Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 7
गंगा सर्वसरिद्योनिः समुद्रस्यापि पूरणी । गंगाया न लभेत्साम्यं काचिदत्र सरिद्वरा
gaṃgā sarvasaridyoniḥ samudrasyāpi pūraṇī | gaṃgāyā na labhetsāmyaṃ kācidatra saridvarā
گنگا تمام ندیوں کی اصل ماں اور سرچشمہ ہے، اور سمندر کو بھی بھر دینے والی ہے؛ یہاں کوئی برتر ندی گنگا کی برابری نہیں پا سکتی۔
Mārkaṇḍeya
Tirtha: Gaṅgā
Type: river
Listener: Munayaḥ
Scene: Gaṅgā as radiant river goddess emerging from Śiva’s matted locks, flowing toward Kāśī ghāṭas; other rivers shown as tributary-like attendants, emphasizing her ‘sarid-yoni’ status.
FAQs
Among sacred waters, Gaṅgā is proclaimed uniquely supreme—an archetype of purification and sacred potency.
The river Gaṅgā herself is glorified as the unequalled ‘best river’ in the world.
No explicit prescription; the verse is a eulogy (māhātmya) establishing Gaṅgā’s unrivalled status.