Shloka 3

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

सामान्यस्थानतो देवि तत्र संध्या ह्युपासिता । पुण्यं लक्षगुणं कर्तुं समर्था द्विजपावनी ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

sāmānyasthānato devi tatra saṃdhyā hyupāsitā | puṇyaṃ lakṣaguṇaṃ kartuṃ samarthā dvijapāvanī || 3 ||

Translation

ข้าแต่เทวี แม้ประกอบสันธยาอุปาสนา ณ ที่ทั่วไปก็ตาม ที่นั้นย่อมชำระผู้เกิดสองครั้งให้บริสุทธิ์ และสามารถเพิ่มบุญให้เป็นแสนเท่าได้

Word by Word

• सामान्यस्थानतः: from an ordinary place
• सामान्यस्थानतः: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सामान्य-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) = 'from/than (a) common place'; समासः कर्मधारयः (सामान्यं च तत् स्थानम्)

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• संध्या: the twilight worship (sandhyā)
• संध्या: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निपात (particle) — emphasis/indeed

• उपासिता: worshipped
• उपासिता: कर्मणि-भाव (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (संध्या) 'having been worshipped/when worshipped'

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• लक्षगुणम्: hundred-thousand-fold
• लक्षगुणम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष-गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/संख्या-सम्बन्धः): 'लक्षस्य गुणः' = 'a hundred-thousand-fold' (qualifying पुण्यम्)

• कर्तुम्: to make
• कर्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/Infinitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta), तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive) — 'to do/make'

• समर्था: capable
• समर्था: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective) (संध्या/उपासिता)

• द्विजपावनी: purifier of the twice-born
• द्विजपावनी: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विज-पावनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/उपपद-तत्पुरुष): 'द्विजान् पावयति' = purifier of the twice-born; विधेय-विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"Begins with a calm instruction about a simple act (sandhyā-upāsanā) and rises into wonder at its amplified merit and purificatory power."}

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Sandhya

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Sandhyā-upāsanā as a powerful nitya-karma that purifies the dvija and can vastly amplify spiritual merit, even when done from an ordinary location.

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

By presenting Sandhyā as a daily act of reverent worship, it frames regular disciplined prayer as a practical expression of devotion that steadily increases punya and inner purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to ritual discipline (kalpa/ācāra) connected with Sandhyā-vandana—timely performance and prescribed worship as part of Vedic nitya duties.