Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
Gaṅgāmāhātmya
गङ्गा पुण्यनदी ज्ञेया यतो विष्णुपदोद्भवा । रविजा यमुना ब्रह्मंस्तयोर्योगः शुभावहः ॥ ७ ॥
gaṅgā puṇyanadī jñeyā yato viṣṇupadodbhavā | ravijā yamunā brahmaṃstayoryogaḥ śubhāvahaḥ || 7 ||
اعلم أن الغانغا نهرٌ بالغ القداسة، إذ ينبثق من قدمي فيشنو. وأما اليامونا فهي مولودة من الشمس، أيها البرهمي؛ وملتقى النهرين جالبٌ لليُمن وواهِبٌ للخير.
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as 'brahman')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It identifies Gaṅgā as uniquely purifying because she is said to originate from Viṣṇu’s feet, and it treats the meeting (saṅgama) of Gaṅgā and Yamunā as a special tirtha that generates auspicious spiritual merit (puṇya).
By linking Gaṅgā directly to Viṣṇu (viṣṇu-pada-udbhavā), the verse frames reverence for sacred rivers and pilgrimage as acts that support Viṣṇu-bhakti—devotion expressed through honoring what is connected to the Lord.
Primarily Kalpa in practice: it points to tirtha-snāna and saṅgama worship as auspicious rites, guiding where ritual bathing and pilgrimage are considered especially fruitful.