Shloka 36
The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā
यो वै गंगां समाश्रित्य नित्यं तिष्ठति निर्भयः । स एव देवैर्मर्त्यैश्च पूजनीयो महर्षिभिः ॥ ३७ ॥
yo vai gaṃgāṃ samāśritya nityaṃ tiṣṭhati nirbhayaḥ | sa eva devairmartyaiśca pūjanīyo maharṣibhiḥ || 37 ||
Whoever takes refuge in the Gaṅgā and abides each day steadfast and fearless—he alone is worthy of worship by the gods, by mortals, and by the great ṛṣis.
Suta (narrating Narada Purana’s Uttara-Bhaga context; the verse praises Ganga as a tirtha)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It declares that steady refuge in the Gaṅgā (tīrtha-śaraṇāgati) grants inner fearlessness and elevates a person to a state worthy of reverence even by devas and great ṛṣis.
By emphasizing “taking refuge” (samāśritya), it frames tīrtha-sevā as a form of devotion—humble surrender to a sacred embodiment of divine grace—leading to steadfastness and spiritual honor.
Primarily kalpa-oriented practice is implied: tīrtha-related observances (snāna, vrata, dāna, and niyama). The verse is not technical in śikṣā/vyākaraṇa/jyotiṣa, but supports ritual discipline connected to sacred geography.