Shloka 58

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

सप्तहस्तेन दंडेन त्रिंशद्दंडा निवर्तनम् । त्रिभागहीनं गोचर्म मानमाह विधिः स्वयम् ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

saptahastena daṃḍena triṃśaddaṃḍā nivartanam | tribhāgahīnaṃ gocarma mānamāha vidhiḥ svayam || 58 ||

Translation

سات ہاتھ کے پیمانے والے ڈنڈے سے ناپنے پر تیس ڈنڈے مل کر ایک ‘نِوَرتن’ بنتے ہیں۔ اسی کا ایک تہائی کم کیا ہوا رقبہ خود وِدھی (برہما) نے ‘گوچرم’ کا مان قرار دیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• सप्तहस्तेन: with a measure of seven hands
• सप्तहस्तेन: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तहस्त (प्रातिपदिक; सप्त + हस्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (3rd case)

• दण्डेन: with a rod/staff
• दण्डेन: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• त्रिंशत्-दण्डा: thirty rods (as a measure)
• त्रिंशत्-दण्डा: Karta (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिंशत् + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (as measure-units)

• निवर्तनम्: a nivartana (unit of area/measure)
• निवर्तनम्: Pradhāna-artha (प्रधानार्थः / Predicative measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative singular

• त्रि-भाग-हीनम्: lacking one-third
• त्रि-भाग-हीनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम् / Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + भाग + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; agreeing with मानम्; ‘devoid of one-third’

• गो-चर्म: (the measure called) ‘cowhide’
• गो-चर्म: Pradhāna-artha (प्रधानार्थः / Measure-term)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; used as measure-name

• मानम्: the measure/standard
• मानम्: Karma (कर्म / Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• आह: said/declared
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया / Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular

• विधिः: the rule/ordinance
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• स्वयम्: himself/indeed
• स्वयम्: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण / Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphatic adverb (‘oneself/indeed’)

Speaker

Narada (teaching measurement conventions within a tirtha/kshetra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (Vidhi)

FAQs

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

It preserves śāstric precision: sacred geography and ritual instructions depend on standardized measures, presented here as sanctioned by Vidhi (Brahmā).

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

Indirectly: bhakti in tīrthas and sacred observances is guided by correct procedure; the verse supports devotion through accurate, scripture-based practice rather than improvisation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, śāstra-style standardization of measurement (daṇḍa, nivartana, go-carma), aligning with auxiliary disciplines used to apply ritual and sacred-site instructions correctly.