Shloka 39

The Account of the Fruits of Bathing at Particular Sacred Places

Tīrtha-viśeṣa-snāna-phala

Devanagari script

हरेर्दक्षिणपादाब्जक्षालनादमरापगा । वामपादोद्भवा वापि सरयूर्मानसप्रसूः ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

harerdakṣiṇapādābjakṣālanādamarāpagā | vāmapādodbhavā vāpi sarayūrmānasaprasūḥ || 39 ||

Translation

由洗涤哈利（Hari）莲华般的右足而生起天界之河——恒河（Gaṅgā）；而由其左足又生起娑罗由（Sarayū），由心意所生，即凭神圣意志而显现。

Word by Word

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• दक्षिणपादाब्जक्षालनात्: from the washing of the lotus-foot (right foot)
• दक्षिणपादाब्जक्षालनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण-पाद-अब्ज-क्षालन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः (बहु-तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला) ‘दक्षिणस्य पादस्य अब्जस्य क्षालनम्’

• अमरापगा: the river of the gods (Gaṅgā)
• अमरापगा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर-अपगा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘अमराणाम् अपगा’

• वामपादोद्भवा: arisen from the left foot
• वामपादोद्भवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम-पाद-उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘वामपादात् उद्भवा’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (particle: ‘also/even’)

• सरयूः: Sarayū (river)
• सरयूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरयू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मानसप्रसूः: mind-born
• मानसप्रसूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस-प्रसू (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘मानसात् प्रसूः/प्रसूता’ (mind-born)

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Ganga (Amarapagā)
• Sarayu

FAQs

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

It grounds tīrtha-mahātmyas in Viṣṇu: sacred rivers are not merely geographic, but manifestations connected to Hari, making bathing and remembrance acts of devotion that generate puṇya.

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

By identifying Gaṅgā and Sarayū as arising from Hari, the verse turns reverence for tīrthas into Viṣṇu-bhakti—honoring the river becomes honoring the Lord who is its source.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it primarily supports tīrtha-related practice (snāna, tīrtha-sevā) within dharma and pilgrimage traditions.