Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
Gaṅgāmāhātmya
गङ्गा पुण्यनदी ज्ञेया यतो विष्णुपदोद्भवा । रविजा यमुना ब्रह्मंस्तयोर्योगः शुभावहः ॥ ७ ॥
gaṅgā puṇyanadī jñeyā yato viṣṇupadodbhavā | ravijā yamunā brahmaṃstayoryogaḥ śubhāvahaḥ || 7 ||
ಗಂಗೆಯನ್ನು ಪರಮ ಪುಣ್ಯನದಿಯಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಯಬೇಕು, ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಅವಳು ವಿಷ್ಣುಪಾದದಿಂದ ಉದ್ಭವಿಸಿದಳು. ಓ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ, ಯಮುನಾ ಸೂರ್ಯಜ; ಇವರ ಸಂಗಮವು ಶುಭಪ್ರದ।
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as 'brahman')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It identifies Gaṅgā as uniquely purifying because she is said to originate from Viṣṇu’s feet, and it treats the meeting (saṅgama) of Gaṅgā and Yamunā as a special tirtha that generates auspicious spiritual merit (puṇya).
By linking Gaṅgā directly to Viṣṇu (viṣṇu-pada-udbhavā), the verse frames reverence for sacred rivers and pilgrimage as acts that support Viṣṇu-bhakti—devotion expressed through honoring what is connected to the Lord.
Primarily Kalpa in practice: it points to tirtha-snāna and saṅgama worship as auspicious rites, guiding where ritual bathing and pilgrimage are considered especially fruitful.