Shloka 167

Devanagari script

गंगा च यमुना चैव उभे तुल्यफले स्मृते । केवलं ज्येष्ठभावेन गंगा सर्वत्र पूज्यते ॥ १६७ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃgā ca yamunā caiva ubhe tulyaphale smṛte | kevalaṃ jyeṣṭhabhāvena gaṃgā sarvatra pūjyate || 167 ||

Translation

Ang Gaṅgā at Yamunā—kapwa inaalala na nagbibigay ng magkapantay na bungang espirituwal; ngunit dahil lamang sa pagiging nakatatanda, ang Gaṅgā ay sinasamba sa lahat ng dako.

Word by Word

• गङ्गा: Ganga
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• यमुना: Yamuna
• यमुना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

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

• उभे: both (of them)
• उभे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘both’

• तुल्यफले: having equal fruits/results
• तुल्यफले: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्यफल (प्रातिपदिक; तुल्य+फल)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय (तुल्यं फलम् यस्याः/ययोः) — ‘equal in result’

• स्मृते: are said to be
• स्मृते: Kriya (क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (are said/remembered)

• केवलम्: only
• केवलम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोग; अव्यय (only/merely)

• ज्येष्ठभावेन: by virtue of seniority
• ज्येष्ठभावेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठभाव (प्रातिपदिक; ज्येष्ठ+भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ज्येष्ठस्य भावः)

• गङ्गा: Ganga
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय; सर्व+त्र)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (everywhere)

• पूज्यते: is worshipped
• पूज्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Narada (in a Tirtha-Mahatmya teaching context within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"Balances reverence for both rivers’ equal merit with a gentle resolution honoring Gaṅgā’s seniority and universal worship."}

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Yamuna

FAQs

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

It teaches that both Ganga and Yamuna grant comparable punya (spiritual merit), yet Ganga receives universal honor due to her jyesthatva (senior, foremost status) in sacred tradition.

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

By highlighting universal reverence (pūjā) for Ganga, it points to bhakti expressed through tirtha-sevā—devotional acts like honoring sacred waters, pilgrimage, and humility before revered manifestations of sanctity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-practice knowledge is implied: tirtha-snana and tirtha-pūjā are recognized as merit-giving acts; the verse distinguishes equality of phala (result) from hierarchy of honor (jyesthatva) used in traditional ritual prioritization.