Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

पुण्यं चाकाशगंगायास्तोयं तिष्ठति तिष्ठति । दूरात्प्रतिहतो यस्मिन्नेकरश्मिर्दिवाकरः ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

puṇyaṃ cākāśagaṃgāyāstoyaṃ tiṣṭhati tiṣṭhati | dūrātpratihato yasminnekaraśmirdivākaraḥ || 26 ||

Translation

ఆకాశగంగ యొక్క పుణ్యజలము అక్కడే స్థిరంగా నిలిచియుంటుంది—ఎల్లప్పుడూ నిలిచియుంటుంది—దూరమునుండి వచ్చిన సూర్యుని ఒక్క కిరణముకూడా అక్కడ ప్రతిహతమై తిరిగి పోవు చోట.

Word by Word

• पुण्यम्: holy/pure
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• आकाशगङ्गायाः: of the celestial Gaṅgā
• आकाशगङ्गायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sky-Gaṅgā)

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तिष्ठति: stands/remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तिष्ठति: stands/remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• दूरात्: from afar
• दूरात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• प्रतिहतः: repelled/checked
• प्रतिहतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-हन् (धातु) → प्रतिहत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• यस्मिन्: in which
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एकरश्मिः: single-rayed (one)
• एकरश्मिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (single + ray)

• दिवाकरः: the sun
• दिवाकरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (maker of day)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Akasha-Ganga
• Ganga
• Divakara (Sun)

FAQs

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

It praises a supremely sacred locus where the “celestial Gaṅgā” is said to abide, using cosmic imagery to indicate extraordinary purity and spiritual potency that grants puṇya and supports liberation-oriented practice.

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

By exalting sacred presence (Gaṅgā’s holiness) and awe-filled contemplation of divine order, it supports bhakti as reverence expressed through tīrtha-sevā—approaching holy places and waters with faith, humility, and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it leans on Jyotiṣa-style cosmological language (sun-ray imagery and celestial reference) to frame sacred geography, reinforcing how Vedic cosmology can inform tīrtha-identification and ritual intent.