Shloka 48
The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges
Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya
यो गृहे स्वे स्थितोऽपि त्वां स्नाने संकीर्तयिष्यति । सोऽपि यास्यति नाकं वै इत्याह वरुणश्च ताम् ॥ ४८ ॥
yo gṛhe sve sthito'pi tvāṃ snāne saṃkīrtayiṣyati | so'pi yāsyati nākaṃ vai ityāha varuṇaśca tām || 48 ||
Selbst wer in seinem eigenen Haus bleibt—wenn er zur Zeit des Bades deinen Namen lobpreisend singt—wird auch er gewiss Nāka, den Himmel, erreichen. So sprach Varuṇa zu ihr.
Varuṇa
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that sacred merit is not limited by location: even at home, combining bathing (snāna) with devotional praise (saṃkīrtana) yields exalted spiritual fruit—here stated as attainment of heaven.
By emphasizing saṃkīrtana—audible, heartfelt glorification—as a potent act of devotion that sanctifies an ordinary daily act (bathing) and makes the benefit accessible to all, not only to pilgrims.
Kalpa (ritual discipline) is implied: the timing and manner of snāna, joined with recitation/chanting, shows how daily rites become spiritually efficacious through correct observance and intentional remembrance.