Shloka 58

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

सप्तहस्तेन दंडेन त्रिंशद्दंडा निवर्तनम् । त्रिभागहीनं गोचर्म मानमाह विधिः स्वयम् ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

saptahastena daṃḍena triṃśaddaṃḍā nivartanam | tribhāgahīnaṃ gocarma mānamāha vidhiḥ svayam || 58 ||

Translation

ഏഴ് ഹസ്തമുള്ള ദണ്ഡംകൊണ്ട് അളക്കുമ്പോൾ മുപ്പത് ദണ്ഡങ്ങൾ ചേർന്ന് ഒരു ‘നിവർത്തനം’ ആകുന്നു. അതിൽ മൂന്നിലൊന്ന് കുറച്ച അളവിനെ വിധി (ബ്രഹ്മാവ്) സ്വയം ‘ഗോചർമ്മ’മാനം എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• सप्तहस्तेन: with a measure of seven hands
• सप्तहस्तेन: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तहस्त (प्रातिपदिक; सप्त + हस्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (3rd case)

• दण्डेन: with a rod/staff
• दण्डेन: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• त्रिंशत्-दण्डा: thirty rods (as a measure)
• त्रिंशत्-दण्डा: Karta (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिंशत् + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (as measure-units)

• निवर्तनम्: a nivartana (unit of area/measure)
• निवर्तनम्: Pradhāna-artha (प्रधानार्थः / Predicative measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative singular

• त्रि-भाग-हीनम्: lacking one-third
• त्रि-भाग-हीनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम् / Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + भाग + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; agreeing with मानम्; ‘devoid of one-third’

• गो-चर्म: (the measure called) ‘cowhide’
• गो-चर्म: Pradhāna-artha (प्रधानार्थः / Measure-term)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; used as measure-name

• मानम्: the measure/standard
• मानम्: Karma (कर्म / Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• आह: said/declared
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया / Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular

• विधिः: the rule/ordinance
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• स्वयम्: himself/indeed
• स्वयम्: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण / Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphatic adverb (‘oneself/indeed’)

Speaker

Narada (teaching measurement conventions within a tirtha/kshetra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (Vidhi)

FAQs

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

It preserves śāstric precision: sacred geography and ritual instructions depend on standardized measures, presented here as sanctioned by Vidhi (Brahmā).

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

Indirectly: bhakti in tīrthas and sacred observances is guided by correct procedure; the verse supports devotion through accurate, scripture-based practice rather than improvisation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, śāstra-style standardization of measurement (daṇḍa, nivartana, go-carma), aligning with auxiliary disciplines used to apply ritual and sacred-site instructions correctly.