Shloka 39

The Greatness of the Gaṇḍakī River and the Śālagrāma Stone

Devanagari script

पुरा भगवता प्रोक्तमंबरीषाय धीमते । ब्राह्मणा न्यासिनः स्निग्धाः शालग्रामशिलास्तथा

Transliteration

purā bhagavatā proktamaṃbarīṣāya dhīmate | brāhmaṇā nyāsinaḥ snigdhāḥ śālagrāmaśilāstathā

Translation

पूर्वी भगवानांनी धीमान अंबरीषाला सांगितले—ब्राह्मण, संन्यासी, स्नेहयुक्त भक्तजन आणि तसेच शालग्रामशिला—हे सर्व पूज्य आहेत.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly, once
• पुरा: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: 'formerly/once')

• भगवता: by the Lord
• भगवता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• प्रोक्तम्: spoken, said
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'spoken/said'

• अम्बरीषाय: to Ambarīṣa
• अम्बरीषाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन (dative singular)

• धीमते: to the wise (one)
• धीमते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying अम्बरीषाय)

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन (nominative plural)

• न्यासिनः: renunciants, ascetics
• न्यासिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ब्राह्मणाः इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन (renunciants)

• स्निग्धाः: kind, affectionate
• स्निग्धाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (affectionate/kind)

• शालग्रामशिलाः: Śālagrāma stones
• शालग्रामशिलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम + शिला (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शालग्रामस्य शिला)

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable: 'also/likewise')

Speaker

Narrator (context not explicit in the single verse; likely within the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue framework of the Padma Purāṇa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: city

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रोक्तमंबरीषाय = प्रोक्तम् + अम्बरीषाय; शालग्रामशिलास्तथा = शालग्रामशिलाः + तथा.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (the Lord)
• Ambarīṣa
• Brāhmaṇas
• Nyāsins (renunciants)
• Śālagrāma-śilā

FAQs

Who is Ambarīṣa in this verse?

Ambarīṣa is the celebrated king-devotee known in Purāṇic literature for steadfast devotion and dharma; here he is addressed as “dhīmat” (wise), receiving instruction attributed to Bhagavān.

Why are Śālagrāma-śilās mentioned alongside people like Brahmins and renunciants?

Śālagrāma stones are treated as sacred embodiments/emblems of Viṣṇu in Vaiṣṇava practice; the verse groups them with revered persons to stress honor, sanctity, and devotional regard.

What ethical or devotional emphasis does this verse suggest?

It points to dharmic reverence: honoring spiritually exemplary persons (Brahmins, renunciants, devoted hearts) and venerating sacred symbols of the Lord (Śālagrāma), aligning conduct with bhakti and respect.