Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
Gaṅgāmāhātmya
अतीव दुर्ल्लभा नॄणां गायत्री जाह्नवी तथा । तथैव तुलसीभक्तिर्हरिभक्तिश्च सात्त्विकी ॥ ६६ ॥
atīva durllabhā nṝṇāṃ gāyatrī jāhnavī tathā | tathaiva tulasībhaktirharibhaktiśca sāttvikī || 66 ||
मनुष्यों के लिए अत्यन्त दुर्लभ हैं—गायत्री-भक्ति और जाह्नवी (गङ्गा) का पूजन; वैसे ही तुलसी-भक्ति तथा हरि की सात्त्विक (शुद्ध) भक्ति भी दुर्लभ है।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It ranks four practices as exceptionally rare among humans—Gāyatrī-upāsanā, reverence for the Gaṅgā, devotion to Tulasī, and especially sāttvika (pure) devotion to Hari—implying they arise from great merit and lead toward purification and liberation.
Bhakti is presented not as a common sentiment but as a refined sāttvika state directed to Hari; supportive Vaiṣṇava markers—Tulasī-sevā and sacred-tīrtha reverence (Gaṅgā)—are highlighted as aids that nurture and authenticate devotion.
Mantra-practice is implied through Gāyatrī: correct recitation and disciplined japa align with Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (linguistic correctness), ensuring the mantra is preserved and applied as a valid Vedic sādhana.