यावत् सागरगा देवी तत्र तीर्थानि कानिचित् संक्षेपेण मयोक्तानि रहस्यानि शुभानि च
As long as that divine river flows to the ocean, I have briefly described some tīrthas there, which are secret and auspicious.
वेदे पुराणे ऋषिभिः प्रसिद्धा या गौतमी लोकनमस्कृता च वक्तुं कथं ताम् अतिसुप्रभावाम् अशेषतो नारद कस्य शक्तिः
The Gautamī, renowned in the Vedas, Purāṇas, and by sages, and revered by the world—Nārada, who has the power to fully describe her extraordinary greatness?
भक्त्या प्रवृत्तस्य यथाकथंचिन् नैवापराधो ऽस्ति न संशयो ऽत्र तस्माच् च दिङ्मात्रमतिप्रयासात् संसूचितं लोकहिताय तस्याः
For one who proceeds with devotion, there is certainly no fault, of that there is no doubt; therefore, only a brief indication has been given, for the benefit of the world, without excessive elaboration.
कस् तस्याः प्रतितीर्थं तु प्रभावं वक्तुम् ईश्वरः अपि लक्ष्मीपतिर् विष्णुर् अलं सोमेश्वरः शिवः
Who indeed is capable of describing the power of each of her tīrthas? Even Viṣṇu, the Lord of Lakṣmī, and Śiva, the Lord of Soma, are not sufficient.
क्वचित् कस्मिंश् च तीर्थानि कालयोगे भवन्ति हि गुणवन्ति महाप्राज्ञ गौतमी तु सदा नृणाम्
At certain times and places, tīrthas arise, O wise one, possessing virtues; but the Gautamī is always beneficial for people.
सर्वत्र सर्वदा पुण्या को न्व् अस्या गुणकीर्तनम् वक्तुं शक्तस् ततस् तस्यै नम इत्य् एव युज्यते
She is holy everywhere and at all times—who indeed is able to recount her virtues? Therefore, it is fitting simply to offer salutations to her.
त्रिदैवत्यां सुरेशान गङ्गां ब्रूषे सुरेश्वर ब्राह्मणेनाहृतां पुण्यां जगतः पावनीं शुभाम्
O Lord of the gods, tell me about Gaṅgā, the sacred river of the three deities, brought by a brāhmaṇa, purifying and auspicious for the world.
आदिमध्यावसाने च उभयोस् तीरयोर् अपि या व्याप्ता विष्णुनेशेन त्वया च सुरसत्तम पुनः संक्षेपतो ब्रूहि न मे तृप्तिः प्रजायते
She pervades both banks at the beginning, middle, and end, by the power of Viṣṇu, Īśa, and you, O best of the gods; again, tell me briefly, for I am not yet satisfied.
कमण्डलुस्थिता पूर्वं ततो विष्णुपदानुगा महेश्वरजटाजूटे स्थिता सैव नमस्कृता
Formerly, she was contained in a water pot, then followed the footsteps of Viṣṇu, and, having been honored, resided in the matted locks of Maheśvara.
ब्रह्मतेजःप्रभावेण शिवम् आराध्य यत्नतः ततः प्राप्ता गिरिं पुण्यं ततः पूर्वार्णवं प्रति
By the power of Brahmā's splendor, she diligently worshipped Śiva; then she reached the sacred mountain, and from there proceeded towards the eastern ocean.
आगत्य संगता देवी सर्वतीर्थमयी नृणाम् ईप्सितानां तथा दात्री प्रभावो ऽस्या विशिष्यते
Having arrived, the goddess, composed of all sacred waters, grants to people their desired wishes; her power is especially distinguished.
एतस्या नाधिकं मन्ये किंचित् तीर्थं जगत्त्रये अस्याश् चैव प्रभावेण भाव्यं यच् च मनःस्थितम्
I do not consider any other pilgrimage in the three worlds to be greater than this; whatever is conceived in the mind is accomplished by her power.
अद्याप्य् अस्या हि माहात्म्यं वक्तुं कैश्चिन् न शक्यते भक्तितो वक्ष्यते नित्यं या ब्रह्म परमार्थतः
Even today, her greatness cannot be fully spoken by anyone; it is always declared with devotion, for she is truly the supreme Brahman.
तस्याः परतरं तीर्थं न स्याद् इति मतिर् मम अन्यतीर्थेन साधर्म्यं न युज्येत कथंचन
My conviction is that there is no pilgrimage higher than hers; it can never be equated in any way with other pilgrimages.
श्रुत्वा मद्वाक्यपीयूषैर् गङ्गाया गुणकीर्तनम् सर्वेषां न मतिः कस्मात् तत्रैवोपरतिं गता इति भाति विचित्रं मे मुने खलु जगत्त्रये
Hearing the praise of Ganga’s virtues, sweet as nectar, from my words, it is strange to me, O sage, that in all three worlds, everyone’s mind ceases only there.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां त्वं वेत्ता चोपदेशकः छन्दांसि सरहस्यानि पुराणस्मृतयो ऽपि च
You are the knower and instructor of dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation; you know the Vedas, their secrets, and the Purāṇas and Smṛtis as well.
धर्मशास्त्राणि यच् चान्यत् तव वाक्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् तीर्थानाम् अथ दानानां यज्ञानां तपसां तथा
Whatever other dharma scriptures are established in your words, and likewise those concerning pilgrimages, gifts, sacrifices, and austerities.
देवतामन्त्रसेवानाम् अधिकं किं वद प्रभो यद् ब्रूषे भगवन् भक्त्या तथा भाव्यं न चान्यथा
Tell me, O lord, what is superior among the worship of deities, mantras, and services; whatever you declare, O blessed one, should be practiced with devotion and not otherwise.
एतं मे संशयं ब्रह्मन् वाक्यात् त्वं छेत्तुम् अर्हसि इष्टं मनोगतं श्रुत्वा तस्माद् विस्मयम् आगतः
O Brahman, you ought to resolve this doubt of mine by your words; having heard what is desired and held in my mind, I have become amazed.
शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि रहस्यं धर्मम् उत्तमम् चतुर्विधानि तीर्थानि तावन्त्य् एव युगानि च
Listen, O Nārada, I will declare the supreme secret of dharma; there are four kinds of pilgrimages, and just so many ages.
गुणास् त्रयश् च पुरुषास् त्रयो देवाः सनातनाः वेदाश् च स्मृतिभिर् युक्ताश् चत्वारस् ते प्रकीर्तिताः
There are three qualities, three kinds of people, eternal gods, and four Vedas joined with the Smṛtis; these four are proclaimed.
पुरुषार्थाश् च चत्वारो वाणी चापि चतुर्विधा गुणा ह्य् अपि तु चत्वारः समत्वेनेति नारद
There are four aims of life, and speech is also of four kinds; likewise, O Nārada, the qualities are four and equal in nature.
सर्वत्र धर्मः सामान्यो यतो धर्मः सनातनः साध्यसाधनभावेन स एव बहुधा मतः
Dharma is universal everywhere, for dharma is eternal; by the distinction of means and ends, it is regarded as manifold.
तस्याश्रयश् च द्विविधो देशः कालश् च सर्वदा कालाश्रयश् च यो धर्मो हीयते वर्धते सदा
Its basis is twofold: place and time, always; the dharma based on time is diminished or increased continually.
युगानाम् अनुरूपेण पादः पादो ऽस्य हीयते धर्मस्येति महाप्राज्ञ देशापेक्षा तथोभयम्
According to the ages, a quarter of dharma is diminished, O wise one; likewise, both depend on place.
कालेन चाश्रितो धर्मो देशे नित्यं प्रतिष्ठितः युगेषु क्षीयमाणेषु न देशेषु स हीयते
Dharma based on time is always established in place; when the ages decline, it is not diminished in places.
उभयत्र विहीने च धर्मस्य स्याद् अभावता तस्माद् देशाश्रितो धर्मश् चतुष्पात् सुप्रतिष्ठितः
When both are lacking, dharma ceases to exist; therefore, dharma based on place is firmly established in its fourfold form.
स चापि धर्मो देशेषु तीर्थरूपेण तिष्ठति कृते देशं च कालं च धर्मो ऽवष्टभ्य तिष्ठति
And that dharma, in places, remains in the form of pilgrimage; in the Krita age, dharma stands firmly, holding both place and time.
त्रेतायां पादहीनेन स तु पादः प्रदेशतः द्वापरे चार्धतः काले धर्मो देशे समास्थितः
In the Treta age, Dharma stands with one foot less, and that foot is diminished by a measure; in Dvapara, Dharma remains in the land with half its strength.
कलौ पादेन चैकेन धर्मश् चलति संकटम् एवंविधं तु यो धर्मं वेत्ति तस्य न हीयते
In Kali, Dharma moves precariously with only one foot; yet, one who knows such Dharma does not suffer loss.