Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
Gaṅgāmāhātmya
गङ्गा च तुलसी चैव हरिभक्तिरचञ्चला । अत्यन्तदुर्ल्लभा नॄणां भक्तिर्द्धर्मप्रवक्तरि ॥ २१ ॥
gaṅgā ca tulasī caiva haribhaktiracañcalā | atyantadurllabhā nṝṇāṃ bhaktirddharmapravaktari || 21 ||
گنگا، تلسی اور ہری کی اٹل بھکتی—یہ سب انسانوں کے لیے نہایت نایاب ہیں؛ اور سَدھرم کی تعلیم دینے والے گرو کے لیے بھکتی بھی بہت دشوار سے ملتی ہے۔
Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It declares that access to purifying sacred supports—Gaṅgā, Tulasī, and especially steady devotion to Hari—is not merely common good fortune but a rare spiritual attainment, implying past merit and sincere practice.
Bhakti is presented as ‘acañcalā’ (unwavering), meaning devotion that does not oscillate with circumstances; the verse elevates such steadiness as the true rarity, even above external signs of religiosity.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is dharmic discernment—seeking and honoring a dharma-proclaimer (teacher) as a necessary support for steady Vaiṣṇava bhakti.