Shloka 52

The Greatness of Haridvāra

Gaṅgādvāra-māhātmya

Devanagari script

यस्तत्र नियतो मर्त्यो गंगानामसहस्रकम् । त्रिकालं पठति स्नात्वा सोऽक्षयां संततिं लभेत् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

yastatra niyato martyo gaṃgānāmasahasrakam | trikālaṃ paṭhati snātvā so'kṣayāṃ saṃtatiṃ labhet || 52 ||

Translation

凡在彼处守持戒律之人，沐浴后每日三时诵读《恒河千名》，便得不坏之世系（子孙绵延不断）。

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (there)

• नियतः: disciplined
• नियतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (disciplined/observant)

• मर्त्यः: mortal man
• मर्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गङ्गानामसहस्रकम्: the thousand names of Ganga
• गङ्गानामसहस्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + नाम + सहस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गङ्गायाः नाम्नां सहस्रकम् = a thousand names of Ganga)

• त्रिकालम्: thrice daily
• त्रिकालम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषणम् (त्रिषु कालेषु = three times a day)

• पठति: recites
• पठति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having bathed)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अक्षयाम्: imperishable
• अक्षयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (imperishable)

• सन्ततिम्: progeny/lineage
• सन्ततिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue with Sanatkumara, within the Uttara-Bhaga tīrtha-mahātmya narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

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

It teaches a tīrtha-based sādhana: disciplined bathing (snāna) followed by Gaṅgā-sahasranāma recitation at the three daily junctions, promising akṣaya-saṃtati—enduring continuity and auspicious flourishing of one’s lineage.

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

By prescribing repeated name-recitation (nāma-japa/paṭha) focused on Gaṅgā as a sacred divine presence, it frames devotion as steady daily practice (niyama) supported by purity through snāna.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the rule of snāna followed by trikāla recitation, and Jyotiṣa/time-discipline is reflected in observing the three daily times (morning–midday–evening) for the practice.