Shloka 46

The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges

Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya

Devanagari script

कुरुक्षेत्रसमा गंगा यत्र तत्रावगाहिता । हरिद्वारे प्रयागे च सिंधुसंगे फलाधिका ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

kurukṣetrasamā gaṃgā yatra tatrāvagāhitā | haridvāre prayāge ca siṃdhusaṃge phalādhikā || 46 ||

Translation

恒河无论在何处入水沐浴，其功德皆等同于俱卢之地（Kurukṣetra）；而在哈利德瓦尔、在普拉亚伽，以及与信度河汇合之处，其果报更为殊胜。

Word by Word

• कुरुक्षेत्र-समाः: equal to Kurukshetra (in merit)
• कुरुक्षेत्र-समाः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Predicate adjective of गङ्गा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुरुक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘सम’ = तुल्य (equal); समास: ‘कुरुक्षेत्रेण समा’

• गङ्गा: the Ganga
• गङ्गा: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: ‘where’)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (correlative adverb: ‘there’)

• अवगाहिता: is entered/immersed (for bathing)
• अवगाहिता: विधेय (Predicate; with गङ्गा understood as locus of bathing)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवगाहित (कृदन्त; अव√गाह् क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त/क्त; कर्मणि-भाव: ‘(is) bathed/immersed in’

• हरि-द्वारे: at Haridwar
• हरि-द्वारे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिद्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थाननाम), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रयागे: at Prayaga
• प्रयागे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (स्थाननाम), सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सिन्धु-सङ्गे: at the confluence with the Sindhu
• सिन्धु-सङ्गे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘सङ्ग’ = संगम/संयोग (confluence)

• फल-अधिका: more fruitful (bestowing greater merit)
• फल-अधिका: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Predicate adjective of गङ्गा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘फलाधिक’ = अधिकफलदायिनी (yielding greater fruit)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a Tirtha-Mahatmya discourse, traditionally conveyed in Purana dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Kurukshetra
• Haridvara
• Prayaga
• Sindhu

FAQs

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

It elevates Gaṅgā-snāna as a universally potent tīrtha-practice, declaring that bathing in the Gaṅgā anywhere yields Kurukṣetra-level merit, while certain famed sites and confluences grant still higher spiritual फल (puṇya).

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

By praising Gaṅgā as a sanctifying tīrtha, the verse supports bhakti-oriented practice through pilgrimage, reverent bathing, and remembrance of the sacred—acts typically performed with devotion and surrender to the divine presence associated with tīrthas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa in practice) is implied: tīrtha-snāna is treated as a dharmic observance where place (deśa) and especially confluence (saṅgama) are said to intensify results, guiding how pilgrimage rites are prioritized.