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The god Shiva cannot be turned away by me, nor can she be withdrawn while Shiva himself remains; even the gods cannot withdraw her.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.'
न चात्मनो महाबुद्धे याचेत्य् आह शिवो द्विजम् एवं प्रोक्तः पुनर् विप्रो ध्यात्वा प्राह शिवं तथा
But Shiva said to the twice-born, 'You do not ask for yourself, O great-minded one.' Thus addressed, the sage, after meditating, spoke to Shiva accordingly.
विनीतवद् अदीनात्मा शिवभक्तिसमन्वितः सर्वलोकोपकाराय पुनर् याचितवान् इदम् शृण्वत्सु लोकपालेषु जगादेदं स गौतमः
Humble, undepressed in spirit, filled with devotion to Shiva, for the good of all beings, Gautama again made this request, speaking as the guardians of the worlds listened.
यावत् सागरगा देवी निसृष्टा ब्रह्मणो गिरेः सर्वत्र सर्वदा तस्यां स्थातव्यं वृषभध्वज
As long as the goddess, sent forth from Brahma's mountain, flows to the ocean, O Bull-bannered One, she must remain everywhere and always.
फलेप्सूनां फलं दाता त्वम् एव जगतः प्रभो तीर्थान्य् अन्यानि देवेश क्वापि क्वापि शुभानि च
O Lord of the world, you alone are the giver of fruits to those who desire results; other holy places, O Lord of gods, are auspicious only here and there.
यत्र ते संनिधिर् नित्यं तद् एव शुभदं विदुः यत्र गङ्गा त्वया दत्ता जटामुकुटसंस्थिता सर्वत्र तव सांनिध्यात् सर्वतीर्थानि शंकर
Wherever your presence abides always, that place is known as auspicious; wherever the Ganga, given by you, rests upon your matted crown, O Shankara, by your presence all holy places are found there.
तद् गौतमवचः श्रुत्वा पुनर् हर्षाच् छिवो ऽब्रवीत्
Hearing these words of Gautama, Shiva spoke again with joy.
यत्र क्वापि च यत् किंचिद् यो वा भवति भक्तितः यात्रां स्नानम् अथो दानं पितॄणां वापि तर्पणम्
Wherever, in whatever way, and by whomever, with devotion, pilgrimage, bathing, giving, or offerings to the ancestors are performed—
श्रवणं पठनं वापि स्मरणं वापि गौतम यः करोति नरो भक्त्या गोदावर्या यतव्रतः
Hearing, reciting, or remembering, O Gautama, whoever does so with devotion and self-control at the Godavari—
सप्तद्वीपवती पृथ्वी सशैलवनकानना सरत्ना सौषधी रम्या सार्णवा धर्मभूषिता
The earth with its seven continents, with mountains, forests, and groves, adorned with gems, herbs, and oceans, and graced by righteousness—
दत्त्वा भवति यो धर्मः स भवेद् गौतमीस्मृतेः एवंविधा इला विप्र गोदानाद् याभिधीयते
The merit that arises from giving, O Gautama, is attained by remembering the Godavari; such is declared, O Brahmin, as equal to the gift of cows.