Shloka 34
The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā
प्रवेशमात्रे गंगायां स्नानार्थं भक्तितो नृणाम् । ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि हाहेत्युक्त्वा प्रयांत्यलम् ॥ ३५ ॥
praveśamātre gaṃgāyāṃ snānārthaṃ bhaktito nṛṇām | brahmahatyādipāpāni hāhetyuktvā prayāṃtyalam || 35 ||
Dès que les hommes entrent dans la Gaṅgā avec dévotion pour s’y baigner, des péchés tels que le brahmahatyā (meurtre d’un brāhmane) s’écrient «Hélas !» et s’en vont entièrement.
Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue tradition; Ganga-Mahatmya narration)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that Gaṅgā is a supremely purifying tīrtha: even the intention to bathe in her waters with devotion initiates the removal of grave sins, emphasizing her role as a conduit of divine purification.
The verse makes bhakti (devout disposition) the key condition—purification is linked not merely to water-contact but to entering for snāna with heartfelt devotion, aligning ritual action with inner surrender.
It reflects kalpa-oriented ritual practice: tīrtha-snānā (sacred bathing) performed with proper saṅkalpa (intention) and bhakti is presented as a prescribed means for pāpa-kṣaya (remission of sin).