Shloka 55

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

रथाश्वगजदानैश्च यत्पुण्यं परिकीर्तितम् । ततः शतगुणं पुण्यं गंगांभश्चुलुकाशनात् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

rathāśvagajadānaiśca yatpuṇyaṃ parikīrtitam | tataḥ śataguṇaṃ puṇyaṃ gaṃgāṃbhaśculukāśanāt || 56 ||

Translation

रथ, घोडे व हत्ती यांच्या दानाने जे पुण्य सांगितले आहे, त्यापेक्षा शतगुण पुण्य गंगेचे जल एक चुलूक आचमन केल्याने मिळते।

Word by Word

• रथ: chariot
• रथ: — (समासाङ्ग/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (stem in compound; Masculine, Nom/Acc singular as member)

• अश्व: horse
• अश्व: — (समासाङ्ग/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (stem in compound; Masculine, Nom/Acc singular as member)

• गज: elephant
• गज: — (समासाङ्ग/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (stem in compound; Masculine, Nom/Acc singular as member)

• दानैः: by gifts/donations
• दानैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction/particle)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (relative pronoun; agreeing with पुण्यम्)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc singular)

• परिकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु) → परिकीर्तित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘is proclaimed/has been stated’

• ततः: than that
• ततः: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative of comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय, अपादान/तुलनार्थक (ablatival adverb: ‘from that/than that’)

• शतगुणम्: hundredfold
• शतगुणम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + गुण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (संख्यापूर्वक-विशेषण); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘hundredfold’

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc singular)

• गङ्गाम्भः: Ganga water
• गङ्गाम्भः: कर्म (Karma/Object; implied with ‘eating/sipping’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गङ्गायाः अम्भः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• चुलुक: a handful
• चुलुक: — (समासाङ्ग/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चुलुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (stem in compound; ‘a handful/scoop’)

• आशनात्: from sipping/eating
• आशनात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + अश् (धातु) → आशन (प्रातिपदिक; action-noun)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन (Ablative singular); ‘from eating/sipping’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the context of Tirtha-mahatmya; traditional dialogue framework with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It elevates tirtha-sevana by teaching that even a small act connected to the Ganga—sipping a palmful of her water—yields extraordinary puṇya, surpassing major forms of material charity.

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

By praising Ganga as supremely purifying, it encourages reverent approach to sacred tirthas and faith-filled practice; such śraddhā-centered acts support bhakti by orienting the mind toward the divine and sanctity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-practice guidance is implied: the verse foregrounds tīrtha-related ācamana/sipping as a meritorious act, emphasizing procedural purity and the dharmic valuation of specific sacred substances.