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.
गंगायाः पद्मया सार्द्धं प्रीतिश्चापि सुसम्मता
Affection between Gaṅgā and Padma is highly esteemed.
किं जीवनेन मेऽत्रैव दुर्भगायाश्च साम्प्रतम्
What is the use of living here now, being so unfortunate?
त्वां सर्वेशं सत्त्वरूपं ये वदन्ति मनीषिणः
The wise declare you, O Lord of all, to be of pure nature.
सरस्वतीवचः श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा तां कोपसंयुताम्
Hearing Sarasvatī's words and seeing her filled with anger,
गते नारायणे गंगामवोचन्निर्भयं रुषा
When Nārāyaṇa departed, Gaṅgā spoke fearlessly in wrath.
हे निर्लज्जे सकामे त्वं स्वामिगर्वं करोषि किम्
O shameless one, full of desire, why do you display pride in your husband?
मानहानिं करिष्यामि तवाद्य हरिसन्निधौ 2.6.
Today, I will bring about your humiliation in the presence of Hari.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा गंगाया जिघृक्षुं केशमुद्यताम्
Having spoken thus, she raised her hand to seize Gaṅgā's hair.
शशाप वाणी तां पद्मां महाकोपवती सती
Vāṇī, filled with great anger, cursed Padma.
विपरीतं यतो दृष्ट्वा किंचिन्नो वक्तुमर्हसि
Since you have acted wrongly, you should not speak anything further.
शापं श्रुत्वा च सा देवी न शशाप चुकोप न
Hearing the curse, the goddess neither cursed nor became angry.
अत्युद्धतां च तां दृष्ट्वा कोपप्रस्फुरितानना
Seeing her excessively agitated, her face trembling with rage,
गंगोवाच वाग्दुष्टा वागधिष्ठात्री देवीयं कलहप्रिया
Gaṅgā said: This goddess, the mistress of speech, is harsh in words and fond of quarrel.
यावती योग्यताऽस्याश्च यावती शक्तिरेव वा
Whatever her capacity, whatever her power may be,
स्वबलं यन्मम बलं विज्ञापयितुमर्हतु
Let him declare what strength of his matches my own strength.
अधो मर्त्यं सा प्रयातु सन्ति यत्रैव पापिनः 2.6.
Let her go down to the mortal world, where indeed the sinners dwell.
इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा तां शशाप सरस्वती
Hearing these words, Sarasvati cursed her.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र भगवानाजगाम ह
At that very moment, the Blessed Lord arrived there.
सरस्वतीं करे धृत्वा वासयामास वक्षसि
Taking Sarasvati by the hand, he seated her upon his chest.
श्रुत्वा रहस्यं तासां च शापस्य कलहस्य च
Having heard the secret of their curse and quarrel,