Shloka 26
The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā
मेरोः सुवर्णस्य च सर्वरत्नैः संख्योपलानामुदकस्य वापि । गंगाजलानां न तु शक्तिरस्ति वक्तुं गुणाख्यापरिमाणमत्र ॥ २७ ॥
meroḥ suvarṇasya ca sarvaratnaiḥ saṃkhyopalānāmudakasya vāpi | gaṃgājalānāṃ na tu śaktirasti vaktuṃ guṇākhyāparimāṇamatra || 27 ||
Selbst wenn man das Gold des Berges Meru, alle Edelsteine, unzählige Kiesel und sogar das Wasser selbst heranzöge, gibt es doch keine Kraft, die hier das Maß und die Weite der Vorzüge der Wasser der Gaṅgā vollständig auszusprechen vermöchte.
Narada (within a Narada–Sanatkumara style teaching frame; Book 2 commonly presents tirtha-mahatmya narration)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It declares the Gaṅgā’s sanctifying power as immeasurable—beyond any material means of counting or describing—thereby establishing her waters as a supreme tirtha for purification and merit (puṇya).
By praising Gaṅgā as indescribably sacred, it encourages reverent remembrance, glorification (stuti), and faith-filled approach to holy places—devotional attitudes that support Viṣṇu-bhakti through tirtha-sevā and śraddhā.
Rather than a technical Vedāṅga lesson, the verse uses the idea of “saṃkhyā” (counting/measure) to stress that spiritual potency cannot be fully captured by quantification—guiding ritual practice toward faith and right intention in tirtha-related observances.