Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

सर्वमेतदशेषेण भ्रातर्मे वक्तुमर्हसि । श्रृण्वतां वदतां चैव गङ्गाख्यानं शुभावहम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

sarvametadaśeṣeṇa bhrātarme vaktumarhasi | śrṛṇvatāṃ vadatāṃ caiva gaṅgākhyānaṃ śubhāvaham || 2 ||

Translation

兄长啊，请将这一切毫无遗漏地宣说。因为恒河（Gaṅgā）的圣传，能为聆听者与诵读者同样带来吉祥。

Word by Word

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• aśeṣeṇa: entirely/without remainder
• aśeṣeṇa: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Used adverbially; Instrumental Singular

• bhrātaḥ: O brother
• bhrātaḥ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• me: to me
• me: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी) or Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vaktum: to tell/speak
• vaktum: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + tumun (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Infinitive

• arhasi: you deserve/ought
• arhasi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Parasmaipada, Madhyama Purusha (2nd), Singular

• śṛṇvatām: of those listening
• śṛṇvatām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śru (धातु) + śatṛ (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; Present Participle

• vadatām: of those speaking
• vadatām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vad (धातु) + śatṛ (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; Present Participle

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic Particle

• gaṅgākhyānam: story of Ganga
• gaṅgākhyānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śubhāvaham: bringing auspiciousness
• śubhāvaham: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhāvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Narada (addressing a Sanatkumara brother)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It declares the Gaṅgā-kathā (Gaṅgā’s sacred narrative) to be inherently śubhāvaha—bringing auspiciousness—especially through the core devotional acts of hearing (śravaṇa) and recitation (kīrtana/pāṭha).

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

By praising listening and reciting sacred narration, it aligns with bhakti’s practical limbs—śravaṇa and kīrtana—showing that devotion grows through attentive reception and faithful repetition of holy accounts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes the discipline of correct recitation and oral transmission (connected with Śikṣā—phonetics/pronunciation), since the verse specifically values both hearing and speaking the sacred account.