Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
Gaṅgāmāhātmya
सितासितोदकं तीर्थं ब्रह्माद्याः सर्वदेवताः । मुनयो मनवश्चैव सेवन्ते पुण्यकाङ्क्षिणः ॥ ६ ॥
sitāsitodakaṃ tīrthaṃ brahmādyāḥ sarvadevatāḥ | munayo manavaścaiva sevante puṇyakāṅkṣiṇaḥ || 6 ||
‘সিতাসিতোদক’ নামৰ এই তীৰ্থ পৰম পুণ্যদায়ক। ব্ৰহ্মা আদি সকলো দেৱতা, আৰু মুনি-মনুসকলেও—পুণ্যৰ কামনাৰে—ইয়াক সেৱন কৰে।
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
The verse elevates Sitāsitodaka as a supremely authoritative tīrtha by stating that Brahmā, the gods, sages, and the Manus themselves resort to it—implying that tirtha-sevā (pilgrimage and reverent use of sacred waters) is a direct means to gain puṇya within dharma.
While it is not a direct bhakti instruction, it supports bhakti-oriented practice by presenting tīrtha-sevā as an act of reverence: approaching a sacred place with faith and a pure intention (puṇya-kāṅkṣā) becomes a devotional discipline aligned with Purāṇic worship culture.
The verse primarily reflects ritual praxis (kalpa-oriented conduct) rather than a technical Vedāṅga lesson: it points to tīrtha usage—bathing/visiting sacred waters—as a recognized dhārmic procedure for accruing merit.