Shloka 17
Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri
Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya
अतः सा प्रोच्यते ह्यन्तर्गङ्गेति परमर्षिभिः / कन्ये त्वस्यास्तु सलिलं श्रीनिनिवासप्रियं सदा
ataḥ sā procyate hyantargaṅgeti paramarṣibhiḥ / kanye tvasyāstu salilaṃ śrīninivāsapriyaṃ sadā
Oleh sebab itu para resi agung menamakannya ‘Gaṅgā di Dalam’. Wahai anak dara, semoga air suci ini sentiasa dikasihi oleh Śrīnivāsa (Tuhan Viṣṇu).
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Sacred waters become most potent when oriented toward Viṣṇu; naming and remembering (saṃjñā) sanctifies perception and practice.
Vedantic Theme: Viṣṇu as the inner beloved (antaryāmin resonance) to whom all pure offerings naturally tend.
Application: When visiting tirthas, consciously dedicate the act (snāna/ācamana) to Viṣṇu; cultivate nāma-smaraṇa and a devotional intention.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha/inner sacred stream
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.27.16 (Bhāgīrathī flows here); Garuda Purana 3.27.18 (snāna gives highest gati)
FAQs
This verse states that the highest sages designate the stream as ‘Antar-Ganga’ (Inner Gaṅgā), emphasizing its exceptional purificatory status and tirtha-value.
It explicitly says the water is always dear to Śrīnivāsa (Viṣṇu), indicating that reverence to such tīrtha-water supports Vaiṣṇava devotion and ritual purity.
Treat tīrtha-water and sacred sources with reverence, use holy water thoughtfully in worship and rites, and cultivate ‘inner purity’—the spirit implied by calling it the ‘Inner Gaṅgā’.