Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11
The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months
Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana
वैशाखशुक्लसप्तम्यां जह्नुना जाह्नवी स्वयम् । क्रोधात्पीता पुनस्त्यक्ता कर्णरंध्रात्तु दक्षिणात् ॥ ११ ॥
vaiśākhaśuklasaptamyāṃ jahnunā jāhnavī svayam | krodhātpītā punastyaktā karṇaraṃdhrāttu dakṣiṇāt || 11 ||
En el séptimo día lunar (Saptamī) de la quincena luminosa de Vaiśākha, la propia Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā), por ira, fue bebida por el sabio Jahnu; y luego fue liberada de nuevo, saliendo por la abertura de su oído derecho.
Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)
Secondary Rasa: raudra (anger)
FAQs
It links sacred time (Vaiśākha Śukla Saptamī) with a tīrtha-origin episode, explaining why Gaṅgā is revered as “Jāhnavī” and emphasizing the Purāṇic view that holy rivers carry divine agency yet submit to ṛṣi-tejas (the spiritual power of sages).
Though not a direct bhakti injunction, it supports bhakti culture by grounding Gaṅgā’s sanctity in a remembered sacred narrative—encouraging श्रद्धा (faith) in tīrthas, vrata-days, and Purāṇic remembrance as devotional supports.
It highlights calendrical discipline—recognizing the tithi (Śukla Saptamī) within the lunar month Vaiśākha—useful for ritual timing (kāla-nirṇaya) that aligns with Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa-style practice.