Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 146

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release

Devanagari script

तस्मान्माहिम्ने विप्रेन्द्र गङ्गायाः शक्यते नहि । पारं गन्तुं सुराधीशैर्ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवरपि ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

tasmānmāhimne viprendra gaṅgāyāḥ śakyate nahi | pāraṃ gantuṃ surādhīśairbrahmaviṣṇuśivarapi || 46 ||

Translation

Vì thế, hỡi bậc Bà-la-môn tối thượng, sự vĩ đại của sông Gaṅgā không thể dò đến tận cùng—dẫu là các chúa tể chư thiên, thậm chí cả Brahmā, Viṣṇu và Śiva cũng không thể thấu triệt trọn vẹn.

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore/from that
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/masculine pronoun, Ablative (5th), Singular; used adverbially ‘therefore/from that’

• māhimne: to/for the greatness
• māhimne: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māhiman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; ‘for (her) greatness’

• vipra-indra: O lord of brāhmaṇas
• vipra-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th), Singular

• gaṅgāyāḥ: of Gaṅgā
• gaṅgāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• śakyate: is possible
• śakyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्), present, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person, Singular; impersonal passive sense ‘is possible’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (निपात)

• pāram: the far shore/limit
• pāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• gantum: to go/reach
• gantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to go’

• sura-adhīśaiḥ: by the lords of the gods
• sura-adhīśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + adhīśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• brahma-viṣṇu-śivaiḥ: by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva
• brahma-viṣṇu-śivaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmā (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; copulative

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle meaning ‘even/also’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares the Ganga’s mahimā as immeasurable, placing her sanctifying power beyond even divine calculation—thereby encouraging śraddhā, tirtha-sevā, and reliance on sacred grace for purification.

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

By affirming that Ganga’s glory surpasses even the gods’ comprehension, the verse promotes humble devotion—approaching the sacred with faith rather than pride in learning or status.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as a māhātmya statement supporting dharmic practice—especially tīrtha-yātrā and snāna—rather than grammar, astrology, or ritual procedure.