Shloka 26
The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā
मेरोः सुवर्णस्य च सर्वरत्नैः संख्योपलानामुदकस्य वापि । गंगाजलानां न तु शक्तिरस्ति वक्तुं गुणाख्यापरिमाणमत्र ॥ २७ ॥
meroḥ suvarṇasya ca sarvaratnaiḥ saṃkhyopalānāmudakasya vāpi | gaṃgājalānāṃ na tu śaktirasti vaktuṃ guṇākhyāparimāṇamatra || 27 ||
మేరు పర్వత స్వర్ణము, సమస్త రత్నములు, లెక్కలేనన్ని రాళ్లు, నీరే అయినా—ఇవన్నీ ఉన్నా గంగాజల గుణముల పరిమాణాన్ని పూర్తిగా వర్ణించగల శక్తి లేదు।
Narada (within a Narada–Sanatkumara style teaching frame; Book 2 commonly presents tirtha-mahatmya narration)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It declares the Gaṅgā’s sanctifying power as immeasurable—beyond any material means of counting or describing—thereby establishing her waters as a supreme tirtha for purification and merit (puṇya).
By praising Gaṅgā as indescribably sacred, it encourages reverent remembrance, glorification (stuti), and faith-filled approach to holy places—devotional attitudes that support Viṣṇu-bhakti through tirtha-sevā and śraddhā.
Rather than a technical Vedāṅga lesson, the verse uses the idea of “saṃkhyā” (counting/measure) to stress that spiritual potency cannot be fully captured by quantification—guiding ritual practice toward faith and right intention in tirtha-related observances.