Shloka 19
The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā
कृते तु सर्वतीर्थानि त्रेतायां पुष्करं परम् । द्वापरे तु कुरुक्षेत्रं कलौ गंगा विशिष्यते ॥ २० ॥
kṛte tu sarvatīrthāni tretāyāṃ puṣkaraṃ param | dvāpare tu kurukṣetraṃ kalau gaṃgā viśiṣyate || 20 ||
Pada Kṛta Yuga semua tīrtha menjadi utama; pada Tretā Yuga Puṣkara yang tertinggi; pada Dvāpara Yuga Kurukṣetra yang paling mulia; namun pada Kali Yuga, Gangga-lah yang paling istimewa.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It ranks the most efficacious tīrtha-focus by Yuga, teaching that in Kali Yuga the Gaṅgā is uniquely accessible and spiritually potent for purification and dharma through simple acts like reverent bathing and remembrance.
By highlighting Gaṅgā’s special status in Kali Yuga, it supports Kali-era bhakti practice: approachable sacred means (snāna, japa, smaraṇa) performed with faith, humility, and devotion rather than relying on difficult, elaborate disciplines.
It implies Kāla (time/yuga) discernment important for ritual application—choosing appropriate tīrtha and practice by era; this aligns with Vedāṅga concerns such as Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa (time-awareness) for dharmic observance.