Shloka 56

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

नरकस्थान्पितॄन्सर्वान्प्रापयित्वा दिवं तथा । स्वर्गस्थितान्मोक्षयित्वा स्वयं ज्ञानी च मोहिनि ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

narakasthānpitṝnsarvānprāpayitvā divaṃ tathā | svargasthitānmokṣayitvā svayaṃ jñānī ca mohini || 56 ||

Translation

โอ้โมหินี ผู้ใดนำบรรพชนทั้งปวงที่อยู่ในนรกขึ้นสู่สวรรค์ และยังปลดปล่อยผู้ที่อยู่ในสวรรค์ให้ถึงโมกษะ ผู้นั้นย่อมเป็นผู้รู้แจ้ง (ญาณี) ด้วยตนเอง

Word by Word

• नरक-स्थान्: those situated in hell
• नरक-स्थान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नरके स्थानं येषाम्/नरके स्थिताः = ‘in hell’)

• पितṝन्: forefathers
• पितṝन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ऋ-प्रातिपदिक (irregular declension)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रापयित्वा: having led/caused to reach
• प्रापयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (प्राप्तौ) + प्र
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) + क्त्वा (absolutive): ‘having caused to reach’

• दिवम्: to heaven
• दिवम्: Gati-karma (गति-कर्म/प्राप्तिस्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: thus/also)

• स्वर्ग-स्थितान्: those dwelling in heaven
• स्वर्ग-स्थितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त, √स्था गतिनिवृत्तौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (स्वर्गे स्थिताः)

• मोक्षयित्वा: having freed
• मोक्षयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुच् (मोचने)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) + क्त्वा (absolutive): ‘having liberated’

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (emphatic adverb: oneself)

• ज्ञानी: a knower, wise one
• ज्ञानी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गुणवाचक-संज्ञा (one possessing knowledge)

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

• मोहिनि: O Mohinī
• मोहिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; verse addresses 'mohinī' as a vocative within the narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Naraka
• Svarga
• Moksha

FAQs

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

It elevates the goal beyond merit and heaven: the highest fruit is moksha—so powerful that it can uplift ancestors from naraka to svarga and even carry svarga-bound souls toward liberation, while the practitioner matures into jñāna.

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

Though bhakti is not named here, the promised capacity to deliver pitṛs and transcend svarga reflects the typical Purāṇic bhakti-phala: devotion and sacred acts done with surrender yield not merely heavenly reward but liberation-oriented grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse aligns with Dharma-śāstra and ritual logic (karma-phala and pitṛ-kārya): correct performance of śrāddha/tīrtha-related rites and intention can be framed as a means for pitṛ-upliftment, culminating in the seeker’s inner jñāna.