Shloka 20

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

आरोग्यं वित्त्रसंपत्तिर्गंगास्मरणंज फलम् । मनसा संस्मरेद्यस्तु गंगां दूरस्थितो नरः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

ārogyaṃ vittrasaṃpattirgaṃgāsmaraṇaṃja phalam | manasā saṃsmaredyastu gaṃgāṃ dūrasthito naraḥ || 20 ||

Translation

ഗംഗാസ്മരണത്തിന്റെ ഫലം ആരോഗ്യംയും ധനസമ്പത്തും ആകുന്നു. ദൂരെയിരിക്കുന്ന മനുഷ്യനും മനസ്സിൽ ഗംഗയെ സ്മരിച്ചാൽ ഈ ഫലങ്ങൾ പ്രാപിക്കും.

Word by Word

• आरोग्यम्: health
• आरोग्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/वाक्यविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरोग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वित्त-सम्पत्तिः: wealth/prosperity
• वित्त-सम्पत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/वाक्यविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वित्तस्य सम्पत्तिः = wealth/prosperity of riches)

• गङ्गा-स्मरणम्: remembrance of Ganga
• गङ्गा-स्मरणम्: Karta (कर्ता/वाक्यविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गङ्गायाः स्मरणम् = remembrance of Ganga)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Sampradana/Phala (फल-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• संस्मरेत्: should recollect
• संस्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• गङ्गाम्: Ganga
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दूर-स्थितः: situated far away
• दूर-स्थितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) 'स्थित'; तत्पुरुषः (दूरे स्थितः = situated far away)

• नरः: man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating the tirtha-mahatmya discourse as preserved in the Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhakti","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"A calm, practical promise: remembrance yields tangible well-being (health, wealth), extending reassurance to those far away."}

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches that tirtha-power is accessible through smaraṇa (mental remembrance): even without physical proximity, sincere recollection of the Ganga yields tangible and auspicious results.

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

By emphasizing remembrance (smaraṇa) as an effective practice, it aligns with bhakti where inner recollection and reverence—rather than only external travel—brings grace and beneficial outcomes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga is taught directly; the practical takeaway is an upāsanā-style discipline—regular mental smaraṇa as a simple, repeatable daily practice connected to tirtha-dharma.