Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1
The Origin of the Gaṅgā and the Gods’ Defeat Caused by Bali
नारद उवाच । विष्णुपादाग्रसंभूता या गङ्गेत्यभिधीयते । तदुत्पत्तिं वद भ्रातरनुग्राह्योऽस्मि ते यदि ॥ १ ॥
nārada uvāca | viṣṇupādāgrasaṃbhūtā yā gaṅgetyabhidhīyate | tadutpattiṃ vada bhrātaranugrāhyo'smi te yadi || 1 ||
نارد نے کہا—جسے “گنگا” کہا جاتا ہے وہ بھگوان وشنو کے پاؤں کی نوک سے پیدا ہوئی بتائی جاتی ہے۔ اے بھائی، اگر میں تمہارے انुग्रह کے لائق ہوں تو اس کی پیدائش بیان کرو۔
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It frames Ganga as divinely sourced—emerging from Vishnu—thereby establishing her as a supremely purifying tirtha whose sanctity is rooted in Vaishnava theology.
Narada approaches with humility and seeks instruction as a form of grace (anugraha), modeling the bhakti attitude: reverent inquiry, surrender, and dependence on the Lord and guru-like elders for sacred knowledge.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the Purana-method of dharmic learning—receiving tirtha-mahatmya through respectful questioning and authoritative narration.