ततः सा विह्वला भूत्वा नदीभावम् उपागता तद् दृष्ट्वा विस्मितो भीतस् ताम् अब्रवम् अहं तदा
Then, she became distraught and took the form of a river; seeing that, I was astonished and afraid, and I spoke to her at that time.
यस्माद् असत्यम् उक्तासि ब्रह्मवाचि स्थिता सती तस्माद् अदृश्या त्वं भूयाः पापरूपास्य् असंशयम्
Because you have spoken falsely while standing in the speech of Brahma, though you are virtuous, therefore you shall become invisible and take a sinful form, without doubt.
एतच् छापं विदित्वा तु तौ देवौ प्रणता तदा विशापत्वं प्रार्थयन्ती तुष्टाव च पुनः पुनः
Knowing this curse, those two deities then bowed down, seeking release from the curse, and praised me again and again.
ततस् तुष्टौ देवदेवौ प्रार्थितौ त्रिदशार्चितौ प्रीत्या हरिहराव् एवं वाचं वाचम् अथोचतुः
Then, pleased, the two gods of gods, worshipped by the immortals, being requested, Hari and Hara, spoke these words with affection.
गङ्गया संगता भद्रे यदा त्वं लोकपावनी तदा पुनर् वपुस् ते स्यात् पवित्रं हि सुशोभने
O auspicious one, when you join with Ganga, purifier of the worlds, then your form will be restored, for you are indeed pure and radiant.
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा सापि देवी गङ्गया संगताभवत् भागीरथी गौतमी च ततश् चापि स्वकं वपुः
Having said, 'So be it,' that goddess united with Ganga; Bhagirathi and Gautami then regained their own forms.
देवी सा व्यगमद् ब्रह्मन् देवानाम् अपि दुर्लभम् गौतम्यां सैव विख्याता नाम्ना वाणीति पुण्यदा
O Brahman, that goddess attained what is difficult even for the gods; in Gautami she is renowned by the name Vani, bestower of merit.
भागीरथ्यां सैव देवी सरस्वत्य् अभिधीयते उभयत्रापि विख्यातः संगमो लोकपूजितः
In Bhagirathi, that goddess is called Sarasvati; in both places, the confluence is famous and worshipped by the world.
सरस्वतीसंगमश् च वाणीसंगम एव च गौतम्या संगता देवी वाणी वाचा सरस्वती
The confluence of Sarasvati and the confluence of Vani—there, the goddess Vani, Sarasvati by speech, joined with Gautami.
सर्वत्र पूजितं तीर्थं तत्र वाचा शिवं प्रभुम् देवेश्वरं पूजयित्वा विशापम् अगमद् यतः
Everywhere that holy place is worshipped; there, having worshipped Shiva, the lord of speech, the curse was removed.
ब्रह्मा विधूय वाग्दौष्ट्यं स्वं च धामागमत् पुनः तस्मात् तत्र शुचिर् भूत्वा स्नात्वा तत्र च संगमे
Brahma, having cast off his fault of speech, returned again to his own abode; therefore, having become pure, one should bathe at that confluence.
वागीश्वरं ततो दृष्ट्वा तावता मुक्तिम् आप्नुयात् दानहोमादिकं किंचिद् उपवासादिकां क्रियाम्
Having seen the lord of speech there, one attains liberation; what need is there for gifts, sacrifices, or other rites such as fasting?
यः कुर्यात् संगमे पुण्ये संसारे न भवेत् पुनः एकोनविंशतिशतं तीर्थानां तीरयोर् द्वयोः नानाजन्मार्जिताशेषपापक्षयविधायिनाम्
Whoever performs rites at the holy confluence will not be reborn in the world; on both banks are one hundred and nineteen sacred places, which destroy all sins accumulated over many births.
विष्णुतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं तत्र वृत्तम् इदं शृणु मौद्गल्य इति विख्यातो मुद्गलस्य सुतो ऋषिः
That place is known as Vishnu's holy site; hear now what happened there. A sage named Maudgalya, son of Mudgala, was renowned.
तस्य भार्या तु जाबाला नाम्ना ख्याता सुपुत्रिणी पिता ऋषिस् तथा वृद्धो मुद्गलो लोकविश्रुतः
His wife was named Jabala, famed for her good children; her father was also a sage, the aged Mudgala, celebrated in the world.
तस्य भार्या तथा ख्याता नाम्ना भागीरथी शुभा स मौद्गल्यः प्रातर् एव गङ्गां स्नाति यतव्रतः
His wife was also known by the auspicious name Bhagirathi. That Maudgalya, devoted to vows, bathed in the Ganga every morning.
नित्यम् एव त्व् इदं कर्म तस्यासीन् मुनिसत्तम गङ्गातीरे कुशैर् मृद्भिः शमीपुष्पैर् अहर्निशम्
This was always his practice, O best of sages: on the bank of the Ganga, with kusa grass, clay, and Sami flowers, day and night.
गुरूदितेन मार्गेण स्वमानससरोरुहे आवाहनं नित्यम् एव विष्णोश् चक्रे स मौद्गलिः
Following the path taught by his guru, in the lotus of his own mind, Maudgalya always invoked Vishnu.
तेनाहूतस् त्वरन्न् एति लक्ष्मीभर्ता जगत्पतिः वैनतेयम् अथारुह्य शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः
Summoned by him, the Lord of Lakshmi and Master of the universe hastily arrives, mounting Garuda, bearing the conch, discus, and mace.
पूजितस् तेन ऋषिणा स मौद्गल्येन यत्नतः प्रब्रूते च कथाश् चित्रा मौद्गल्याय जगत्प्रभुः
Honored by that sage Maudgalya with great care, the Lord of the world recounts wondrous stories to Maudgalya.
ततो ऽपराह्णसमये विष्णुः प्राह स मौद्गलिम् याहि वत्स स्वभवनं श्रान्तो ऽसीति पुनः पुनः
Then, in the afternoon, Vishnu says to Maudgali: 'Go, child, to your home; you are weary,' repeating this again and again.
एवम् उक्तः स देवेन विष्णुना याति स द्विजः जगत्प्रभुस् ततो याति देवैर् युक्तः स्वमन्दिरम्
Thus addressed by the god Vishnu, the twice-born departs; and the Lord of the world, accompanied by the gods, returns to his own abode.
मौद्गल्यो ऽपि तथाभ्येत्य किंचिद् आदाय नित्यशः स्वम् एव भवनं विद्वान् भार्यायै स्वार्जितं धनम्
Maudgalya likewise returns, bringing something as he always does, and gives his earned wealth to his wife in their own home.
ददाति स महाविष्णुचरणाब्जपरायणः मौद्गल्यस्य प्रिया सापि पतिव्रतपरायणा
He, devoted to the lotus feet of Mahavishnu, gives it; and Maudgalya's beloved wife, devoted to her husband, receives it.
शाकं मूलं फलं वापि भर्त्रानीतं तु यत्नतः सुसंस्कृत्याप्य् अतिथीनां बालानां भर्तुर् एव च
Whatever vegetables, roots, or fruits her husband brings with effort, she carefully prepares for guests, children, and her husband.
दत्त्वा तु भोजनं तेभ्यः पश्चाद् भुङ्क्ते यतव्रता भुक्तवत्स्व् अथ सर्वेषु रात्रौ नित्यं स मौद्गलिः
Having served food to them, she, disciplined in vows, eats afterwards; and when all have eaten, Maudgali always eats at night.
विष्णोः श्रुताः कथाश् चित्रास् तेभ्यो वक्त्य् अथ हर्षितः एवं बहुतिथे काले व्यतीते चातिविस्मिता मौद्गल्यस्य रहो भार्या भर्तारं वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
The wondrous stories of Vishnu, heard by them, he joyfully relates; and after much time has passed, Maudgalya's wife, greatly amazed, speaks privately to her husband.
यदि ते विष्णुर् अभ्येति समीपं त्रिदशार्चितः तथापि कष्टम् अस्माकं कस्माद् इति जगत्प्रभुम्
If Vishnu, worshipped by the gods, comes near you, then why is our hardship so great? Thus she questions the Lord of the world.
तत् पृच्छ त्वं महाप्राज्ञ यदासौ विष्णुर् एति च यस्मिंश् च स्मृतमात्रे तु जराजन्मरुजो मृतिः नाशं यान्ति कुतो दृष्टे तस्मात् पृच्छ जगत्पतिम्
Ask, O wise one, when Vishnu comes, and when merely remembering him destroys old age, birth, pain, and death—why, then, does seeing him not do so? Therefore, ask the Lord of the world.
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा प्रियावाक्यान् मौद्गल्यो नित्यवद् धरिम् पूजयित्वा विनीतश् च पप्रच्छ स कृताञ्जलिः
Saying 'so be it,' Maudgalya, ever devoted, after honoring Hari and with humility, asks with joined palms.