Shloka 13

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

आरुह्य तु विमानाग्र्यान्ब्रह्यलोकं प्रयांति हि । गंगायां तु नरः स्नात्वा यो नित्यं लिंगमर्चयेत् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

āruhya tu vimānāgryānbrahyalokaṃ prayāṃti hi | gaṃgāyāṃ tu naraḥ snātvā yo nityaṃ liṃgamarcayet || 13 ||

Translation

وہ یقیناً بہترین وِمانوں پر سوار ہو کر برہما لوک کو جاتے ہیں۔ جو شخص گنگا میں غسل کرکے روزانہ شِو لِنگ کی پوجا کرتا ہے، وہی ثواب پاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• āruhya: having mounted/ascended
• āruhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-ruh (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (क्त्वान्त) absolutive/gerund; from √ruh with upasarga ā-; ‘having ascended’

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) indicating contrast/emphasis

• vimāna-agryān: the best celestial chariots
• vimāna-agryān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक) + agrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘vimānānām agryāḥ’ (best of aerial cars)

• brahya-lokam: Brahma-world (Brahmaloka)
• brahya-lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahya (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘brahyaḥ lokaḥ’

• prayānti: they go/attain
• prayānti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-yā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्) Present; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) giving reason/emphasis

• gaṅgāyām: in the Ganga
• gaṅgāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• naraḥ: a man/person
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (क्त्वान्त) absolutive/gerund; ‘having bathed’

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम्); ‘always’

• liṅgam: the (Śiva-)liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्) Optative; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Brahmaloka
• Brahma
• Shiva Linga

FAQs

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

It presents a tirtha-based sadhana: Gaṅgā-snana combined with daily Śiva-liṅga worship, declaring it powerful enough to grant ascent to higher lokas such as Brahma-loka.

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

Bhakti is shown as steady, daily practice (nitya-arcana). The verse links devotion expressed through liṅga-archana with sanctifying pilgrimage practice (Gaṅgā-snana), emphasizing disciplined worship rather than occasional acts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa/Smarta-ācāra) is implied: bathing (snāna) as purification followed by prescribed worship (arcana) of the liṅga as a daily observance (nitya-karma) at a sacred tirtha.