Shloka 13

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

आरुह्य तु विमानाग्र्यान्ब्रह्यलोकं प्रयांति हि । गंगायां तु नरः स्नात्वा यो नित्यं लिंगमर्चयेत् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

āruhya tu vimānāgryānbrahyalokaṃ prayāṃti hi | gaṃgāyāṃ tu naraḥ snātvā yo nityaṃ liṃgamarcayet || 13 ||

Translation

Tunay ngang sila’y sumasakay sa pinakadakilang sasakyang makalangit at nagtutungo sa daigdig ni Brahma. Ang taong naliligo sa Ilog Ganga at araw-araw sumasamba sa Śiva-liṅga ay makakamit ang gayong bunga.

Word by Word

• āruhya: having mounted/ascended
• āruhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-ruh (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (क्त्वान्त) absolutive/gerund; from √ruh with upasarga ā-; ‘having ascended’

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) indicating contrast/emphasis

• vimāna-agryān: the best celestial chariots
• vimāna-agryān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक) + agrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘vimānānām agryāḥ’ (best of aerial cars)

• brahya-lokam: Brahma-world (Brahmaloka)
• brahya-lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahya (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘brahyaḥ lokaḥ’

• prayānti: they go/attain
• prayānti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-yā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्) Present; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) giving reason/emphasis

• gaṅgāyām: in the Ganga
• gaṅgāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• naraḥ: a man/person
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (क्त्वान्त) absolutive/gerund; ‘having bathed’

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम्); ‘always’

• liṅgam: the (Śiva-)liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्) Optative; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Brahmaloka
• Brahma
• Shiva Linga

FAQs

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

It presents a tirtha-based sadhana: Gaṅgā-snana combined with daily Śiva-liṅga worship, declaring it powerful enough to grant ascent to higher lokas such as Brahma-loka.

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

Bhakti is shown as steady, daily practice (nitya-arcana). The verse links devotion expressed through liṅga-archana with sanctifying pilgrimage practice (Gaṅgā-snana), emphasizing disciplined worship rather than occasional acts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa/Smarta-ācāra) is implied: bathing (snāna) as purification followed by prescribed worship (arcana) of the liṅga as a daily observance (nitya-karma) at a sacred tirtha.