The Greatness of the Gaṅgā (Gaṅgā-māhātmya): Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda’s Curse and Release
सनक उवाच । सौदासः सर्वधर्मज्ञः सर्वज्ञो गुणवाञ्छुचिः । बुभुजे पृथिवीं सर्वां पितृवद्रञ्जयन्प्रजाः ॥ ३ ॥
sanaka uvāca | saudāsaḥ sarvadharmajñaḥ sarvajño guṇavāñchuciḥ | bubhuje pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ pitṛvadrañjayanprajāḥ || 3 ||
ਸਨਕ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਸੌਦਾਸ ਰਾਜਾ ਸਭ ਧਰਮਾਂ ਦਾ ਜਾਣਕਾਰ, ਸਭ ਵਿਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਾਜ্ঞ, ਗੁਣਵਾਨ ਤੇ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਸੀ। ਉਹ ਪਿਤਾ ਵਾਂਗ ਪ੍ਰਜਾ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਸਾਰੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਦਾ ਰਾਜ ਕਰਦਾ ਸੀ।
Sanaka
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
It presents the dharmic ideal of rulership: sovereignty is sanctified when the king is pure, virtue-filled, and governs for the welfare of the people like a caring father.
Bhakti is implied through dharma in action: a ruler who is śuci (pure) and committed to righteous duty embodies devotion through service (seva) to living beings, which is aligned with devotion-centered Purāṇic ethics.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is Rajadharma—ethical administration, discipline, and welfare-oriented governance grounded in dharma.