Shloka 53

The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

देवाः सोमार्कसंस्थानि यथा शक्रादयो मुखैः । अमृतान्युपभुंजंति तथा गंगाजलं नराः ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

devāḥ somārkasaṃsthāni yathā śakrādayo mukhaiḥ | amṛtānyupabhuṃjaṃti tathā gaṃgājalaṃ narāḥ || 54 ||

Translation

Như Indra (Śakra) và các chư thiên khác thọ hưởng cam lộ trong các cõi của Mặt Trăng và Mặt Trời, thì con người cũng thọ hưởng nước sông Gaṅgā như vậy.

Word by Word

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सोम-अर्क-संस्थानि: abodes/places of Soma and the Sun
• सोम-अर्क-संस्थानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (सोमश्च अर्कश्च; तयोः संस्थानानि/स्थानानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative: as/just as)

• शक्र-आदयः: Indra and others
• शक्र-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शक्रः आदिः येषाम्/शक्रादयः = ‘Indra and others’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मुखैः: with (their) mouths
• मुखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण

• अमृतानि: nectars/ambrosia
• अमृतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• उपभुञ्जन्ति: enjoy/consume
• उपभुञ्जन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: so/in the same way
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुलनावाचक-अव्यय (so/in the same way)

• गङ्गा-जलं: Ganga water
• गङ्गा-जलं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘गङ्गायाः जलम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नराः: men
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context; dialogue tradition associated with Narada’s narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shakra (Indra)
• Soma (Moon)
• Arka (Sun)
• Ganga

FAQs

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

The verse elevates Ganga-water to an amrita-like status for humans, implying that contact and reverent use of Gaṅgā-jala grants purification and sacred merit comparable (in human context) to the divine enjoyment of nectar.

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

By presenting Gaṅgā-jala as a divine gift accessible to people, it supports bhakti through reverent engagement with a Vishnu-associated tirtha—honoring the Ganga becomes a tangible act of devotion expressed through faith, gratitude, and purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied: the disciplined use of sacred water in achamana and tirtha-sevana aligns with kalpa-oriented observance (ritual procedure), emphasizing purity rules and proper sacred conduct rather than technical astrology or grammar.