Shloka 38
The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges
Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya
गङ्गास्नानेन विधिवन्मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः । गङ्गा स्नानात्परं स्नानं न भूतं न भविष्यति ॥ ३८ ॥
gaṅgāsnānena vidhivanmucyate sarvapātakaiḥ | gaṅgā snānātparaṃ snānaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati || 38 ||
ผู้ใดอาบน้ำในคงคาตามพิธีที่ถูกต้อง ย่อมพ้นจากบาปทั้งปวง ไม่มีการอาบน้ำใดเหนือกว่าการอาบในคงคา—ไม่เคยมีมาและจะไม่มีในภายหน้า
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context)
Vrata: none
Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"From rule-governed practice (vidhivat) to a sweeping superlative claim establishing Gaṅgā-snāna as unsurpassed."}
FAQs
It declares Gaṅgā-snāna, performed vidhivat (with proper observance), as a supreme purifier that frees a person from all pātakas, presenting the Gaṅgā as the highest tirtha for ritual purification.
While focused on tirtha practice, it supports bhakti by honoring the Gaṅgā as sacred and emphasizing reverent, rule-based worshipful conduct (vidhi) rather than casual bathing, aligning outer ritual with inner devotion.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the word vidhivat—purification is linked to performing the snāna according to prescribed rites and discipline.