युगानाम् अनुभावेन जातिभेदाश् च संस्थिताः गुणेभ्यो गुणकर्तृभ्यो विचित्रा धर्मसंस्थितिः
Through the influence of the ages, differences among castes are established; from qualities and their agents arises a diverse foundation of Dharma.
गुणानाम् अनुभावेन उद्भवाभिभवौ तथा तीर्थानाम् अपि वर्णानां वेदानां स्वर्गमोक्षयोः
By the influence of qualities, there is both emergence and overcoming; so too for holy places, castes, Vedas, and for heaven and liberation.
तादृग्रूपप्रवृत्त्या तु तद् एव च विशिष्यते कालो ऽभिव्यञ्जकः प्रोक्तो देशो ऽभिव्यङ्ग्य उच्यते
Through such forms and activities, distinction arises; time is said to be the revealer, and place is called the revealed.
यदा यदा अभिव्यक्तिं कालो धत्ते तदा तदा तद् एव व्यञ्जनं ब्रह्मंस् तस्मान् नास्त्य् अत्र संशयः
Whenever time brings forth manifestation, then that very manifestation occurs, O Brahman; therefore, there is no doubt in this.
युगानुरूपा मूर्तिः स्याद् देवानां वैदिकी तथा कर्मणाम् अपि तीर्थानां जातीनाम् आश्रमस्य तु
The form of the gods, according to the age, is Vedic; likewise for actions, holy places, castes, and the order of life.
त्रिदैवत्यं सत्ययुगे तीर्थं लोकेषु पूज्यते द्विदैवत्यं युगे ऽन्यस्मिन् द्वापरे चैकदैविकम्
In the Satya age, holy places are revered in the world with three deities; in another age, with two deities; in Dvapara, with one deity.
कलौ न किंचिद् विज्ञेयम् अथान्यद् अपि तच् छृणु दैवं कृतयुगे तीर्थं त्रेतायाम् आसुरं विदुः
In Kali, nothing is to be known, and now hear something else; in Krita, the holy place is divine, in Treta, it is known as asuric.
आर्षं च द्वापरे प्रोक्तं कलौ मानुषम् उच्यते अथान्यद् अपि वक्ष्यामि शृणु नारद कारणम्
In Dvapara, it is said to be rishi-like; in Kali, it is called human. Now I will tell you something else, listen, O Narada, to the reason.
गौतम्यां यत् त्वया पृष्टं तत् ते वक्ष्यामि विस्तरात् यदा चेयं हरशिरः प्राप्ता गङ्गा महामुने
What you asked about the Gautami, I will explain to you in detail; when the Ganga, having received Shiva's head, arrived, O great sage.
तदा प्रभृति सा गङ्गा शंभोः प्रियतराभवत् तद् देवस्य मतं ज्ञात्वा गजवक्त्रम् उवाच सा
From that time, the Ganga became dearest to Shambhu; knowing the mind of the god, she spoke to the elephant-faced one.
उमा लोकत्रयेशाना माता च जगतो हिता शान्ता श्रुतिर् इति ख्याता भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी
Uma, the ruler of the three worlds, mother and benefactor of the universe, peaceful and famed as Shruti, bestower of enjoyment and liberation.
तन् मातुर् वचनं श्रुत्वा गजवक्त्रो ऽभ्यभाषत
Hearing the words of the mother, the elephant-faced one spoke.
किं कृत्यं शाधि मां मातस् तत्कर्ताहम् असंशयम्
Mother, instruct me what should be done; I will accomplish it without doubt.
उमा सुतम् उवाचेदं महेश्वरजटास्थिता त्वयावतार्यतां गङ्गा सत्यम् ईशप्रिया सती
Uma spoke to her son, who dwells in Maheshvara's matted locks: 'Let the Ganga be brought down by you; truly, she is beloved of the Lord.'
पुनश् चेशस् तत्र चित्रम् अध्यास्ते सर्वदा सुत शिवो यत्र सुरास् तत्र तत्र वेदाः सनातनाः
Again, the Lord always dwells there in wondrous form, O son; wherever Shiva is, there the eternal Vedas are found.
तत्रैव ऋषयः सर्वे मनुष्याः पितरस् तथा तस्मान् निवर्तयेशानं देवदेवं महेश्वरम्
There too are all the sages, humans, and ancestors; therefore, turn back the Lord, the god of gods, Maheshvara.
तस्या निवर्तिते देवे गङ्गायाः सर्व एव हि निवृत्तास् ते भविष्यन्ति शृणु चेदं वचो मम निवर्तय ततस् तस्याः सर्वभावेन शंकरम्
When that goddess Ganga withdraws, all the others will indeed withdraw as well. Hear now my words: with all your being, turn her away from Shankara.
मातुस् तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा पुनर् आह गणेश्वरः
Hearing his mother's words, the Lord of the Ganas spoke again.
नैव शक्यः शिवो देवो मया तस्या निवर्तितुम् अनिवृत्ते शिवे तस्या देवा अपि निवर्तितुम्
The god Shiva cannot be turned away by me, nor can she be withdrawn while Shiva himself remains; even the gods cannot withdraw her.
न शक्या जगतां मातर् अथान्यच् चापि कारणम् गङ्गावतारिता पूर्वं गौतमेन महात्मना
Nor can the Mother of the Worlds be turned away, and there is another reason too: Ganga was brought down before by the great-souled Gautama.
ऋषिणा लोकपूज्येन त्रैलोक्यहितकारिणा सामोपायेन तद्वाक्यात् पूज्येन ब्रह्मतेजसा
By the revered sage, honored by the world, benefactor of the three realms, through gentle means and his powerful words, honored with the radiance of Brahman.
आराधयित्वा देवेशं तपोभिः स्तुतिभिर् भवम् तुष्टेन शंकरेणेदम् उक्तो ऽसौ गौतमस् तदा
Having worshipped the Lord of the gods, Bhava, with austerities and hymns, when Shankara was pleased, he spoke to Gautama at that time.
वरान् वरय पुण्यांश् च प्रियांश् च मनसेप्सितान् यद् यद् इच्छसि तत् सर्वं दाता ते ऽद्य महामते
Choose boons, auspicious and dear, whatever your mind desires; whatever you wish, I shall grant you today, O great-minded one.
एवम् उक्तः शिवेनासौ गौतमो मयि शृण्वति इदम् एव तदोवाच सजटां देहि शंकर गङ्गां मे याचते पुण्यां किम् अन्येन वरेण मे
Thus addressed by Shiva, Gautama, as I listened, spoke this alone: 'O Shankara with matted locks, grant me the holy Ganga; what need have I for any other boon?'
पुनः प्रोवाच तं शंभुः सर्वलोकोपकारकः
Again, Shambhu, benefactor of all worlds, spoke to him.
उक्तं न चात्मनः किंचित् तस्माद् याचस्व दुष्करम्
He said, 'You have not asked anything for yourself; therefore, ask for something difficult to obtain.'
गौतमो ऽदीनसत्त्वस् तं भवम् आह कृताञ्जलिः
Gautama, steadfast in spirit, with joined palms, spoke to Bhava.
एतद् एव च सर्वेषां दुष्करं तव दर्शनम् मया तद् अद्य संप्राप्तं कृपया तव शंकर
'This alone is difficult for all: to see you. By your grace, O Shankara, I have attained this today.'
स्मरणाद् एव ते पद्भ्यां कृतकृत्या मनीषिणः भवन्ति किं पुनः साक्षात् त्वयि दृष्टे महेश्वरे
'Even by remembering your feet, the wise become fulfilled; what then, when seeing you directly, O Great Lord?'
एवम् उक्ते गौतमेन भवो हर्षसमन्वितः त्रयाणाम् उपकारार्थं लोकानां याचितं त्वया
When Gautama spoke thus, Bhava, filled with joy, said, 'For the benefit of the three worlds, you have made this request.'