Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतं पापं यच्चान्यत्कारितं परैः । तत्सर्वं नाशयत्याशु परिचर्या महात्मनाम् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

jñānājñānakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ yaccānyatkāritaṃ paraiḥ | tatsarvaṃ nāśayatyāśu paricaryā mahātmanām || 7 ||

Translation

ଜାଣି କି ଅଜାଣି କରା ପାପ, ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା କରାଇଥିବା ଅନ୍ୟ ଦୋଷମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ—ମହାତ୍ମାମାନଙ୍କର ଭକ୍ତିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପରିଚର୍ଯ୍ୟା ସବୁକୁ ଶୀଘ୍ର ନାଶ କରେ।

Word by Word

• ज्ञान: by knowledge
• ज्ञान: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental sense ‘by/through knowledge’

• अज्ञान: by ignorance
• अज्ञान: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental sense ‘by ignorance’

• कृतम्: done/committed
• कृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with ‘पापम्’

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; object of ‘नाशयति’

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun referring to ‘पापम्/अन्यत्’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्यत्: other (wrong)
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘other (sin)’

• कारितम्: caused to be done
• कारितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त-भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (causative PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with ‘अन्यत्/पापम्’

• परैः: by others
• परैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; agent/instrument ‘by others’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative ‘that’ (referring to the sins)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘तत्’

• नाशयति: destroys
• नाशयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नाशय् (धातु; णिच् causative of नश्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• परिचर्या: service/attendance (devout practice)
• परिचर्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + चर् (धातु) + यत्/या (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; subject of ‘नाशयति’

• महात्मनाम्: of great souls
• महात्मनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of great-souled (persons)’; समास: महत् + आत्मन्

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere service to realized, great-souled saints (mahātmanām paricaryā) functions as a powerful purifier, swiftly removing karmic demerit accumulated knowingly, unknowingly, or even through indirect involvement.

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

By emphasizing paricaryā—humble attendance and service to saintly devotees—as a direct support to bhakti, since serving the holy strengthens devotion, corrects conduct, and cleanses obstacles (pāpa) that block remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Rather than a technical Vedanga topic (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa), the verse highlights practical dharma: a living form of prāyaścitta (atonement) through sādhūnām-sevā (service to saints), stressing conduct and purification over mere ritual formalism.