Shloka 26
The Greatness of Haridvāra
Gaṅgādvāra-māhātmya
अथ यास्तत्रगां दद्याद्बाह्यणे वेदपारगे । स कदाचिन्न पश्येत्तु देवि वैतरणीं यमम् ॥ २६ ॥
atha yāstatragāṃ dadyādbāhyaṇe vedapārage | sa kadācinna paśyettu devi vaitaraṇīṃ yamam || 26 ||
Wahai Dewi, sesiapa yang di sana mendermakan seekor lembu kepada seorang Brāhmaṇa yang mahir dalam Veda—orang itu tidak akan pernah melihat sungai Vaitaraṇī yang menggerunkan, dan tidak akan berhadapan dengan Yama.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that properly performed charity—specifically go-dāna to a truly Veda-learned Brāhmaṇa at a sacred place—removes fear of post-death suffering and the punitive jurisdiction of Yama.
Though framed as dāna, it supports bhakti by directing wealth toward dharmic offering at a tīrtha with reverence; such surrender and sacred giving are treated as devotion expressed through action.
It emphasizes ritual propriety in dāna: the recipient qualification (vedapāraga brāhmaṇa) is central—reflecting dharma-śāstric rules of giving rather than a technical Vedāṅga like Jyotiṣa or Vyākaraṇa.