Shloka 23

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महा गुरुडा गोघ्नः स्तेयी च गुरुतल्पगः । गंगांभसा च पूयंते नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

brahmahā guruḍā goghnaḥ steyī ca gurutalpagaḥ | gaṃgāṃbhasā ca pūyaṃte nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 24 ||

Translation

Даже убийца брахмана, убийца учителя, убийца коровы, вор и осквернитель ложа гуру — все они очищаются водами Ганги; здесь не нужно ни сомневаться, ни рассуждать.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्महा: slayer of a Brahmin
• ब्रह्महा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + हन् (कृदन्त; √हन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः हन्ता)

• गुरुडा: one who harms/insults the guru
• गुरुडा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (गुरुं डयति/पीडयति इति—गुरु-डः; पाठभेद-संभावना)

• गोघ्नः: cow-killer
• गोघ्नः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + हन् (कृदन्त; √हन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (गां हन्ति)

• स्तेयी: thief
• स्तेयी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• गुरुतल्पगः: one who approaches the guru’s bed (sexual transgressor)
• गुरुतल्पगः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + तल्प + ग (कृदन्त; √गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (गुरोः तल्पं गच्छति)

• गङ्गाम्भसा: by Ganga-water
• गङ्गाम्भसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गङ्गायाः अम्भसा)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• पूयन्ते: are purified
• पूयन्ते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: are purified)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• कार्या: to be done/necessary
• कार्या: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (vicāraṇā-विशेषण)

• विचारणा: deliberation/inquiry
• विचारणा: कर्ता/भाव (Subject: deliberation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating Purāṇic discourse; within the Uttara-Bhāga Ganga-Māhātmya section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It asserts the extraordinary purificatory power (pāvana-śakti) of Gaṅgā-jala, stating that even the gravest sins (mahāpātakas) are cleansed through contact with the Ganga’s sacred waters.

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

By emphasizing surrender to a divinely sanctified tīrtha (Gaṅgā) rather than despair over sin, the verse supports a bhakti-oriented attitude: trust in sacred grace and engage in purifying, God-centered practice such as tīrtha-sevā and snāna with reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It mainly reflects Dharma-śāstra style prayāścitta logic (expiation through tīrtha), rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it points to ritual action (snāna/ācamanam with Gaṅgā-jala) as a recognized means of purification.