Shloka 126

Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank

Devanagari script

गंगा तीरसमुद्भूतां मृदं मूर्घ्ना बिभर्ति यः । बिभर्ति रूपं सोऽर्कस्य तमोनाशाय केवलम् ॥ १२६ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgā tīrasamudbhūtāṃ mṛdaṃ mūrghnā bibharti yaḥ | bibharti rūpaṃ so'rkasya tamonāśāya kevalam || 126 ||

Translation

ഗംഗാതീരത്തിൽ നിന്നുയർന്ന മണ്ണ് തലയിൽ ധരിക്കുന്നവൻ, അജ്ഞാനാന്ധകാരം നശിപ്പാൻ മാത്രം സൂര്യന്റെ സ്വരൂപം തന്നെ ധരിക്കുന്നവനാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• गङ्गा: Ganga
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तीर-समुद्भूताम्: arisen from the bank (riverbank-born)
• तीर-समुद्भूताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्भूत (कृदन्त; सम्+उद्+भू)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तीरात् समुद्भूता)

• मृदम्: clay/earth
• मृदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• मूर्ध्ना: with (his) head
• मूर्ध्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• बिभर्ति: bears/carries
• बिभर्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• बिभर्ति: bears/assumes
• बिभर्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अर्कस्य: of the Sun
• अर्कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• तमः-नाशाय: for the destruction of darkness
• तमः-नाशाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तमसः नाशः)

• केवलम्: only
• केवलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः (क्रियाविशेषण/निपात), ‘only/merely’ अर्थे

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Narada Purana dialogue/tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Arka (Surya)

FAQs

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

It teaches that even a simple tirtha-observance—reverently wearing Gaṅgā-bank clay on the head—symbolizes inner purification, equating the practitioner with the Sun’s power to dispel darkness, i.e., sin, impurity, and ignorance.

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

By honoring Gaṅgā as a sacred manifestation and performing a humble act of reverence, the devotee aligns with divine purity; such faith-filled tirtha practices support bhakti by cultivating surrender, sanctity, and remembrance of the sacred.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This verse primarily reflects kalpa (ritual practice) through a tirtha-related observance; it also uses a symbolic correspondence (Sun = remover of darkness) that is common in jyotiṣa-informed religious imagery, though no technical astrology is taught here.