Shloka 2
The Greatness of Haridvāra
Gaṅgādvāra-māhātmya
गंगाद्वारेति यत्ख्यातं तीर्थं पुण्यावहं गुरो । तत्समाख्याहि भद्रं ते श्रोतुं वांछास्ति मे हृदि ॥ २ ॥
gaṃgādvāreti yatkhyātaṃ tīrthaṃ puṇyāvahaṃ guro | tatsamākhyāhi bhadraṃ te śrotuṃ vāṃchāsti me hṛdi || 2 ||
ହେ ଗୁରୋ! ‘ଗଙ୍ଗାଦ୍ୱାର’ ବୋଲି ଯେ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ପୁଣ୍ୟାବହ ତୀର୍ଥ, ତାହା ବିସ୍ତାରେ କହନ୍ତୁ। ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ମଙ୍ଗଳ ହେଉ—ମୋ ହୃଦୟରେ ଶୁଣିବାକୁ ଗଭୀର ଇଚ୍ଛା ଅଛି।
Narada (questioning the Guru, traditionally Sanatkumara in this dialogue-frame)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It frames Gaṅgādvāra as a highly meritorious tīrtha and establishes the traditional purāṇic method: a disciple’s sincere inquiry prompting a detailed māhātmya (glorification) that guides pilgrimage and dharma.
Bhakti here appears as śravaṇa (devotional listening): the speaker’s heartfelt longing to hear the tīrtha’s greatness is itself a devotional act that prepares the mind for reverence, pilgrimage, and worship connected with the Ganga.
No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; it instead introduces tīrtha-dharma—practical guidance for sacred geography and merit-making that later verses typically connect to rules of bathing, vows (vrata), and proper ritual conduct.