāna (bath) and sparśa (contact) as valid modes of tīrtha-sevā, guiding practical pilgrimage observance.