Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120
गङ्गामाहात्म्य — The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
स गतस्तद्बिलद्वारे दृष्ट्वा तं मुनिपुङ्गवम् । कपिलं तेजसां राशिं साष्टाङ्गं प्रणनाम ह ॥ १२० ॥
sa gatastadbiladvāre dṛṣṭvā taṃ munipuṅgavam | kapilaṃ tejasāṃ rāśiṃ sāṣṭāṅgaṃ praṇanāma ha || 120 ||
Pagdating niya sa bungad ng yungib, at makita ang pinakadakila sa mga muni—si Kapila, na wari’y bunton ng maningning na kapangyarihang espirituwal—siya’y yumukod at nagpatirapa sa walong bahagi ng katawan.
Suta (narrator)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
The verse highlights guru-vandana (reverence to realized sages): approaching a holy teacher with humility and aṣṭāṅga-pranāma is presented as the proper gateway to receiving higher knowledge and purification.
Bhakti begins with surrender and respect—here expressed as full-bodied prostration to a radiant sage—showing that devotion is not only toward Vishnu but also toward His saints and teachers who embody dharma and tapas.
It implicitly reflects kalpa/ācāra (ritual conduct): the prescribed etiquette of approaching a venerable rishi—offering aṣṭāṅga-pranāma—before inquiry, teaching, or receiving mantras and instructions.