Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138
गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
वसिष्ठशापात्प्राप्तः स सौदासौ राक्षसीं तनुम् । गङ्गाबिन्दुनिषेकेण पुनर्मुक्तो नृपोऽभवत् ॥ १३८ ॥
vasiṣṭhaśāpātprāptaḥ sa saudāsau rākṣasīṃ tanum | gaṅgābinduniṣekeṇa punarmukto nṛpo'bhavat || 138 ||
ด้วยคำสาปของวสิษฐะ กษัตริย์เสาทาสะจึงได้กายเป็นยักษ์รากษส; แต่เมื่อประพรมด้วยหยดน้ำคงคาเพียงหยดเดียว ก็พ้นคำสาปและกลับเป็นกษัตริย์ดังเดิม।
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It teaches that even severe afflictions like a sage’s curse can be neutralized through the sanctifying power of a tīrtha—here symbolized by a single drop of Gaṅgā—highlighting purification (pāpa-śodhana) and restoration to dharma.
Though not explicitly naming bhakti, it supports the bhakti-oriented Purāṇic idea that sacred means connected to the divine—such as Gaṅgā, revered as holy and Viṣṇu-associated—can transform one’s condition when approached with faith and reverence.
It points to kalpa/ritual-practice in Purāṇic form: the use of consecrated water (tīrtha-jala) as a purificatory rite (prokṣaṇa/niṣeka) within dharmic observance.