Shloka 37
The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā
किमष्टांगेन योगेन किं तपोभिः किमध्वरैः । वास एव हि गंगायां सर्वतोऽपि विशिष्यते ॥ ३८ ॥
kimaṣṭāṃgena yogena kiṃ tapobhiḥ kimadhvaraiḥ | vāsa eva hi gaṃgāyāṃ sarvato'pi viśiṣyate || 38 ||
ಅಷ್ಟಾಂಗಯೋಗದಿಂದ ಏನು, ತಪಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಏನು, ಯಜ್ಞಗಳಿಂದ ಏನು? ಗಂಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸಮಾತ್ರವೇ ಎಲ್ಲಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠವಾಗಿದೆ।
Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context; commonly framed within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It elevates tirtha-seva—specifically living by the Ganga—as a uniquely powerful purifier, presenting it as surpassing even formal yoga, tapas, and Vedic sacrifice in spiritual efficacy.
By praising simple, faith-filled association with a sacred tirtha (the Ganga), it supports the Narada Purana’s bhakti-oriented principle that grace and purification can arise through devoted proximity and reverence, not only through strenuous disciplines.
It implicitly references Śrauta practice (adhvara-yajña) and yogic discipline (aṣṭāṅga-yoga) as established paths, then teaches a practical dharma takeaway: tirtha-vāsa at the Ganga is presented as an especially effective sādhanā within the Purāṇic framework.