Shloka 46
The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges
Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya
कुरुक्षेत्रसमा गंगा यत्र तत्रावगाहिता । हरिद्वारे प्रयागे च सिंधुसंगे फलाधिका ॥ ४६ ॥
kurukṣetrasamā gaṃgā yatra tatrāvagāhitā | haridvāre prayāge ca siṃdhusaṃge phalādhikā || 46 ||
গঙ্গায় যেখানে-সেখানে অবগাহন করলে তা কুরুক্ষেত্রসম পুণ্যদায়িনী বলে স্মৃত; আর হরিদ্বার, প্রয়াগ ও সিন্ধু-সঙ্গমে তার ফল আরও অধিক।
Narada (teaching within a Tirtha-Mahatmya discourse, traditionally conveyed in Purana dialogue)
Vrata: none
Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Awe at Gaṅgā’s equal sanctity everywhere settles into calm assurance, then rises again with heightened reverence for especially potent confluence-sites."}
FAQs
It elevates Gaṅgā-snāna as a universally potent tīrtha-practice, declaring that bathing in the Gaṅgā anywhere yields Kurukṣetra-level merit, while certain famed sites and confluences grant still higher spiritual फल (puṇya).
By praising Gaṅgā as a sanctifying tīrtha, the verse supports bhakti-oriented practice through pilgrimage, reverent bathing, and remembrance of the sacred—acts typically performed with devotion and surrender to the divine presence associated with tīrthas.
Ritual application (kalpa in practice) is implied: tīrtha-snāna is treated as a dharmic observance where place (deśa) and especially confluence (saṅgama) are said to intensify results, guiding how pilgrimage rites are prioritized.