Shloka 5

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

ज्ञानमैश्वर्यमतुलं प्रतिष्ठायुर्यशस्तथा । शुभानामाश्रमाणां च गंगादर्शनजं फलम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

jñānamaiśvaryamatulaṃ pratiṣṭhāyuryaśastathā | śubhānāmāśramāṇāṃ ca gaṃgādarśanajaṃ phalam || 5 ||

Translation

ഗംഗാദർശനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ജ്ഞാനം, അതുല ഐശ്വര്യം, പ്രതിഷ്ഠ, ആയുസ്സ്, യശസ് എന്നിവ ലഭിക്കുന്നു; കൂടാതെ ആശ്രമധർമ്മങ്ങളുടെ ശുഭഫലവും ലഭ്യമാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता; फल-रूपेण निर्दिष्टम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• ऐश्वर्यम्: lordship/prosperity
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karta (कर्ता; फल-रूपेण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रतिष्ठा: reputation/standing
• प्रतिष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता; फल-रूपेण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karta (कर्ता; फल-रूपेण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• यशः: fame
• यशः: Karta (कर्ता; फल-रूपेण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'also')

• शुभानाम्: of auspicious
• शुभानाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive 6th), बहुवचन (plural); अत्र आश्रमाणाम् इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• आश्रमाणाम्: of āśramas/stages of life
• आश्रमाणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive 6th), बहुवचन (plural)

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

• गङ्गा-दर्शन-जम्: born from seeing the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा-दर्शन-जम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गङ्गायाः दर्शनात् जातम्)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता; मुख्य-विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhakti","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Serene assurance: darśana of Gaṅgā yields both worldly and spiritual excellences, culminating in comprehensive āśrama-fruits."}

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches the tīrtha-mahātmya principle that even darśana (sacred sight) of the Gaṅgā confers multi-layered merit—inner uplift (jñāna) and outer well-being (āyuḥ, yaśas, pratiṣṭhā, aiśvarya).

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

By valuing darśana of a sacred manifestation (Gaṅgā) as spiritually transformative, it reflects bhakti’s emphasis on reverent encounter—approaching the holy with faith, which then ripens into purity and knowledge.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-oriented tīrtha practice—seeking darśana of Gaṅgā as a sanctioned means of accruing puṇya and supporting one’s āśrama-duties.