Shloka 26
The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā
मेरोः सुवर्णस्य च सर्वरत्नैः संख्योपलानामुदकस्य वापि । गंगाजलानां न तु शक्तिरस्ति वक्तुं गुणाख्यापरिमाणमत्र ॥ २७ ॥
meroḥ suvarṇasya ca sarvaratnaiḥ saṃkhyopalānāmudakasya vāpi | gaṃgājalānāṃ na tu śaktirasti vaktuṃ guṇākhyāparimāṇamatra || 27 ||
ಮೇರುಪರ್ವತದ ಚಿನ್ನ, ಎಲ್ಲಾ ರತ್ನಗಳು, ಎಣಿಸಲಾಗದ ಕಲ್ಲುಗಳು, ನೀರೇ ಆದರೂ—ಇವೆಲ್ಲ ಇದ್ದರೂ ಗಂಗಾಜಲದ ಗುಣಗಳ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ-ಮಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಇಲ್ಲ.
Narada (within a Narada–Sanatkumara style teaching frame; Book 2 commonly presents tirtha-mahatmya narration)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It declares the Gaṅgā’s sanctifying power as immeasurable—beyond any material means of counting or describing—thereby establishing her waters as a supreme tirtha for purification and merit (puṇya).
By praising Gaṅgā as indescribably sacred, it encourages reverent remembrance, glorification (stuti), and faith-filled approach to holy places—devotional attitudes that support Viṣṇu-bhakti through tirtha-sevā and śraddhā.
Rather than a technical Vedāṅga lesson, the verse uses the idea of “saṃkhyā” (counting/measure) to stress that spiritual potency cannot be fully captured by quantification—guiding ritual practice toward faith and right intention in tirtha-related observances.