Shloka 18
The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges
Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya
गंगागंगेति चाक्रुश्य मुच्यंते तेऽपि पातकात् । ये च स्मरंति वै गंगां गंगाभक्तिपराश्च ये ॥ १८ ॥
gaṃgāgaṃgeti cākruśya mucyaṃte te'pi pātakāt | ye ca smaraṃti vai gaṃgāṃ gaṃgābhaktiparāśca ye || 18 ||
যারা শুধু “গঙ্গা, গঙ্গা” বলে ডাক দেয়, তারাও পাপ থেকে মুক্ত হয়। আর যারা সত্যিই গঙ্গাকে স্মরণ করে এবং যারা গঙ্গাভক্তিতে অবিচল, তারাও পাপফল থেকে মুক্ত হয়।
Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya narration)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches that the Ganga’s sanctity is so potent that even vocal remembrance (calling her name) and mental remembrance (smaraṇa) can destroy sin (pātaka) and lead to purification.
It elevates bhakti as an accessible practice: devotion expressed through nāma-ucchāraṇa (uttering the name) and smaraṇa (remembrance) becomes a direct means to inner cleansing and spiritual merit in the tirtha-mahatmya context.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught here; the practical takeaway is ritual-spiritual discipline—nāma-japa and smaraṇa as simple, repeatable practices connected with tirtha worship.