Shloka 37
The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges
Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya
तत्फलं लभते मर्त्यो गङ्गास्नानान्न संशयः । महापातकसंयुक्तो युक्तो वा सर्वपातकैः ॥ ३७ ॥
tatphalaṃ labhate martyo gaṅgāsnānānna saṃśayaḥ | mahāpātakasaṃyukto yukto vā sarvapātakaiḥ || 37 ||
A mortal surely gains that saving fruit from bathing in the Gaṅgā—of this there is no doubt. Even one stained with great sins, or burdened with all sins, attains it.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It asserts the extraordinary purificatory potency (tīrtha-māhātmya) of Gaṅgā-snāna: the promised spiritual fruit is attainable even for those heavily burdened by sin, emphasizing grace through sacred contact.
While framed as a tīrtha teaching, it supports bhakti-oriented practice by highlighting faith and surrender to a sacred form (Gaṅgā as a divine tīrtha), where sincere approach brings transformative merit beyond one’s prior faults.
Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: tīrtha-snāna as a purificatory act used within dharma and prāyaścitta frameworks, especially in pilgrimage and vow-based observances.