Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 142

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

Devanagari script

षण्मासं तत्र गङ्गायां स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा सदाशिवम् । ब्राह्मणीदत्तश पात्तु मुक्तो मित्रसहोऽभवत् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaṇmāsaṃ tatra gaṅgāyāṃ snātvā dṛṣṭvā sadāśivam | brāhmaṇīdattaśa pāttu mukto mitrasaho'bhavat || 42 ||

Translation

เมื่ออาบน้ำในแม่น้ำคงคาที่นั่นตลอดหกเดือน และได้เฝ้าดูพระสทาศิวะแล้ว เขาก็หลุดพ้นจากพันธนาการ ด้วยความคุ้มครองจากทานที่พราหมณีมอบให้ เขาจึงเป็นผู้มีสหายเคียงข้าง।

Word by Word

• षण्मासम्: for six months
• षण्मासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्-मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘six months’)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• गङ्गायाम्: in the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having bathed’

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having seen’

• सदाशिवम्: Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा-शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; देवता-नाम

• ब्राह्मणीदत्तः: given by a brāhmaṇī
• ब्राह्मणीदत्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्मणी-दत्त (प्रातिपदिक; दत्त = √दा (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘ब्राह्मण्या दत्तः’ (given by a brāhmaṇī)

• पात्तु: may (he) protect
• पात्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (आशीर्लिङ्गार्थे) ‘may he protect’

• मुक्तः: freed/liberated
• मुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √मुच् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• मित्रसहः: Mitrasaha (proper name)
• मित्रसहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र-सह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (नाम)

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Sadashiva
• Brahmani

FAQs

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

It presents tīrtha-sevā as transformative: sustained Gaṅgā-snāna and Sadāśiva-darśana culminate in release from bondage, showing how sacred place, practice, and divine vision converge toward mokṣa.

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

Bhakti is implied through darśana—personally beholding Sadāśiva after disciplined practice. The verse frames liberation as arising from devoted engagement with the deity and holy rites rather than mere theory.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is emphasized: the discipline of tīrtha-snāna over a defined period and the understanding of purity-by-rite (śaucācāra) as a lived dharmic observance.