Shloka 44

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

सदा चांद्रायणं चैव तल्लभेज्जाह्नवीतटे । गंगासेवापरस्येह दिवसार्द्धेन यत्फलम् ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

sadā cāṃdrāyaṇaṃ caiva tallabhejjāhnavītaṭe | gaṃgāsevāparasyeha divasārddhena yatphalam || 45 ||

Translation

Sa pampang ng Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā), tunay na natatamo ang bunga na tila walang patid na pagsasagawa ng panatang Cāndrāyaṇa. Para sa taong deboto sa paglilingkod sa Gaṅgā rito, ang gayong merit ay nakukuha sa kalahating araw lamang.

Word by Word

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

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

• आन्द्रायणम्: the Cāndrāyaṇa vow
• आन्द्रायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चान्द्रायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• तत्: that (vow/result)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• लभेत्: should obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Ātmanepada

• जाह्नवी-तटे: on the bank of the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)
• जाह्नवी-तटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवी (प्रातिपदिक) + तट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जाह्नव्याः तटम्)

• गंगा-सेवा-परस्य: of one devoted to serving the Gaṅgā
• गंगा-सेवा-परस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (गंगासेवायां परः = devoted to service of Gaṅgā)

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• दिवस-अर्द्धेन: by half a day
• दिवस-अर्द्धेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दिवसस्य अर्द्धम्)

• यत्-फलम्: whatever result
• यत्-फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular; ‘whatever fruit/result’

Speaker

Suta (narrating the tirtha-mahatmya discourse; within the broader Narada–Sanatkumara transmission frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Cāndrāyaṇa

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Jahnavi
• Candrayanavrata

FAQs

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

It teaches that association with the Gaṅgā—specifically devoted service at her banks—accelerates spiritual merit, equating a short period of sincere tirtha-based devotion with long, demanding penances.

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

By valuing gaṅgā-sevā (service) as a direct, accessible devotional act whose fruit can surpass austere vows, the verse emphasizes heartfelt dedication over mere duration of ritual hardship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It references vrata-vidhi through the well-known Cāndrāyaṇa observance (a dharma-śāstra style discipline tied to lunar reckoning), showing how time/ritual calculation is applied in penance practice.