Shloka 3

Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank

Devanagari script

गङ्गादीनां पूजनं च स्थापनं तत्र वा द्विज । किं फलं वद सर्वज्ञ त्वामहं शरणं गता ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

gaṅgādīnāṃ pūjanaṃ ca sthāpanaṃ tatra vā dvija | kiṃ phalaṃ vada sarvajña tvāmahaṃ śaraṇaṃ gatā || 3 ||

Translation

“O dalawang-beses-na-ipinanganak, ano ang bunga ng pagsamba at paglalagak (ng anyo/larawan) kay Gaṅgā at sa iba pang banal na ilog doon? O nakaaalam ng lahat, sabihin mo sa akin—sapagkat sa iyo ako sumilong.”

Word by Word

• gaṅgā-ādīnām: of Gaṅgā and others
• gaṅgā-ādīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘ādi’ indicates ‘and others’; समासः: तत्पुरुष (गङ्गा-आदि)

• pūjanam: worship
• pūjanam: Karta (कर्ता/subject of implied ‘asti’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• sthāpanam: installation/establishment
• sthāpanam: Karta (कर्ता/subject of implied ‘asti’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāpana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; coordinated with pūjanam

• tatra: there/in that context
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (देशवाचक)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• dvija: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• kim: what
• kim: Visheshana (विशेषण/interrogative determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; interrogative used with phalam

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of vada

• vada: tell
• vada: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarvajña: O omniscient one
• sarvajña: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarvajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; epithet

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Gati-karma (गतिकर्म/goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; with gam ‘to take refuge’

• gatā: have gone (taken)
• gatā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with implied speaker (mohinī)

Speaker

A female questioner/devotee addressing a dvija (sage); reply expected from the sage (dialogue context within Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahātmya).

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Gaṅgā-vrata (contextual)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā

FAQs

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

The verse frames sacred-river worship as a tirtha-centered dharmic act whose value lies in its “phala” (merit and purification), and it establishes a guru–śaraṇāgati (taking refuge in a knower) context for receiving correct ritual instruction.

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

Bhakti is shown through śaraṇāgati—approaching the learned dvija with humility and seeking the true fruit of worship. The devotee’s surrender and desire to worship Gaṅgā properly reflects devotional intent aligned with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa/ācāra) is implied: pūjana (formal worship) and sthāpana (consecratory establishment) require correct vidhi—mantra usage, purity rules, and sequence—typical of applied Vedic ritual science rather than grammar or astrology in this specific verse.