Shloka 50
Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya
गंगां प्राप्य सरिच्छ्रेष्ठां कल्पांतपापसंचयाः । केशानाश्रित्य तिष्ठंति तस्मात्तान्परिवर्जयेत् ॥ ५० ॥
gaṃgāṃ prāpya saricchreṣṭhāṃ kalpāṃtapāpasaṃcayāḥ | keśānāśritya tiṣṭhaṃti tasmāttānparivarjayet || 50 ||
سرِتوں میں افضل گنگا کو پا کر کلپ کے آخر تک جمع شدہ گناہوں کے ڈھیر بالوں کا سہارا لے کر چمٹے رہتے ہیں؛ اس لیے اُن بالوں کو چھوڑ دینا چاہیے۔
Narada (teaching in the Ganga-tirtha context; dialogue frame with Sanatkumara tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It highlights Gaṅgā as the supreme tīrtha whose contact draws out even extremely long-accumulated sin; the verse uses the image of sins clinging to hair to stress thorough purification and mindful post-bath cleanliness.
By elevating Gaṅgā as a sacred presence, it supports bhakti-oriented tīrtha practices—approaching the holy river with reverence, performing snāna as an act of surrender, and maintaining purity as a devotional discipline.
It primarily reflects Dharma-śāstra style śauca (ritual cleanliness) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is correct post-snāna conduct—do not keep impurity-associated hair, implying proper grooming/cleansing after tīrtha bathing.