Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Gaṅgāmāhātmya

Devanagari script

यत्र स्नाताः पापिनोऽपि सर्वपापविवर्जिताः । महद्विमानमारूढाः प्रयान्ति परमं पदम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

yatra snātāḥ pāpino'pi sarvapāpavivarjitāḥ | mahadvimānamārūḍhāḥ prayānti paramaṃ padam || 16 ||

Translation

جہاں غسل کرنے سے گنہگار بھی تمام گناہوں سے پاک ہو جاتے ہیں؛ اور عظیم آسمانی سواری (وِمان) پر سوار ہو کر پرم پد کی طرف روانہ ہوتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (स्थानवाचक अव्यय)

• snātāḥ: having bathed
• snātāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √snā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural; used substantively ‘having bathed’

• pāpinaḥ: sinners
• pāpinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = even/also)

• sarva-pāpa-vivarjitāḥ: free from all sins
• sarva-pāpa-vivarjitāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vivarjita (प्रातिपदिक; √vṛj/varj (धातु) + vi + kta)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural; adjective qualifying pāpinaḥ

• mahat-vimānam: a great aerial car
• mahat-vimānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular; object of ārūḍhāḥ (mounted)

• ārūḍhāḥ: having mounted
• ārūḍhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√ruh (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative (1), Plural; ‘having mounted’

• prayānti: go forth
• prayānti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• paramaṃ: supreme
• paramaṃ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular; adjective qualifying padam

• padam: abode/state
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2), Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches the tirtha-mahatmya principle: contact with a sacred place—especially bathing (snana)—purifies even grave sin and becomes a direct cause for reaching the highest spiritual goal (paramaṃ padam).

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

By describing paramaṃ padam as the final destination, the verse aligns purification (snana) with the larger bhakti-oriented aim of reaching the Lord’s supreme abode; ritual purification supports steady devotion and Godward movement.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It primarily reflects Kalpa (ritual discipline): the act of snana as a prescribed purificatory rite. While no technical Vedanga like Jyotisha is stated, the verse emphasizes correct ritual action leading to spiritual merit.