Shloka 2

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामपि तीर्थानां श्रेष्ठा गंगा धरातले । न तस्या सदृशं किंचिद्विद्यते पापनाशनम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

sarveṣāmapi tīrthānāṃ śreṣṭhā gaṃgā dharātale | na tasyā sadṛśaṃ kiṃcidvidyate pāpanāśanam || 3 ||

Translation

ଧରାତଳର ସମସ୍ତ ତୀର୍ଥମଧ୍ୟରେ ଗଙ୍ଗା ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠା; ପାପନାଶ ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କ ସଦୃଶ କିଛି ମଧ୍ୟ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• api: even, also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात)

• tīrthānām: of sacred places
• tīrthānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śreṣṭhā: the best
• śreṣṭhā: Pradhana-visheshana (प्रधान-विशेषण/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective for गंगा

• gaṅgā: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• dharā-tale: on earth
• dharā-tale: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharā (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('on the surface of the earth')

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)

• tasyāḥ: of her (of Gaṅgā)
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sadṛśam: similar, equal
• sadṛśam: Pradhana-visheshana (प्रधान-विशेषण/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate with किंचित्

• kiṃcit: anything
• kiṃcit: Karta (कर्ता/subject of vidyate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; indefinite pronoun ('anything')

• vidyate: exists, is found
• vidyate: Kriya (क्रिया/main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• pāpa-nāśanam: a destroyer of sin
• pāpa-nāśanam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः ('sin-destroying [thing]') used appositionally to किंचित्

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya narration; traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhakti","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Reverent elevation of the Gaṅgā as supreme, culminating in assurance of sin-destruction."}

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It elevates Gaṅgā as the supreme tīrtha on earth, emphasizing her unique capacity for pāpa-nāśana (removal of sin) compared to all other sacred places.

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

By praising Gaṅgā as unmatched in purifying power, it supports bhakti-oriented practice where faith, reverence, and sacred association (tīrtha-sevā, snāna, smaraṇa) become means to inner purification conducive to devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily kalpa-related ritual application: the verse underpins tīrtha-based observances (snāna, dāna, japa at Gaṅgā) as dhārmic means of purification; it does not directly teach śikṣā, vyākaraṇa, or jyotiṣa in this line.