Shloka 17
Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites
Gaṅgā-māhātmya
रौप्यैः शतगुणं पुण्यं हेमैः कोटिगुणं स्मृतम् । एवमर्घे च नैवेद्ये बलिपूजादिषु क्रमात् ॥ १७ ॥
raupyaiḥ śataguṇaṃ puṇyaṃ hemaiḥ koṭiguṇaṃ smṛtam | evamarghe ca naivedye balipūjādiṣu kramāt || 17 ||
रौप्यैः शतगुणं पुण्यं हेमैः कोटिगुणं स्मृतम्। एवम् अर्घे च नैवेद्ये बलिपूजादिषु क्रमात्॥१७॥
Suta (narrating the Purana discourse; teaching the ritual gradation of puṇya)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches a hierarchy of ritual efficacy: the same act of worship yields greater puṇya when performed with higher-value, ritually esteemed substances (silver and especially gold), emphasizing intentional reverence and the quality of upacāras (offerings).
Bhakti is expressed through upacāra—arghya, naivedya, bali, and pūjā—where devotion becomes more demonstrative through careful, elevated offerings; the verse frames external worship as a graded support for inner reverence.
It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): specifying how variations in ritual materials (silver/gold) affect the stated fruit of arghya, naivedya, bali, and pūjā, guiding practical performance of worship and offerings.