Shloka 28

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

सर्वानंदप्रदायिन्यां गंगायां यो नरोत्तमः । अष्टाक्षरं जपेद्भक्त्य मुक्तिस्तस्य करे स्थिता ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

sarvānaṃdapradāyinyāṃ gaṃgāyāṃ yo narottamaḥ | aṣṭākṣaraṃ japedbhaktya muktistasya kare sthitā || 28 ||

Translation

บุรุษผู้ประเสริฐผู้ใด ณ คงคาอันประทานความปีติสุขทั้งปวง สวดมนต์แปดพยางค์ด้วยภักติ โมกษะย่อมประหนึ่งตั้งอยู่ในฝ่ามือของเขาเอง

Word by Word

• सर्वानन्दप्रदायिन्याम्: in (her) who bestows all bliss
• सर्वानन्दप्रदायिन्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-आनन्द-प्रदायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण (locative qualifier)

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

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• नर-उत्तमः: the best of men
• नर-उत्तमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अष्टाक्षरम्: the eight-syllabled (mantra)
• अष्टाक्षरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• करे: in (his) hand
• करे: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• स्थिताः: is situated/stands
• स्थिताः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → स्थित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue tradition; verse presented as a mahatmya statement in Uttara-bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhakti","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_journey":"Begins with praise of Gaṅgā as all-bliss-giving, then culminates in confident assurance that liberation is immediately attainable through devoted japa."}

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Ashtakshara Mantra (Vishnu mantra)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Gaṅgā-tīrtha combined with devoted mantra-japa yields swift spiritual fruition—so certain that mokṣa is described as being “in one’s hand.”

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

Bhakti is emphasized through “bhaktyā japed”—liberation is not presented as mere ritual merit but as the fruit of heartfelt, steady remembrance of the Lord via the eight-syllabled mantra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga (practical application of sacred recitation) is implied: correct japa of a fixed-syllable mantra (aṣṭākṣarī) at a tīrtha, aligning with śikṣā (phonetics) and kalpa (ritual procedure) in practice.