Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
Gaṅgāmāhātmya
गङ्गा च तुलसी चैव हरिभक्तिरचञ्चला । अत्यन्तदुर्ल्लभा नॄणां भक्तिर्द्धर्मप्रवक्तरि ॥ २१ ॥
gaṅgā ca tulasī caiva haribhaktiracañcalā | atyantadurllabhā nṝṇāṃ bhaktirddharmapravaktari || 21 ||
गंगा, तुळशी आणि हरिभक्ती अचल—ही सर्व मनुष्यांस अत्यंत दुर्लभ; तसेच सद्धर्म सांगणाऱ्या गुरूमध्ये भक्तीही फारच दुर्मिळ आहे।
Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It declares that access to purifying sacred supports—Gaṅgā, Tulasī, and especially steady devotion to Hari—is not merely common good fortune but a rare spiritual attainment, implying past merit and sincere practice.
Bhakti is presented as ‘acañcalā’ (unwavering), meaning devotion that does not oscillate with circumstances; the verse elevates such steadiness as the true rarity, even above external signs of religiosity.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharmic discernment—seeking and honoring a dharma-proclaimer (teacher) as a necessary support for steady Vaiṣṇava bhakti.