Shloka 26

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

गंगातीरसमुद्भूतमृदा लिगानि शक्तितः । सलक्षणानि कृत्वा तु प्रतिष्ठाप्य दिने दिने ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgātīrasamudbhūtamṛdā ligāni śaktitaḥ | salakṣaṇāni kṛtvā tu pratiṣṭhāpya dine dine || 26 ||

Translation

गङ्गातीरसमुद्भूतया मृदा शक्तितः सलक्षणानि शिवलिङ्गानि कृत्वा, तानि दिने दिने प्रतिष्ठापयेत्।

Word by Word

• गंगातीरसमुद्भूतमृदा: with clay from the Ganga’s bank
• गंगातीरसमुद्भूतमृदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + तीर + समुद्भूत + मृद्/मृदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः (गङ्गातीरसमुद्भूता मृदा) = 'clay arisen from the Ganga-bank'

• लिङ्गानि: liṅgas (emblems)
• लिङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• शक्तितः: as able
• शक्तितः: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; 'according to ability'

• सलक्षणानि: with (proper) characteristics
• सलक्षणानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (with proper marks)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); 'having made'

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: having installed
• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + स्था (धातु) + णिच् + य (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); causative sense 'having installed'

• दिने: on a day
• दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दिने: day by day
• दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Narada–Sanatkumāra dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Śiva (Liṅga)

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred geography (Gaṅgā-tīra) and right ritual form (sa-lakṣaṇa) together sanctify worship; repeated daily installation of liṅgas becomes an ongoing act of merit (puṇya) at a tīrtha.

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

Bhakti is expressed through humble, capacity-based service—making and consecrating liṅgas as one can—showing steady, day-by-day devotional discipline rather than a one-time display.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa (ritual procedure): selecting proper material, ensuring correct lakṣaṇas (canonical features), and performing pratiṣṭhā (installation/consecration) in a regulated, repeatable manner.