Shloka 10
The Account of the Fruits of Bathing at Particular Sacred Places
Tīrtha-viśeṣa-snāna-phala
द्वादश्यां श्रवणर्क्षे च अष्टम्यां पुष्ययोगतः । आर्द्रायां च चतुर्दश्यां गंगास्नानं सुदुर्लभम् ॥ १० ॥
dvādaśyāṃ śravaṇarkṣe ca aṣṭamyāṃ puṣyayogataḥ | ārdrāyāṃ ca caturdaśyāṃ gaṃgāsnānaṃ sudurlabham || 10 ||
A bath in the Gaṅgā is exceedingly rare (and supremely meritorious) when it is the Dvādaśī tithi under the Śravaṇa constellation, the Aṣṭamī tithi joined with the Puṣya yoga, and the Caturdaśī tithi under the Ārdrā constellation.
Sage Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that Gaṅgā-snāna becomes exceptionally potent when performed at specific tithi–nakṣatra–yoga alignments, indicating that sacred acts gain heightened fruit when harmonized with dharmic time (kāla).
By emphasizing Gaṅgā-snāna at sanctified times, it supports bhakti through disciplined observance—approaching the sacred (Gaṅgā) with faith, purity, and right timing as an offering-like act.
Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): it references tithi (Dvādaśī, Aṣṭamī, Caturdaśī), nakṣatra (Śravaṇa, Ārdrā), and yoga (Puṣya-yoga) as factors for selecting auspicious ritual timing.