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,
श्रीभगवानुवाच अयोनिसम्भवा भूमौ तस्य कन्या भविष्यसि
The Blessed Lord said: 'On earth, you will be born as a daughter, not from a womb.'
तत्रैव दैवदोषेण वृक्षत्वं च लभिष्यसि
There, by the fault of fate, you will also obtain the state of a tree.
भूत्वा पश्चाच्च मत्पत्नी भविष्यसि न संशयः
Afterwards, you will become my wife—of this there is no doubt.
कलया च सरिद्भूत्वा शीघ्रं गच्छ वरानने
By a portion of yourself, become a river and swiftly go, O beautiful-faced one.
गङ्गे यास्यसि चांशेन पश्चात्त्वं विश्वपावनी
By a portion, you will go as Ganga, and afterwards you will purify the world.
भगीरथस्य तपसा तेन नीता सुदुष्करात् 2.6.
Brought down by the austerity of Bhagiratha, which was most difficult.
मदंशस्य समुद्रस्य जाया जाये ममाज्ञया
By my command, become the wife of the ocean, who is a portion of my intoxication.
गङ्गाशापेन कलया भारतं गच्छ भारति
By the curse of Ganga, go to Bharata as a portion, O Bharati.
स्वयं च ब्रह्मसदनं ब्रह्मणः कामिनी भव
And yourself, go to Brahma's abode and become Brahma's beloved.
शान्ता च् क्रोधरहिता मद्भक्ता मत्स्वरूपिणी
Peaceful, free from anger, devoted to me, and of my own form.