At least a few shlokas of Bhagavadgita should be studied daily. Adhita - means that the shlokas are not only to be learnt by heart, but their essential spirit and internal meanings should be imprinted in the mind. a little - means even a few stanzas can be studied daily, which can rivet our mind to the Lord. It could be the Sthitapragna Lakshana - of the II chapter, or the Bhaktiyoga sara - from the XII chapter or the Vishwaroopa Darshana - of the XI chapter.
Even a single shloka like Sarvadharmaan parityajya maamekam sharanam vraja aham tvaa sarvapaapebhyo mokshayishyaami maa shucaha or even the quarter parts of the stanzas like yogaha karmasu koushalyamu etc., should be studied daily and deeply.
The river Ganga is - originated from the feet of Lord Vishnu, - the one adoring the Jata of Lord Shiva, - the daughter of the rishi Jahnu, - river of knowledge and is the most sacred of the Bharatiya rivers. This sacred river has created many pilgrimage centers all along its route from Gangothri till she joins the ocean at Bay of Bengal. It washes out all the bad deeds - and cleans the person who takes bath in her, of all the dirt, either internal or external to the body. If a small quantity or even a few drops of Ganga water is sipped with belief & devotion - shraddha and bhakti, all our saptadhatus - get sanctified and engulfed in divinity.
The great Jnanis sanctify the Thirthani - the sacred water of bath, but they themselves get their sanctifying capacity replenished by dipping in the sacred Ganga. When Sri Krishna declares in Bhagavadgita that he will happily receive even the leaves, flowers, fruits, and water offered by his devotee, the water he means is as pure as Ganga.
Such Vishnu Bhaktas - the devotees of Vishnu - will not have fear of death. They welcome death as their friend. Yama - the god of death - warns his assistants to be far away from the Vishnu Bhakatas. Upanishad says that Death himself is like the pickles for the Lord Narayana. This is the main reason that the Devotees will never have to argue with Yama - to fear the death. Bhakta Ambarisha, Sati Savithri and Nachiketa demonstrated a fearlessness like this towards death.
Bhakta Ambarisha spent most of his time in meditating upon Lord Narayana. He was performing all worldly and kingly activities regularly. The fire of anger of the great Rishi Durvasa became ineffective and even could not touch Ambarisha.
The article has been taken from the book ‘A Torchlight in the Path of Salvation, Bhaja Govindam- Pray to Govinda’ by KV Varadaraja Iyengar