Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

पुण्यं चाकाशगंगायास्तोयं तिष्ठति तिष्ठति । दूरात्प्रतिहतो यस्मिन्नेकरश्मिर्दिवाकरः ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

puṇyaṃ cākāśagaṃgāyāstoyaṃ tiṣṭhati tiṣṭhati | dūrātpratihato yasminnekaraśmirdivākaraḥ || 26 ||

Translation

Nước thánh của Gaṅgā trên cõi trời an trụ tại đó—vững bền, mãi mãi không rời—ở nơi mà dù chỉ một tia nắng của Mặt Trời từ xa cũng bị chặn lại và quay lui.

Word by Word

• पुण्यम्: holy/pure
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आकाशगङ्गायाः: of the celestial Gaṅgā
• आकाशगङ्गायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sky-Gaṅgā)

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तिष्ठति: stands/remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तिष्ठति: stands/remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• दूरात्: from afar
• दूरात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• प्रतिहतः: repelled/checked
• प्रतिहतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-हन् (धातु) → प्रतिहत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• यस्मिन्: in which
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एकरश्मिः: single-rayed (one)
• एकरश्मिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (single + ray)

• दिवाकरः: the sun
• दिवाकरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (maker of day)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Akasha-Ganga
• Ganga
• Divakara (Sun)

FAQs

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

It praises a supremely sacred locus where the “celestial Gaṅgā” is said to abide, using cosmic imagery to indicate extraordinary purity and spiritual potency that grants puṇya and supports liberation-oriented practice.

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

By exalting sacred presence (Gaṅgā’s holiness) and awe-filled contemplation of divine order, it supports bhakti as reverence expressed through tīrtha-sevā—approaching holy places and waters with faith, humility, and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it leans on Jyotiṣa-style cosmological language (sun-ray imagery and celestial reference) to frame sacred geography, reinforcing how Vedic cosmology can inform tīrtha-identification and ritual intent.