Shloka 39

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

विशेषतः कलियुगे पापं हरति जाह्नवी । निहत्य कामजान्दोषान्कायवाक्चित्तसंभवान् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

viśeṣataḥ kaliyuge pāpaṃ harati jāhnavī | nihatya kāmajāndoṣānkāyavākcittasaṃbhavān || 39 ||

Translation

கலியுகத்தில் குறிப்பாக ஜாஹ்னவி (கங்கை) பாவத்தை அகற்றுகிறாள்; ஆசையால் பிறக்கும் குற்றங்களை—உடல், சொல், மனம் வழியாக எழுவனவற்றை—அழித்துவிடுகிறாள்.

Word by Word

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• कलियुगे: in the Kali age
• कलियुगे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलियुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कलेः युगम्); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• हरति: removes
• हरति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जाह्नवी: Jāhnavī (the Ganga)
• जाह्नवी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; proper noun (Ganga)

• निहत्य: having destroyed
• निहत्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action; absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव (gerund/absolutive), ‘having destroyed’

• कामजान्: born of desire
• कामजान्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कामात् जाताः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; modifies दोषान्

• दोषान्: faults/defects
• दोषान्: कर्म (Karma/Object of निहत्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• काय-वाक्-चित्त-सम्भवान्: arising from body, speech, and mind
• काय-वाक्-चित्त-सम्भवान्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (सम्भवाः = ‘arising from’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कायस्य/वाचः/चित्तस्य सम्भवाः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; modifies दोषान्

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic discourse; within the section praising Gaṅgā/Jāhnavī as a tīrtha)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jāhnavī
• Gaṅgā
• Kali Yuga

FAQs

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

It declares Gaṅgā (Jāhnavī) as a supreme tīrtha in Kali Yuga, capable of purifying even desire-born faults across all three levels—body, speech, and mind—thus functioning as an accessible prāyaścitta (atonement) and inner purification.

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

By emphasizing purification of kāya-vāk-citta, the verse supports bhakti-sādhana: when sins and kāma-doṣas are washed away, one becomes fit for steady remembrance, worship, and surrender—core practices of Viṣṇu-bhakti praised throughout the Narada Purana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects the dharma-śāstric framework of prāyaścitta and ritual purity: tīrtha-snāna (bathing at a sacred ford) is presented as a practical means to cleanse doṣas, aligning conduct (ācāra) and intention (citta) for religious practice.