Shloka 126
Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank
गंगा तीरसमुद्भूतां मृदं मूर्घ्ना बिभर्ति यः । बिभर्ति रूपं सोऽर्कस्य तमोनाशाय केवलम् ॥ १२६ ॥
gaṃgā tīrasamudbhūtāṃ mṛdaṃ mūrghnā bibharti yaḥ | bibharti rūpaṃ so'rkasya tamonāśāya kevalam || 126 ||
Whoever bears upon his head the clay that has arisen from the bank of the Gaṅgā, he bears the very form of the Sun—solely for the destruction of darkness (ignorance and impurity).
Sūta (narrating the Narada Purana dialogue/tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that even a simple tirtha-observance—reverently wearing Gaṅgā-bank clay on the head—symbolizes inner purification, equating the practitioner with the Sun’s power to dispel darkness, i.e., sin, impurity, and ignorance.
By honoring Gaṅgā as a sacred manifestation and performing a humble act of reverence, the devotee aligns with divine purity; such faith-filled tirtha practices support bhakti by cultivating surrender, sanctity, and remembrance of the sacred.
This verse primarily reflects kalpa (ritual practice) through a tirtha-related observance; it also uses a symbolic correspondence (Sun = remover of darkness) that is common in jyotiṣa-informed religious imagery, though no technical astrology is taught here.