Shloka 38

The Greatness of Haridvāra

Gaṅgādvāra-māhātmya

Devanagari script

अत्रैव नागराजस्य तीर्थं परमपावनम् । अत्राभिषेकं यः कुर्यात्सोऽभयं सर्पतो लभेत् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

atraiva nāgarājasya tīrthaṃ paramapāvanam | atrābhiṣekaṃ yaḥ kuryātso'bhayaṃ sarpato labhet || 38 ||

Translation

ณ ที่นี้เองเป็นท่าน้ำศักดิ์สิทธิ์อันยิ่งบริสุทธิ์ของพญานาค; ผู้ใดประกอบพิธีอภิเษก (อภิเษกะ) ณ ที่นี้ ย่อมได้ความไร้ความหวาดกลัวต่ออสรพิษ

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (restrictive/emphatic particle)

• नागराजस्य: of the king of serpents
• नागराजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नागानां राजा); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• तीर्थम्: a sacred ford/place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nominative singular

• परमपावनम्: supremely purifying
• परमपावनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (परमं पावनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with तीर्थम्

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• अभिषेकम्: an anointing/ritual bathing
• अभिषेकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; relative pronoun; Masculine, Nominative singular

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, 3rd person singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative singular; correlative to यः

• अभयम्: fearlessness
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• सर्पतः: from a serpent
• सर्पतः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, 3rd person singular (Ātmanepada)

Speaker

Sage Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara brothers, describing a tirtha-mahatmya in Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Nāgarāja

FAQs

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

It declares a Nāga-king’s tirtha as “parama-pāvanam” and links a simple sacred act—abhiṣeka performed at that spot—to a tangible protective fruit (abhaya), showing how tirtha-sevā is framed as both purifying and welfare-bestowing in the Uttara-Bhaga.

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

While not explicitly naming Viṣṇu-bhakti, it reflects bhakti-style practice through reverent tirtha observance: approaching a sanctified place with faith and performing abhiṣeka as an act of sacred service, trusting in the tirtha’s grace to confer protection.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application is implied: abhiṣeka as a prescribed rite (karma-kāṇḍa/kalpa-oriented practice). The verse emphasizes correct performance at the proper locus (tīrtha), a key practical principle in Vedic ritual discipline.