Shloka 3

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

सप्तावरान् सप्तपरान् पितृंस्तेभ्यश्च ये परे । पुमांस्तारयते गंगां वीक्ष्य स्पृष्ट्वावगाह्य च ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

saptāvarān saptaparān pitṛṃstebhyaśca ye pare | pumāṃstārayate gaṃgāṃ vīkṣya spṛṣṭvāvagāhya ca || 3 ||

Translation

گنگا کو دیکھنے، چھونے اور اس میں اشنان کرنے سے انسان اپنے پِتروں کو—سات پشت اوپر، سات پشت نیچے—اور ان سے بھی پرے آباؤ اجداد کو بھی پار لگا دیتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• सप्त-अवरान्: seven lower (generations)
• सप्त-अवरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मधारयः (सप्त च ते अवराः)

• सप्त-परान्: seven higher (generations)
• सप्त-परान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मधारयः (सप्त च ते पराः)

• पितॄन्: ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• तेभ्यः: from them
• तेभ्यः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative 5th) / चतुर्थी (Dative 4th), बहुवचन (plural); अत्र पञ्चमी (from them)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction: 'and')

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• परे: others/beyond
• परे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• पुमान्: a man/person
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• तारयते: saves/carries across
• तारयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); णिजन्त (causative) भावः: तॄ→तारयति ('causes to cross/saves')

• गङ्गाम्: the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participle): 'having seen'

• स्पृष्ट्वा: having touched
• स्पृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव: 'having touched'

• अवगाह्य: having immersed/bathed
• अवगाह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवगाह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव: 'having bathed/immersed'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It declares the exceptional tirtha-power (tīrtha-māhātmya) of the Gaṅgā: even simple contact—seeing, touching, and bathing—becomes a liberating merit that benefits one’s lineage, especially the Pitṛs.

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

The verse frames Gaṅgā-sevā as a sacred act that supports dharma and purification; such reverent approach to a divine tirtha functions as a practical expression of bhakti through humble, faith-filled engagement (darśana, sparśa, snāna).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied: tīrtha-snānā (holy bathing) and Pitṛ-related observances (śrāddha/tarpaṇa context) where purity and prescribed acts are central; it aligns most with Kalpa-style ritual application rather than technical Jyotiṣa or Vyākaraṇa.