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.
चन्द्रसूर्यग्रहे काले मत्सांनिध्ये यतव्रतः भूभृते विष्णवे भक्त्या सर्वकालं कृता सुधीः
At the time of lunar or solar eclipses, in my presence, with self-restraint, whoever, with devotion, always offers to Vishnu, the supporter of the earth, is wise.
गाः सुन्दराः सवत्साश् च संगमे लोकविश्रुते यो ददाति द्विजश्रेष्ठ तत्र यत् पुण्यम् आप्नुयात्
Whoever gives beautiful cows with calves at the renowned confluence, O best of twice-born, whatever merit is gained there—
तस्माद् वरं पुण्यम् एति स्नानदानादिना नरः गौतम्यां विश्ववन्द्यायां महानद्यां तु भक्तितः
Therefore, a person attains great merit through bathing, giving, and the like, with devotion, at the Godavari, the great river worshipped by the world.
तस्माद् गोदावरी गङ्गा त्वया नीता भविष्यति सर्वपापक्षयकरी सर्वाभीष्टप्रदायिनी
Therefore, the Godavari will become the Ganga, led by you, destroying all sins and granting all desires.
एतच् छ्रुतं मया मातर् वदतो गौतमं शिवात् एतस्मात् कारणाच् छंभुर् गङ्गायां नियतः स्थितः
This I have heard, O Mother, from Shiva as he spoke to Gautama; for this reason, Shambhu is ever established in the Ganga.
को निवर्तयितुं शक्तस् तम् अम्ब करुणोदधिम् अथापि मातर् एतत् स्यान् मानुषा विघ्नपाशकैः
Who is able to turn away that ocean of compassion, O Mother? Yet, Mother, this may happen to humans through the bonds of obstacles.
विनिबद्धा न गच्छन्ति गोदाम् अप्य् अन्तिकस्थिताम् न नमन्ति शिवं देवं न स्मरन्ति स्तुवन्ति न
Bound by them, they do not approach even the nearby Godavari, nor do they bow to the god Shiva, nor remember or praise him.
तथा मातः करिष्यामि तव संतोषहेतवे संनिरोद्धुम् अथो क्लेशस् तव वाक्यं क्षमस्व मे
Therefore, Mother, I shall act for your satisfaction; if there is hardship in restraining, forgive my words.
ततः प्रभृति विघ्नेशो मानुषान् प्रति किंचन विघ्नम् आचरते यस् तु तम् उपास्य प्रवर्तते
From then on, the Lord of obstacles creates some hindrance for humans; but whoever worships him proceeds without obstruction.
अथो विघ्नम् अनादृत्य गौतमीं याति भक्तितः स कृतार्थो भवेल् लोके न कृत्यम् अवशिष्यते
But disregarding obstacles, whoever approaches the Godavari with devotion becomes fulfilled in this world, with nothing left undone.