अध्यापिताश्च यैः शिष्या यैरधीतं मुनीश्वरैः
Those disciples who were taught, and those great sages who studied,
त्वं संस्तुता पूजिता च मुनीन्द्रमनुमानवैः 2.5.
You are praised and worshipped by the foremost sages, Manu, and the descendants of Manu.
जडीभूतः सहस्रास्यः पञ्चवक्त्रश्चतुर्मुखः
The thousand-headed, five-faced, and four-faced ones became stupefied.
इत्युक्त्वा याज्ञवल्क्यश्च भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरः
Having spoken thus, Yājñavalkya, with his neck bent in devotion,
तदा ज्योतिस्त्वरूपा सा तेनादृष्टाऽप्युवाच तम्
Then she, in the form of light, though unseen by him, spoke to him.
याज्ञवल्क्यकृतं वाणीस्तोत्रं यः संयतः पठेत्
Whoever, with self-restraint, recites this hymn to Vāṇī composed by Yājñavalkya,
महामूर्खश्च दुर्मेधा वर्षमेकं च यः पठेत्
Even a great fool or one of dull intellect, if he recites it for one year,
नारायण उवाच गङ्गाशापेन कलया कलहाद्भारते सरित्
Nārāyaṇa said: Because of Gaṅgā's curse, because of quarrels, and because of conflict, O river of Bhārata—
पुण्यदा पुण्यजननी पुण्यतीर्थस्वरूपिणी
She is the giver of merit, the mother of virtue, and the very embodiment of sacred pilgrimage sites.
तपस्विनां तपोरूपा तपस्याकाररूपिणी
Among ascetics, she is the form of austerity, and she takes the shape of penance itself.
ज्ञाने सरस्वतीतोये गतं यैर्मानवैर्भुवि
In knowledge, she is Sarasvatī; in water, she is present; those humans who have attained her on earth—
भारते कृतपापश्च स्नात्वा तत्रैव लीलया
—even those in Bhārata who have committed sins, by bathing there playfully, are purified.
चतुर्दश्यां पौर्णमास्यामक्षयायां दिनक्षये
On the fourteenth day, on the full moon, on the imperishable day at the end of the day—
अनुषङ्गेण यः स्नाति हेलया श्रद्धयाऽपि वा
—whoever bathes there, whether casually, with indifference, or even with faith—
सरस्वतीमन्त्रकं च मासमेकं तु यो जपेत्
—and whoever recites the Sarasvatī mantra for one month—
नित्यं सरस्वतीतोये यः स्नात्वा मुण्डयेन्नरः
—whoever daily bathes in the waters of Sarasvatī and shaves his head—
इत्येवं कथितं किंचिद्भारतीगुणकीर्त्तनम् 2.6.
Thus, a little has been told about the praise of Bhārata’s virtues.
सौतिरुवाच पुनः पप्रच्छ सन्देहच्छेदं शौनक सत्वरम्
Sauti said: Again, O Śaunaka, he quickly asked to dispel his doubt.
नारद उवाच कलया कलहेनैव समभूत्पुण्यदा सरित्
Nārada said: By a portion and by quarrel, the river that bestows merit came to be.
श्रवणे श्रुतिसाराणां वर्द्धते कौतुकं मम
In hearing the essence of these sacred stories, my curiosity increases.
कथं शशाप सा गङ्गा पूजितां तां सरस्वतीम्
How did Ganga curse Sarasvatī, who was being worshipped?
तेजस्विन्योर्द्वयोर्वादकारणं श्रुतिसुन्दरम्
The cause of the dispute between those two radiant ones is delightful to hear.
नारायण उवाच यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण सर्वपापात्प्रमुच्यते
Nārāyaṇa said: By merely remembering her, one is freed from all sins.
लक्ष्मीस्सरस्वती गङ्गा तिस्रो भार्य्या हरेरपि
Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, and Gaṅgā—these three are also the wives of Hari.
चकार सैकदा गङ्गा विष्णोर्मुखनिरीक्षणम्
Once, Gaṅgā gazed upon the face of Viṣṇu.
विभुर्जहास तद्वक्त्रं निरीक्ष्य च मुदा क्षणम्
The Lord, seeing her face, smiled joyfully for a moment.
बोधयामास तां पद्मा सत्त्वरूपा च सस्मिता 2.6.
Padma, whose nature is purity, was instructed by her with a gentle smile.
उवाच गङ्गां भर्त्तारं रक्तास्या रक्तलोचना
With red lips and red eyes, she spoke to Gaṅgā, her husband.
सरस्वत्युवाच धर्मिष्ठस्य वरिष्ठस्य विपरीता खलस्य च
Sarasvatī said: Of the righteous, the eminent, and the contrary, the wicked as well.
ज्ञातं सौभाग्यमधिकं गंगायां ते गदाधर
O Gadādhara, I have understood that Gaṅgā possesses greater fortune.