Shloka 12

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

तद्गंगादर्शनादेव कलौ प्राहुर्महर्षयः । अथ ते स्मरणस्यापि गंगाया भूपभामिनि ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

tadgaṃgādarśanādeva kalau prāhurmaharṣayaḥ | atha te smaraṇasyāpi gaṃgāyā bhūpabhāmini || 12 ||

Translation

大圣贤宣说：在迦利时代，仅仅瞻见恒河（Gaṅgā）便能获得那般功德。又复，噢光辉的王后，即使忆念恒河，也同样得福。

Word by Word

• तत्: that (act/thing)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• गङ्गा-दर्शनात्: from seeing the Ganga
• गङ्गा-दर्शनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5th case/ablative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): गङ्गायाः दर्शनम् → गङ्गादर्शनम्; तस्मात् (from seeing the Ganga)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphatic

• कलौ: in the Kali age
• कलौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन

• प्राहुः: said/declare
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• महर्षयः: great sages
• महर्षयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/nominative), बहुवचन

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्मरणस्य: of remembrance
• स्मरणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थ (also/even)

• गङ्गायाः: of the Ganga
• गङ्गायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• भूप-भामिनि: O queen (beloved of the king)
• भूप-भामिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक) + भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भूपस्य भामिनी (O king’s beloved/queen)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the Ganga Mahatmya narrative; addressing a royal lady/queen as 'bhūpabhāmini')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Maharshis
• Kali Yuga

FAQs

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

It teaches that in Kali Yuga, spiritual benefit is accessible through simple, sincere acts—especially seeing the holy Gaṅgā, and even remembering her—highlighting the extraordinary sanctity of this tīrtha.

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

By emphasizing smaraṇa (remembrance) as efficacious, the verse aligns with bhakti practice: inward recollection and reverence can yield merit even without elaborate rites, making devotion practicable in Kali Yuga.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technicality is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharma of Kali Yuga—tīrtha-darśana and nāma/smaraṇa-based practice as simplified, accessible means of accruing puṇya.