Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 136
गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
ततश्च शिवमाराध्य तद्द्वारा स्वर्णदीं भुवम् । आनीय तज्जलैः स्पृष्ट्वा पूतान्निन्ये दिवं पितॄन् ॥ १३६ ॥
tataśca śivamārādhya taddvārā svarṇadīṃ bhuvam | ānīya tajjalaiḥ spṛṣṭvā pūtānninye divaṃ pitṝn || 136 ||
Dann verehrte er Śiva; durch Śivas Gnade brachte er die Svarṇadī zur Erde. Indem er die Ahnen mit ihrem Wasser berührte, reinigte er die Pitṛs und führte sie gen Himmel.
Narada (narrative voice within the Purva Bhaga dialogue tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It highlights that sincere worship of Śiva, combined with contact with sanctifying tīrtha-waters, can purify the Pitṛs and aid their ascent to higher realms (svarga), emphasizing the power of devotion plus ritual purity.
Bhakti is shown as effective and grace-giving: by ārādhana (devout propitiation) of Śiva, the devotee gains divine assistance (“through Śiva’s means”) to accomplish a dharmic goal—uplifting the ancestors.
It points to kalpa-style ritual application: purification through sacred waters and ancestor-rites (Pitṛ-kriyā such as tarpaṇa/sparśa), where correct procedural performance is central to the intended spiritual result.