Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
Gaṅgāmāhātmya
कदा यास्याम्यहं गङ्गां कदा पश्यामि तामहम् । वाञ्च्छत्यपि च यो ह्येवं सोऽपि विष्णुपदं व्रजेत् ॥ २३ ॥
kadā yāsyāmyahaṃ gaṅgāṃ kadā paśyāmi tāmaham | vāñcchatyapi ca yo hyevaṃ so'pi viṣṇupadaṃ vrajet || 23 ||
“মই কেতিয়া গঙ্গালৈ যাম? কেতিয়া মই তাইক দৰ্শন কৰিম?”—এদৰে কেৱল আকাঙ্ক্ষা কৰা লোকেও বিষ্ণুপদ লাভ কৰে।
Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara and the Sanaka brothers)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
The verse teaches that sincere inner longing for a sacred tirtha like the Gaṅgā—rooted in faith—has liberating power; even the wish to behold her is counted as spiritually efficacious and leads to Viṣṇu’s supreme abode (viṣṇu-pada).
It highlights bhakti as heartfelt yearning (vāñchā) directed toward sacred realities connected with Viṣṇu; devotion is not only external travel or ritual, but an inner orientation that itself becomes a means to grace and mokṣa.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is directly taught here; the practical takeaway is tirtha-oriented dharma—cultivating intention and remembrance of sacred places as a bhakti practice.