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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138

गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

वसिष्ठशापात्प्राप्तः स सौदासौ राक्षसीं तनुम् । गङ्गाबिन्दुनिषेकेण पुनर्मुक्तो नृपोऽभवत् ॥ १३८ ॥

vasiṣṭhaśāpātprāptaḥ sa saudāsau rākṣasīṃ tanum | gaṅgābinduniṣekeṇa punarmukto nṛpo'bhavat || 138 ||

وسِشٹھ کے شاپ سے وہ سَوداس راجا راکشسی تن اختیار کر بیٹھا؛ مگر گنگا جل کے ایک قطرے کے چھڑکاؤ سے وہ پھر آزاد ہو کر دوبارہ راجا بن گیا۔

vasiṣṭhaśāpātfrom Vasistha's curse
vasiṣṭhaśāpāt:
Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootvasiṣṭhaśāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular
prāptaḥobtained/reached
prāptaḥ:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpra + āp (धातु) + kta (प्रत्यय)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Past Passive Participle
saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
saudāsaḥSaudasa (son of Sudasa)
saudāsaḥ:
Samanadhikarana (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootsaudāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
rākṣasīmdemoniac
rākṣasīm:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootrākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
tanumbody
tanum:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottanu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
gaṅgābinduniṣekeṇaby the sprinkling of Ganga drops
gaṅgābinduniṣekeṇa:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootgaṅgābinduniṣeka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular
punaḥagain
punaḥ:
Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpunar (अव्यय)
FormAdverb
muktaḥliberated/freed
muktaḥ:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmuc (धातु) + kta (प्रत्यय)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Past Passive Participle
nṛpaḥking
nṛpaḥ:
Samanadhikarana (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootnṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
abhavatbecame
abhavat:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhū (धातु)
FormLang Lakara (Imperfect Past), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

Narada

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

V
Vasistha
S
Saudasa
G
Ganga

FAQs

It teaches that even severe afflictions like a sage’s curse can be neutralized through the sanctifying power of a tīrtha—here symbolized by a single drop of Gaṅgā—highlighting purification (pāpa-śodhana) and restoration to dharma.

Though not explicitly naming bhakti, it supports the bhakti-oriented Purāṇic idea that sacred means connected to the divine—such as Gaṅgā, revered as holy and Viṣṇu-associated—can transform one’s condition when approached with faith and reverence.

It points to kalpa/ritual-practice in Purāṇic form: the use of consecrated water (tīrtha-jala) as a purificatory rite (prokṣaṇa/niṣeka) within dharmic observance.