History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c74.138

v5.c74.138

The extent of the holy region of the Ganges is laid down in some purāṇas. The Nāradīya¹³³⁷ states the region within one *gavyūti* from the banks of the Ganges is called *kṣetra*; one should reside within the kṣetra limits, but not on the bank itself; residence on the bank (of the Ganges) is not desired. The limits of the kṣetra are of the extent of one yojana between both the banks' i. e. the kṣetra extends for two krośas from each bank. The general rule is stated by Yama that forests, mountains, holy rivers and tīrthas are without an owner, these cannot be possessed (by a person as owner). The Brahmapurāṇa¹³³⁸ says that measur-ing from the flowing waters for a distance of four hastas, God Nārāyaṇa is the Lord (or owner) and no one should accept a gift in that strip even if he be on the point of death. A differ-ence is made between the garbha (the inner circle) of the Gaṅgākṣetra, the tīra and the kṣetra. 'Garbha' extends up to that portion of the river stream which is reached on the 14th of the dark half of Bhādrapada; beyond that is the *tīra* (bank), which extends upto *150 hastas* from garbha and kṣetra extends up to two krośas from each bank.