Shloka 45

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

सायंकाले शतगुणमनन्तं शिवसन्निधौ । कपिलाकोटिदानाद्धि गंगास्नानं विशिष्यते ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

sāyaṃkāle śataguṇamanantaṃ śivasannidhau | kapilākoṭidānāddhi gaṃgāsnānaṃ viśiṣyate || 45 ||

Translation

സായങ്കാലത്ത് (ഗംഗാസ്നാനത്തിന്റെ) പുണ്യം നൂറിരട്ടിയാകുന്നു; ശിവസന്നിധിയിൽ അത് അനന്തമാകുന്നു. കോടി കപിലാ പശുക്കളുടെ ദാനത്തേക്കാളും ഗംഗാസ്നാനം ശ്രേഷ്ഠമെന്ന് പ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്।

Word by Word

• सायं-काले: in the evening time
• सायं-काले: अधिकरण (Locative time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायम् (अव्यय) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव: ‘सायं समये’

• शत-गुणम्: hundredfold
• शत-गुणम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक-विशेषण (hundredfold)

• अनन्तम्: endless
• अनन्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (limitless)

• शिव-सन्निधौ: in Shiva’s presence
• शिव-सन्निधौ: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कपिला-कोटि-दानात्: than the gift of ten million tawny cows
• कपिला-कोटि-दानात्: अपादान (Standard/source in comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तुलना/अधिक्यबोध (standard of comparison)

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• गङ्गा-स्नानम्: bathing in the Ganga
• गङ्गा-स्नानम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विशिष्यते: excels / is superior
• विशिष्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/कर्मणि: ‘is distinguished/excels’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"Wonder at escalating merit (hundredfold → infinite) culminates in reverence that includes Śiva’s sanctifying presence alongside Gaṅgā’s supremacy."}

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates Gaṅgā-snāna as a foremost purifier and merit-producing act, surpassing even immense charity (kapilā-koṭi-dāna), and highlights that time (evening) and sacred proximity (Śiva-sannidhi) intensify spiritual fruit.

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

By praising Gaṅgā-snāna near Śiva, the verse frames pilgrimage and ritual purity as devotional acts—approaching a deity’s presence with reverence and performing tirtha-observances as offerings of faith.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalā/ritual timing is implied: the specified sāyaṃkāla (evening) indicates that correct time-selection for rites (a practical dharma-ritual principle aligned with Jyotiṣa-based muhurta sensibilities) enhances the stated merit.