Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
Gaṅgāmāhātmya
कदा यास्याम्यहं गङ्गां कदा पश्यामि तामहम् । वाञ्च्छत्यपि च यो ह्येवं सोऽपि विष्णुपदं व्रजेत् ॥ २३ ॥
kadā yāsyāmyahaṃ gaṅgāṃ kadā paśyāmi tāmaham | vāñcchatyapi ca yo hyevaṃ so'pi viṣṇupadaṃ vrajet || 23 ||
“Bilakah aku akan pergi ke Gaṅgā? Bilakah aku akan memandangnya?” Bahkan orang yang hanya merindui demikian pun akan menuju ke Viṣṇupada, kediaman Viṣṇu.
Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara and the Sanaka brothers)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
The verse teaches that sincere inner longing for a sacred tirtha like the Gaṅgā—rooted in faith—has liberating power; even the wish to behold her is counted as spiritually efficacious and leads to Viṣṇu’s supreme abode (viṣṇu-pada).
It highlights bhakti as heartfelt yearning (vāñchā) directed toward sacred realities connected with Viṣṇu; devotion is not only external travel or ritual, but an inner orientation that itself becomes a means to grace and mokṣa.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is directly taught here; the practical takeaway is tirtha-oriented dharma—cultivating intention and remembrance of sacred places as a bhakti practice.