Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Gaṅgāmāhātmya

Devanagari script

अनादिनिधने देवे हरिशंकरसंज्ञिते । अज्ञानसागरे मग्ना भेदं कुर्वन्ति पापिनः ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

anādinidhane deve hariśaṃkarasaṃjñite | ajñānasāgare magnā bhedaṃ kurvanti pāpinaḥ || 45 ||

Translation

अनादि-अनंत असा देव, जो हरि व शंकर या नावांनी प्रसिद्ध आहे—अज्ञानसागरात बुडालेले पापी जन त्यांत भेद करतात।

Word by Word

• anādi-nidhane: in the beginningless and endless (one)
• anādi-nidhane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anādi + nidhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; adjective qualifying 'deve' (सप्तमी-विशेषण)

• deve: in the God
• deve: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• hari-śaṅkara-saṃjñite: designated as Hari and Śaṅkara
• hari-śaṅkara-saṃjñite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hari + śaṅkara + saṃjñita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; 'hari-śaṅkara' as name-specifier; adjective qualifying 'deve'

• ajñāna-sāgare: in the ocean of ignorance
• ajñāna-sāgare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāna + sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• magnāḥ: sunk/immersed
• magnāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: magna (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √majj)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; past passive participle (क्त), agreeing with 'pāpinaḥ'

• bhedam: difference
• bhedam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kurvanti: make/do
• kurvanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• pāpinaḥ: sinners
• pāpinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Shankara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It teaches Hari–Śaṅkara abheda: the Supreme is one, though called by different divine names; ignorance alone produces sectarian division.

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

It guides devotees to worship without hatred or rivalry—seeing Vishnu and Shiva as expressions of the same beginningless, endless Lord, which purifies bhakti from ego and conflict.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught; the practical takeaway is dharmic discernment (viveka)—avoiding mistaken doctrinal ‘bheda’ born of ajñāna.