Shloka 17
The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges
Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya
यः स्मरेत्सततं गंगां स च मुच्येत बंधनात् । सहस्रयोजनस्थाश्च गंगां भक्त्या स्मरंति ये ॥ १७ ॥
yaḥ smaretsatataṃ gaṃgāṃ sa ca mucyeta baṃdhanāt | sahasrayojanasthāśca gaṃgāṃ bhaktyā smaraṃti ye || 17 ||
Whoever constantly remembers the Goddess Gaṅgā is freed from bondage. Even those a thousand yojanas away, if they remember Gaṅgā with devotion (bhakti), attain that same liberating benefit.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that Gaṅgā is not only a physical tīrtha but also a liberating presence accessible through smaraṇa (devotional remembrance), which can cut the bonds of saṁsāra.
The verse prioritizes bhaktyā smaraṇa—remembering Gaṅgā with devotion—as spiritually efficacious even without physical proximity, highlighting inner devotion over mere location.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is a sādhana principle—regular smaraṇa (recollection/japa-like mindfulness) as a simple devotional discipline connected to tīrtha-mahātmyas.