Shloka 48

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

गंगाभक्तिस्तारयते संसारार्णवतो ध्रुवम् । संतोषः परमैश्वर्यं तत्त्वज्ञानं सुखात्मनाम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgābhaktistārayate saṃsārārṇavato dhruvam | saṃtoṣaḥ paramaiśvaryaṃ tattvajñānaṃ sukhātmanām || 49 ||

Translation

Ang debosyon sa Gaṅgā ay tiyak na nagliligtas at nagpapatawid sa karagatan ng saṃsāra. Ang kasiyahan sa loob (santoṣa) ang pinakamataas na kayamanan, at ang tunay na kaalaman sa katotohanan (tattva-jñāna) ang ligaya ng mga may masayang likas.

Word by Word

• gaṅgā-bhaktiḥ: devotion to the Ganga
• gaṅgā-bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन)

• tārayate: saves/carries across
• tārayate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (तॄ धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); causative sense 'causes to cross/save'

• saṃsāra-arṇavataḥ: from the ocean of worldly existence
• saṃsāra-arṇavataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsāra (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी) singular (एकवचन)

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषणवत्), indeclinable sense 'certainly'

• saṃtoṣaḥ: contentment
• saṃtoṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃtoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन)

• parama-aiśvaryam: supreme wealth/prosperity
• parama-aiśvaryam: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन); predicate nominative

• tattva-jñānam: knowledge of reality
• tattva-jñānam: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन); predicate nominative

• sukha-ātmanām: of the happy-souled (people)
• sukha-ātmanām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी) plural (बहुवचन); bahuvrīhi 'those whose nature is happiness'

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana’s Uttara-Bhaga teaching on Ganga-mahatmya)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It presents Gaṅgā-bhakti as a direct liberating aid—capable of carrying a devotee across saṃsāra—while also defining inner virtues (contentment and tattva-jñāna) as the true spiritual riches that mature liberation.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical and salvific: devotion to a sacred tirtha-personality (Gaṅgā) becomes a vehicle for deliverance, and it naturally harmonizes with inner purification—contentment and truth-knowledge—rather than mere external piety.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-soteriological: cultivate santoṣa (contentment) and pursue tattva-jñāna (discernment of reality) alongside tirtha-bhakti as part of a disciplined dharmic life.