Shloka 31

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

व्युष्टिर्भवति या पुंसां न सा क्रतुशतैरपि । अपहत्य तमस्तीव्रं यथा भात्युदये रविः ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

vyuṣṭirbhavati yā puṃsāṃ na sā kratuśatairapi | apahatya tamastīvraṃ yathā bhātyudaye raviḥ || 31 ||

Translation

ความตื่นรู้ที่บังเกิดในมนุษย์นั้น แม้ทำยัญพิธีนับร้อยก็หาได้ไม่ มันขจัดความมืดทึบแล้วส่องสว่าง ดุจดวงอาทิตย์ฉายแสงยามอรุณ

Word by Word

• व्युष्टिः: dawn/awakening (illumination)
• व्युष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्युष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• भवति: becomes/occurs
• भवति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता; of relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• पुंसाम्: of men
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• सा: that (dawn/benefit)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता; of implied ‘is’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• क्रतु-शतैः: by hundreds of sacrifices
• क्रतु-शतैः: Karaṇa (करण; by/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्रतूनां शतानि = hundreds of sacrifices)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• अपहत्य: having dispelled
• अपहत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having removed/struck down)

• तमः: darkness
• तमः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• तीव्रम्: intense
• तीव्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीव्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘darkness’)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (comparative particle: as/just as)

• भाति: shines
• भाति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उदये: at (its) rising
• उदये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• रविः: the sun
• रविः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (instructional narrative voice within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_journey":"Contrasts limited ritual power with a superior inner ‘awakening,’ culminating in a vivid dawn-sun simile that dispels darkness."}

Characters & Entities

• Ravi (Sun)

FAQs

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

It teaches that true inner awakening (vyuṣṭi)—the rise of liberating insight that destroys ignorance—surpasses mere accumulation of ritual merit and appears like dawn, naturally dispelling darkness.

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

By implying that external rites alone cannot force spiritual dawn, it points toward inward transformation—commonly fulfilled through sincere devotion, remembrance, and grace—by which tamas (spiritual darkness) is removed.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse contrasts kratu (yajña/ritual action—linked to Kalpa Vedāṅga) with inner illumination, underscoring that correct ritual performance is valuable but not a substitute for knowledge and realization.