Shloka 44
Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites
Gaṅgā-māhātmya
यज्ञो दानं तपो जप्यं श्राद्धं च सुरपूजनम् । गंगायां तु कृतं सर्वं कोटिकोटिगुणं भवेत् ॥ ४४ ॥
yajño dānaṃ tapo japyaṃ śrāddhaṃ ca surapūjanam | gaṃgāyāṃ tu kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ koṭikoṭiguṇaṃ bhavet || 44 ||
Tế lễ, bố thí, khổ hạnh, trì tụng chân ngôn, nghi lễ śrāddha cho tổ tiên và thờ phụng chư thiên—bất cứ điều gì được thực hành tại sông Gaṅgā đều tăng trưởng công đức gấp muôn ức lần.
Suta (narrating Narada Purana discourse; Ganga Mahatmya section)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches the tirtha-mahatmya principle: the Ganga is a uniquely potent sacred field where standard Vedic acts (yajna, dana, tapa, japa, shraddha, deva-puja) yield vastly magnified punya (merit).
By highlighting deva-puja and sacred practice at the Ganga, it supports bhakti through place-sanctified worship—devotional acts performed with faith at a holy tirtha are said to bear intensified spiritual fruit.
It emphasizes ritual application (kalpa/vaidika-kriya): correct performance of yajna, japa, and śrāddha, with the added dharmic guideline that tirtha (Ganga) enhances the efficacy of these rites.