Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

Devanagari script

तुलसीदलप्रदलसंम्मिश्रमपि सर्षपमात्रकम् । गङ्गाजलं पुनात्येव कुलानामेकविंशतिम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

tulasīdalapradalasaṃmmiśramapi sarṣapamātrakam | gaṅgājalaṃ punātyeva kulānāmekaviṃśatim || 25 ||

Translation

Walau hanya setitis air Gaṅgā sebesar biji sawi, bercampur daun dan kelopak Tulasi, sungguh ia menyucikan dua puluh satu keturunan sesebuah keluarga.

Word by Word

• तुलसीदलप्रदलसंमिश्रम्: mixed with tulasī leaves and petals
• तुलसीदलप्रदलसंमिश्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुलसी-दल-प्रदल-संमिश्र (प्रातिपदिक; components: तुलसी + दल + प्रदल + संमिश्र)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying सर्षपमात्रकम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive/emphatic

• सर्षपमात्रकम्: a mere mustard-seed measure (tiny amount)
• सर्षपमात्रकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्षप-मात्रक (प्रातिपदिक; components: सर्षप + मात्रक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• गङ्गाजलम्: Ganga water
• गङ्गाजलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा-जल (प्रातिपदिक; components: गङ्गा + जल)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• पुनाति: purifies
• पुनाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• एव: indeed; certainly
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• कुलानाम्: of families/lineages
• कुलानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• एकविंशतिम्: twenty-one
• एकविंशतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-विंशति (प्रातिपदिक; components: एक + विंशति)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विंशति-शब्द), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Tulasi
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches that even a minute quantity of Gaṅgā water, when sanctified with Tulasi, carries extraordinary purificatory power—extending beyond the individual to one’s ancestral lineage (twenty-one generations).

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

Tulasi is a primary emblem of Vaiṣṇava devotion; combining Tulasi with sacred Gaṅgā water frames purification as an act of bhakti—sanctifying the body and family through simple, faith-filled offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical kalpa-style ritual guidance (proper sacred substances and their use): employing Tulasi and Gaṅgā-jala in purification rites and devotional observances.