Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
Gaṅgāmāhātmya
सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकाणि यानि पुण्यानि तानि वै । गङ्गाबिन्द्वभिषेकस्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् ॥ ११ ॥
sarvatīrthābhiṣekāṇi yāni puṇyāni tāni vai | gaṅgābindvabhiṣekasya kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm || 11 ||
सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकैः यानि पुण्यानि लभ्यन्ते तानि सत्यानि; गङ्गाबिन्द्वभिषेकस्य तु षोडशीं कलामपि न अर्हन्ति।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It elevates Gaṅgā-water as uniquely purifying, declaring that even a single drop used for abhiṣeka surpasses the combined merit of ritual bathings at all other tīrthas.
By praising Gaṅgā as supremely sanctifying, the verse supports bhakti-oriented purification: approaching holy means (like Gaṅgā associated with divine grace) with faith is portrayed as more potent than merely accumulating many ritual acts.
It highlights ritual practice (kalpa/ācāra): the use of abhiṣeka and sacred water as a purificatory rite, emphasizing the hierarchy of tīrtha-dravya (holy substances) in dharmic observance.