Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 110

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

पुरा सङ्क्रुश्यमानेन ये यमेनातिपीडिताः । त एव पूजितास्तेन गङ्गाजलपरिप्लुताः ॥ ११० ॥

Transliteration

purā saṅkruśyamānena ye yamenātipīḍitāḥ | ta eva pūjitāstena gaṅgājalapariplutāḥ || 110 ||

Translation

Những kẻ xưa kia bị Diêm Vương (Yama) lôi kéo và hành hạ nặng nề, nay một khi đã được tắm gội, thấm đẫm nước sông Gaṅgā, thì chính Ngài lại tôn kính và trọng đãi họ.

Word by Word

• purā: formerly
• purā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय: 'formerly/once'

• saṅkruśyamānena: by the tormenting one
• saṅkruśyamānena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅkruśyamāna (कृदन्त; sam-√kruś/क्रुश्)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'by (him) who is causing to cry out/tormenting'

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; relative pronoun 'who'

• yamena: by Yama
• yamena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'by Yama'

• ati-pīḍitāḥ: greatly tormented
• ati-pīḍitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + pīḍita (कृदन्त; √pīḍ/पीड्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) with उपसर्ग/अव्यय 'ati' (intensifier); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'greatly afflicted'

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'they'

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात: 'indeed/just'

• pūjitāḥ: were honoured
• pūjitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; passive-subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjita (कृदन्त; √pūj/पूज्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'honoured/worshipped'

• tena: by him
• tena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'by him' (refers to Yama)

• gaṅgā-jala-pariplutāḥ: bathed/immersed in Ganga water
• gaṅgā-jala-pariplutāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक) + paripluta (कृदन्त; pari-√plu/प्लु)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः समास: 'flooded/immersed with Ganga-water'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It declares the transformative power of Gaṅgā-jala: even those suffering Yama’s punishments are elevated to honor once purified by immersion in the Gaṅgā, emphasizing tirtha-snana as a potent means of pāpa-kṣaya.

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

By presenting Gaṅgā as a sacred purifier revered in Vaiṣṇava dharma, the verse supports bhakti-inclined practice: approaching holy waters with faith and reverence becomes a devotional act that softens karmic consequences.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-style conduct) is implied: tīrtha-snana—bathing/immersing in sacred waters as a prescribed dharmic act for purification—rather than a technical lesson in grammar or astrology.