Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7
गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतं पापं यच्चान्यत्कारितं परैः । तत्सर्वं नाशयत्याशु परिचर्या महात्मनाम् ॥ ७ ॥
jñānājñānakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ yaccānyatkāritaṃ paraiḥ | tatsarvaṃ nāśayatyāśu paricaryā mahātmanām || 7 ||
அறிந்தோ அறியாமலோ செய்த பாவமும், பிறரால் செய்யவைக்கப்பட்ட பிற குற்றங்களும்—மகாத்மர்களின் பக்தியுடனான சேவை அவையனைத்தையும் விரைவில் அழித்துவிடும்।
Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that sincere service to realized, great-souled saints (mahātmanām paricaryā) functions as a powerful purifier, swiftly removing karmic demerit accumulated knowingly, unknowingly, or even through indirect involvement.
By emphasizing paricaryā—humble attendance and service to saintly devotees—as a direct support to bhakti, since serving the holy strengthens devotion, corrects conduct, and cleanses obstacles (pāpa) that block remembrance of the Divine.
Rather than a technical Vedanga topic (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa), the verse highlights practical dharma: a living form of prāyaścitta (atonement) through sādhūnām-sevā (service to saints), stressing conduct and purification over mere ritual formalism.