Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
The Origin of the Gaṅgā and the Gods’ Defeat Caused by Bali
नारद उवाच । विष्णुपादाग्रसंभूता या गङ्गेत्यभिधीयते । तदुत्पत्तिं वद भ्रातरनुग्राह्योऽस्मि ते यदि ॥ १ ॥
nārada uvāca | viṣṇupādāgrasaṃbhūtā yā gaṅgetyabhidhīyate | tadutpattiṃ vada bhrātaranugrāhyo'smi te yadi || 1 ||
ನಾರದನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—‘ಗಂಗಾ’ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯಲ್ಪಡುವ ಆ ನದಿ ಶ್ರೀವಿಷ್ಣುವಿನ ಪಾದಾಗ್ರದಿಂದ ಉದ್ಭವಿಸಿದಳೆಂದು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಹೇ ಭ್ರಾತಾ, ನಾನು ನಿನ್ನ ಅನುಗ್ರಹಕ್ಕೆ ಯೋಗ್ಯನಾದರೆ ಅವಳ ಉತ್ಪತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಹೇಳು.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It frames Ganga as divinely sourced—emerging from Vishnu—thereby establishing her as a supremely purifying tirtha whose sanctity is rooted in Vaishnava theology.
Narada approaches with humility and seeks instruction as a form of grace (anugraha), modeling the bhakti attitude: reverent inquiry, surrender, and dependence on the Lord and guru-like elders for sacred knowledge.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the Purana-method of dharmic learning—receiving tirtha-mahatmya through respectful questioning and authoritative narration.