वाहनादवरुह्याशु भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरः
Swiftly descending from his vehicle, with his head bowed in devotion,
आजग्मुर्मुनयः सर्वे सुराः शक्रादयस्तथा
All the sages arrived, as did the gods, including Indra and the others.
पुलकाञ्चितसर्वाङ्गास्तुष्टुवुः पुरुषोत्तमम्
Their entire bodies bristling with joy, they praised the Supreme Person.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र संगीतं शंकरो जगौ
Meanwhile, there, Śaṅkara sang a song.
आवयोश्च गुणाख्यानं राससंबन्धि सुन्दरम्
He sang beautifully of our virtues, relating to the rāsa dance.
यत्र कण्ठैकमानेन चैकतानेन चारुणा
Where, with a single note in the throat and a single, lovely melody,
गमकेनातिदीर्घेण मदेन मधुरेण च 4.34.
With a gentle, prolonged modulation, intoxicated and sweet.
पुलकाञ्चितसर्वाङ्गः साश्रुनेत्रः पुनःपुनः
His whole body bristling with joy, his eyes filled with tears again and again,
बभूवु रुद्ररूपाश्च मुनयः पुरतः प्रिये
The sages appeared before us in the form of Rudra, O beloved.
नारायणश्च लक्ष्मीश्च गायकश्च शिवः स्वयम्
Nārāyaṇa, Lakṣmī, and Śiva himself as the singer,
गत्वा मूर्तीर्विनिर्माय सर्वाश्च तादृशीरिति
Having gone there, they manifested all such forms.
तत्स्वभावास्तन्मनस्कास्तत्तद्विषयमानसाः
With that very nature, with minds absorbed in that, their thoughts fixed on those objects,
तदधिष्ठातृदेवी च आजगाम स्वमालयम्
The presiding goddess of that place also returned to her own abode.
मुक्तिदा च मुमुक्षूणां भक्तानां हरिभक्तिदा
She grants liberation to those who seek it, and devotion to Hari to the devotees.
यस्याश्च स्पर्शवायोश्च संपर्केण विनश्यति
By the touch of her and her breeze, all is destroyed.
किमुत स्नानजन्यं च कथयामि निरूपणम्
What then of that which is produced by bathing? Shall I describe it in detail?
वेदोक्तं च तदेवास्याः कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम् 4.34.
Even what is declared in the Vedas does not reach a sixteenth part of her glory.
गामागता स्रोतसोंऽशाद्गङ्गा तेन प्रकीर्तिता
Because she came to the earth from a stream, she is called Gaṅgā.
तस्य कन्यास्वरूपा सा जाह्नवी तेन कीर्तिता
In the form of a maiden, she is known as Jāhnavī.
धाराभिस्तिसृभिः स्वर्गं पृथिवीमतलं तथा
With three streams she flows to heaven and to the surface of the earth.
प्रधानधारया स्वर्गे सा च मन्दाकिनी स्मृता
In heaven, by her principal stream, she is remembered as Mandākinī.
क्षीरतुल्यजला शश्वदत्युत्तुङ्गतरङ्गिणी
Her water is always like milk, with exceedingly high waves.
स्वर्गाद्धिमाद्रिमार्गेण पृथिवीमागता मुदा
From heaven, by way of the Himālaya, she joyfully came to earth.
शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशा बहुवेगवती सती
She is pure as crystal, and flows with great speed.
अहो सगरवंशेभ्यो निर्वाणमुक्तिदायिनी
Oh! She grants liberation and release to the descendants of Sagara.
अतोऽपि मृत्युसमये सतां पुण्यस्वरूपिणाम्
Therefore, even at the time of death, for those who are virtuous and embodiments of merit,
गङ्गासोपानमारुह्य सन्तो यान्ति निरामयम् ।। 4.34.
Ascending the steps of Gaṅgā, the good attain a state free from affliction.
दैवात्पुरा प्राक्तनेन मग्नं चेत्कृतपातकैः
If by fate, due to former actions, someone is submerged because of committed sins,
ततो भोगो भवेत्तेषां निश्चितं पापपुण्ययोः
Then, certainly, they will experience the results of both sin and merit.
ततः पुण्यवतां गेहे लब्ध्वा जन्म च भारते
Afterwards, being born in the house of the virtuous in Bhārata,