Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 114
Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā
य इदं पुण्यमाख्यानं महापातकनाशनम् । पठेच्च शृणुयाद्वापि गङ्गास्नानफलं लभेत् ॥ ११५ ॥
ya idaṃ puṇyamākhyānaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam | paṭhecca śṛṇuyādvāpi gaṅgāsnānaphalaṃ labhet || 115 ||
Sesiapa yang membaca kisah suci yang penuh pahala ini, yang memusnahkan dosa-dosa besar—atau sekadar mendengarnya—akan memperoleh pahala seperti mandi di Sungai Gaṅgā yang suci.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that śravaṇa (hearing) and pāṭha (recitation) of a purifying sacred narrative can confer tirtha-like merit—specifically the fruit of Gaṅgā-snāna—by destroying mahāpātakas (grave sins).
By elevating hearing and reciting sacred narration, it highlights a core bhakti practice: attentive listening to holy teachings (kathā/ākhyāna) as a direct means of inner purification and spiritual uplift.
The verse emphasizes ritual-and-practice principles rather than a specific Vedāṅga: the dhārmic efficacy of pāṭha and śravaṇa as sanctioned means to gain puṇya comparable to tīrtha-snāna.