Shloka 36

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

स्नात्वाश्वमेधजं पुण्यं गृहेऽप्युद्धृततज्जलैः । सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वेष्टायतनेषु च ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

snātvāśvamedhajaṃ puṇyaṃ gṛhe'pyuddhṛtatajjalaiḥ | sarvatīrtheṣu yatpuṇyaṃ sarveṣṭāyataneṣu ca || 36 ||

Translation

അവിടെ സ്നാനം ചെയ്താൽ അശ്വമേധജന്യ പുണ്യം ലഭിക്കുന്നു; അവിടെ നിന്ന് എടുത്ത ജലത്താൽ വീട്ടിലിരുന്നും അതേ പുണ്യം ലഭിക്കും—സകല തീർത്ഥങ്ങളിലും സകല ഇഷ്ടദേവാലയങ്ങളിലും ലഭിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having bathed’

• अश्वमेध-जम्: born of the Aśvamedha (Aśvamedha-like)
• अश्वमेध-जम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘अश्वमेधात् जातम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (पुण्यम् इति विशेषणम्)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन

• गृहे: in (one’s) house
• गृहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• उद्धृत-तत्-जलैः: with that water drawn (from the Ganga)
• उद्धृत-तत्-जलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्-√हृ (धातु) → उद्धृत (कृदन्त) + तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘उद्धृतं तत् जलम्’); ‘जल’ नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• सर्व-तीर्थेषु: in all sacred fords/places of pilgrimage
• सर्व-तीर्थेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘सर्वाणि तीर्थानि’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी बहुवचन

• यत्: which, whatever
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karta/Karma (सन्दर्भानुसार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (यत् इति सह)

• सर्व-इष्ट-आयतनेषु: in all revered/desired sanctuaries
• सर्व-इष्ट-आयतनेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘सर्वेषु इष्ट-आयतनेषु’ = in all desired/cherished shrines); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana discourse; the verse praises a tīrtha’s water as equivalent to major rites)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"Wonder expands into devotional confidence: Gaṅgā’s water carries tīrtha-power beyond the river itself, making home a place of sanctified merit."}

Characters & Entities

• Ashvamedha
• Tirtha

FAQs

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

It elevates tīrtha-snān (holy bathing) and tīrtha-jala (sacred water) as powerful, accessible means to earn great merit—comparable to major Vedic rites—showing that sanctity can be carried into daily life through consecrated water.

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

While framed as merit (puṇya), the verse supports Bhakti practice by emphasizing reverent contact with sacred places and their waters—acts typically performed with remembrance, faith, and worship—making devotion practical even for householders.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (Kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: the regulated act of tīrtha-snān and the prescribed use of collected sacred water at home as a valid substitute/supporting rite when full pilgrimage is not always possible.