Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28
Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court
तं गंगां सरितां श्रेष्ठां मेरुपृष्ठे स्वरूपिणीम् । अभ्येत्य स्नापयामास वारिणा स्वेन नारद ॥ २८ ॥
taṃ gaṃgāṃ saritāṃ śreṣṭhāṃ merupṛṣṭhe svarūpiṇīm | abhyetya snāpayāmāsa vāriṇā svena nārada || 28 ||
Nārada tiến đến Gaṅgā—bậc tối thượng trong các dòng sông—đang hiển lộ đúng tự thân trên lưng núi Meru, rồi dùng chính nước của mình mà tắm gội cho nàng.
Narada (narrative reference within the Moksha-Dharma section; dialogue context traditionally with Sanatkumara lineage)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
The verse highlights tīrtha-śakti: Gaṅgā, the श्रेष्ठ river, is approached with reverence and honored through स्नापन (ritual bathing), symbolizing inner purification and the pursuit of mokṣa through sacred contact and devotional acts.
Nārada’s act of respectfully approaching and bathing Gaṅgā models bhakti as humble service (sevā) toward sacred manifestations, where devotion is expressed through concrete ritual actions that cultivate purity and remembrance of the divine.
The verse reflects kalpa/ritual practice through the act of स्नापन (ceremonial bathing) and tīrtha-related observance; it implies correct procedure and sanctifying use of water in dhārmic rites.