Shloka 31
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā: Purification, Ancestor Rites, and Liberation
पुण्ये स्नात्वा तु गंगायां कुलकोटिं समुद्धरेत् । शुक्लपक्षे दिवामर्त्या गंगायामुत्तरायणे
puṇye snātvā tu gaṃgāyāṃ kulakoṭiṃ samuddharet | śuklapakṣe divāmartyā gaṃgāyāmuttarāyaṇe
ผู้ใดอาบน้ำในพระคงคาอันเป็นบุญ ย่อมยกกู้วงศ์ตระกูลได้ถึงหนึ่งโกฏิ; ยิ่งนักเมื่อมนุษย์อาบในเวลากลางวัน ช่วงศุกลปักษ์ และในกาลอุตตรายณะ ณ พระคงคา
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed to identify the dialogue speaker reliably).
Concept: A single act of tīrtha-snān, when aligned with auspicious kāla (śukla-pakṣa, divā, uttarāyaṇa), yields extraordinary transgenerational uplift (kula-koṭi-samuddhāra).
Application: Use bright-fortnight mornings for purification routines: bath, japa, charity; if near a river/temple tank, perform snāna with sankalpa for ancestors and family welfare.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A bright-fortnight morning on the Gaṅgā: the sun climbs in uttarāyaṇa clarity, and the river gleams like molten silver. A pilgrim steps into the water at dawn-to-daylight transition, offering a sankalpa for ancestors; above, a subtle solar arc motif signifies the northward course amplifying merit.","primary_figures":["pilgrim devotee","Gaṅgā (as sacred presence, subtle)","priests at ghāṭ (optional)"],"setting":"Wide stone ghāṭ with morning activity, small shrines, offerings of flowers and sesame; clear winter-spring sky suggesting uttarāyaṇa.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["pale gold","silver blue","white marble","marigold orange","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: radiant uttarāyaṇa sun with gold leaf rays over the Gaṅgā ghāṭ, devotee performing snāna and arghya, ornate arch framing, rich textiles in red and green, embossed gold borders, shimmering river rendered with metallic highlights, devotional calm and auspiciousness.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: crisp morning river scene with delicate ripples, soft golden light, devotee in simple garments holding a copper lota, fine architectural ghāṭ lines, cool blues with warm highlights, lyrical atmosphere of śukla-pakṣa purity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized ghāṭ and river waves, bold outlines, bright sun disk, devotee in anjali, red-yellow-green palette, temple-wall symmetry, auspicious motifs (lotus, conch) integrated.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: lotus borders and repeating lamp motifs, central river panel with devotee bathing, bright sun medallion for uttarāyaṇa, intricate floral patterns in blue and gold, serene celebratory tīrtha mood."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["flowing water","morning birds","soft conch","distant bells"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गंगायामुत्तरायणे → गंगायाम् + उत्तरायणे; कुलकोटिं (कुल-कोटिम्) समासः; अन्यत्र स्पष्टपदविभागः।
FAQs
It presents Gaṅgā-snān as a powerful act of purification whose merit can extend beyond the individual to benefit one’s lineage, highlighting the Purāṇic idea of transferable religious merit connected to sacred places and rites.
These are treated as auspicious time-markers in Purāṇic ritual culture; the verse indicates that performing the bath under these conditions is considered especially potent for producing religious merit.
It encourages intentional religious discipline—choosing sacred places and auspicious times—and frames personal piety as socially and ancestrally beneficial, motivating regular tīrtha-based observances with faith and responsibility.