Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 136

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

ततश्च शिवमाराध्य तद्द्वारा स्वर्णदीं भुवम् । आनीय तज्जलैः स्पृष्ट्वा पूतान्निन्ये दिवं पितॄन् ॥ १३६ ॥

Transliteration

tataśca śivamārādhya taddvārā svarṇadīṃ bhuvam | ānīya tajjalaiḥ spṛṣṭvā pūtānninye divaṃ pitṝn || 136 ||

Translation

Kemudian dia memuja Śiva; melalui rahmat Śiva, dia membawa Svarṇadī ke bumi. Dengan menyentuhkan airnya kepada para leluhur, dia menyucikan para Pitṛ dan menghantar mereka ke syurga.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (thereafter)

• च: and
• च: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), समुच्चय (conjunction 'and')

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive): 'having worshipped'

• तत्-द्वारा: through that (means)
• तत्-द्वारा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (adverbial): 'through that means/doorway'; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• स्वर्णदीम्: (the river) Svarṇadī
• स्वर्णदीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्णदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• भुवम्: earth/world
• भुवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुव्/भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आनीय: having brought
• आनीय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive): 'having brought'

• तत्-जलैः: with its waters
• तत्-जलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'with its waters'

• स्पृष्ट्वा: having touched
• स्पृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive): 'having touched'

• पूतान्: purified
• पूतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूत (प्रातिपदिक; √पू क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• निन्ये: led (took)
• निन्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-नी (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• दिवम्: to heaven
• दिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक: दिव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine; द्यौः), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पितॄन्: the forefathers
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Purva Bhaga dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pitrs
• Svarnadi

FAQs

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

It highlights that sincere worship of Śiva, combined with contact with sanctifying tīrtha-waters, can purify the Pitṛs and aid their ascent to higher realms (svarga), emphasizing the power of devotion plus ritual purity.

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

Bhakti is shown as effective and grace-giving: by ārādhana (devout propitiation) of Śiva, the devotee gains divine assistance (“through Śiva’s means”) to accomplish a dharmic goal—uplifting the ancestors.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to kalpa-style ritual application: purification through sacred waters and ancestor-rites (Pitṛ-kriyā such as tarpaṇa/sparśa), where correct procedural performance is central to the intended spiritual result.