Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
Gaṅgāmāhātmya
गङ्गाया महिमा ब्रह्मन्वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि । न शक्यते विष्णुनापि किमन्यैर्बहुभाषितैः ॥ २४ ॥
gaṅgāyā mahimā brahmanvaktuṃ varṣaśatairapi | na śakyate viṣṇunāpi kimanyairbahubhāṣitaiḥ || 24 ||
Wahai Brahmana, kemuliaan Gaṅgā tak dapat diuraikan tuntas meski selama ratusan tahun—bahkan oleh Viṣṇu sendiri; apalagi oleh orang lain, betapa pun banyaknya kata-kata mereka.
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as 'Brahman')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It declares that Gaṅgā’s sanctifying power is immeasurable—so vast that even divine speech cannot exhaust it—thereby establishing her as a supreme tīrtha for purification and dharma.
By placing Gaṅgā’s glory beyond ordinary praise and even beyond Viṣṇu’s complete description, the verse cultivates reverence (śraddhā) and humble devotion—key attitudes that mature bhakti.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is tīrtha-dharma—honoring sacred geography and the discipline of holy bathing (snāna) and pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā).