Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.17.1
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Ganges Purifies Through the Lord’s Touch
“Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, Lord Viṣṇu, the enjoyer of all sacrifices, appeared as Vāmanadeva in the sacrificial arena of Bali Mahārāja. Then He extended His left foot to the end of the universe and pierced a hole in its covering with the nail of His big toe. Through the hole, the pure water of the Causal Ocean entered this universe as the Ganges River. Having washed the lotus feet of the Lord, which are covered with reddish powder, the water of the Ganges acquired a very beautiful pink color. Every living being can immediately purify his mind of material contamination by touching the transcendental water of the Ganges, yet its waters remain ever pure. Because the Ganges directly touches the lotus feet of the Lord before descending within this universe, she is known as Viṣṇupadī. Later she received other names like Jāhnavī and Bhāgīrathī. After one thousand millenniums, the water of the Ganges descended to Dhruvaloka, the topmost planet in this universe. Therefore all learned sages and scholars proclaim Dhruvaloka to be Viṣṇupada [“situated on Lord Viṣṇu’s lotus feet”].”
What the purport teaches
- The Ganges enters the universe through the hole made by Lord Vāmanadeva’s toenail. Because she directly touches Lord Viṣṇu’s lotus feet, she is known as Viṣṇupadī.
- The purport calls the Ganges patita-pāvanī, the deliverer of all sinful living beings. Her waters purify living beings while remaining ever pure.
- Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that regularly bathing in the Ganges gradually develops a devotional attitude toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Try this today
Reread the description of the Ganges touching the Lord’s lotus feet, and pause to reflect on developing a devotional attitude.
Ask yourself
How can remembering the Ganges’ connection with the Lord deepen my respect for her?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.