Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Gaṅgāmāhātmya

Devanagari script

क्षेत्राणामुत्तमं क्षेत्रं तीर्थानां च तथोत्तमम् । गङ्गायमुनयोर्योगं वदन्ति परमर्षयः ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

kṣetrāṇāmuttamaṃ kṣetraṃ tīrthānāṃ ca tathottamam | gaṅgāyamunayoryogaṃ vadanti paramarṣayaḥ || 5 ||

Translation

在一切圣域（kṣetra）之中，此处为最上之圣地；在一切朝圣渡口（tīrtha）之中，亦为至高——至上圣贤如是宣说：即恒河与阎牟那河的神圣汇合处。

Word by Word

• क्षेत्राणाम्: of (holy) fields/regions
• क्षेत्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन — Genitive plural

• उत्तमम्: best, supreme
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — agreeing with ‘क्षेत्रम्’

• क्षेत्रम्: (the) sacred place/region
• क्षेत्रम्: विधेय (Predicate nominative/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — Nominative/Accusative singular (here predicate nominative)

• तीर्थानाम्: of pilgrimage places
• तीर्थानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th), बहुवचन — Genitive plural

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय — conjunction

• तथा: likewise, so
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/उपमानवाचक — adverb ‘thus/likewise’

• उत्तमम्: supreme
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — agreeing with implied ‘(योगम्)’ as ‘best’

• गङ्गा-यमुनयोः: of the Ganga and Yamuna
• गङ्गा-यमुनयोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + यमुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (both), षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th), द्विवचन — Genitive dual; द्वन्द्वसमास (समाहार/इतरेतर) used as a pair-name

• योगम्: confluence, union
• योगम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• वदन्ति: say, declare
• वदन्ति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन — ‘they say’

• परमर्षयः: the great sages
• परमर्षयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — Nominative plural; कर्मधारय ‘supreme sages’

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; verse presented as a received declaration of the great sages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Yamuna

FAQs

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

It proclaims the Gaṅgā–Yamunā confluence as the highest of kṣetras and tīrthas, emphasizing that sacred geography can serve as a powerful support for purification (puṇya) and dharmic upliftment.

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

By glorifying a supreme tīrtha, the verse supports bhakti through pilgrimage, reverent bathing, and remembrance of sacred rivers—acts traditionally performed with devotion to the Lord and faith in dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily kalpa-style practical dharma: choosing an auspicious tīrtha for rites like snāna (ritual bathing) and related observances; no direct focus on vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa is stated in this verse.