Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
The Origin of the Gaṅgā and the Gods’ Defeat Caused by Bali
नारद उवाच । विष्णुपादाग्रसंभूता या गङ्गेत्यभिधीयते । तदुत्पत्तिं वद भ्रातरनुग्राह्योऽस्मि ते यदि ॥ १ ॥
nārada uvāca | viṣṇupādāgrasaṃbhūtā yā gaṅgetyabhidhīyate | tadutpattiṃ vada bhrātaranugrāhyo'smi te yadi || 1 ||
Nārada berkata: “Sungai yang disebut ‘Gaṅgā’ itu dikatakan muncul dari hujung tapak kaki Tuhan Viṣṇu. Wahai saudara, ceritakanlah kepadaku asal-usulnya—jika aku layak menerima rahmatmu.”
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It frames Ganga as divinely sourced—emerging from Vishnu—thereby establishing her as a supremely purifying tirtha whose sanctity is rooted in Vaishnava theology.
Narada approaches with humility and seeks instruction as a form of grace (anugraha), modeling the bhakti attitude: reverent inquiry, surrender, and dependence on the Lord and guru-like elders for sacred knowledge.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the Purana-method of dharmic learning—receiving tirtha-mahatmya through respectful questioning and authoritative narration.