भारते कृतपापश्च स्नात्वा तत्र च लीलया । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोके वसेच्चिरम्
One who has committed sin in Bharata and bathes there playfully is freed from all sins and dwells for a long time in the world of Vishnu.
चातुर्मास्यां पौर्णमास्यामक्षयायां दिनक्षये । व्यतीपाते च ग्रहणेऽन्यस्मिन्पुण्यदिनेऽपि च
During the four-month period, on the full moon, on the imperishable day at day's end, at planetary conjunctions, eclipses, or on any other auspicious day—
अनुषङ्गेण यः स्नातो हेतुना श्रद्धयापि वा । सारूप्यं लभते नूनं वैकुण्ठे स हरेरपि
Whoever bathes there, even incidentally or with faith for some reason, surely attains resemblance in form to Hari in Vaikuntha.
सरस्वतीमनुं तत्र मासमेकं च यो जपेत् । महामूर्खः कवीन्द्रश्च स भवेन्नात्र संशयः
Whoever recites the Sarasvati mantra there for one month, even a great fool becomes a foremost poet—of this there is no doubt.
नित्यं सरस्वतीतोये यः स्नायान्मुण्डयन्नरः । न गर्भवासं कुरुते पुनरेव स मानवः
Whoever bathes daily in the waters of Sarasvati, shaving his head, does not enter the womb again as a human.
इत्येवं कथितं किञ्चिद्भारतीगुणकीर्तनम् । सुखदं कामदं सारं भूयः किं श्रोतुमिच्छसि
Thus a little has been spoken in praise of the virtues of Bharata, which brings happiness, fulfills desires, and is the essence. What more do you wish to hear?
सूत उवाच नारायणवचः श्रुत्वा नारदो मुनिसत्तमः । पुनः पप्रच्छ सन्देहमिमं शौनक सत्वरम्
Suta said: Hearing the words of Narayana, the eminent sage Narada quickly asked this doubt again, O Shaunaka.
नारद उवाच कथं सरस्वती देवी गङ्गाशापेन भारते । कलया कलहेनैव बभूव पुण्यदा सरित्
Narada said: How did the goddess Sarasvati, by the curse of Ganga, become a bestowing river in Bharata through a quarrel and discord?
श्रवणे श्रुतिसाराणां वर्धते कौतुकं मम । कथामृतेन मे तृप्तिः केन श्रेयसि तृप्यते
Hearing the essence of the scriptures increases my curiosity; my satisfaction comes from the nectar of stories—by what means is one satisfied in the pursuit of excellence?
कथं शशाप सा गङ्गा पूजितां तां सरस्वतीम् । सा तु सत्त्वस्वरूपा या पुण्यदा शुभदा सदा
How did Ganga curse Sarasvati, who was worshipped, she who is always the embodiment of virtue and bestows auspiciousness?
तेजस्विनोर्द्वयोर्वादकारणं श्रुतिसुन्दरम् । सुदुर्लभं पुराणेषु तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
The cause of debate between those two radiant ones is beautiful to hear and rare in the Puranas; please explain it to me.
श्रीनारायण उवाच शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि कथामेतां पुरातनीम् । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण सर्वपापात्प्रमुच्यते
Sri Narayana said: Listen, Narada, I will tell you this ancient story, by hearing which one is freed from all sins.
लक्ष्मीः सरस्वती गङ्गा तिस्रो भार्या हरेरपि । प्रेम्णा समास्तास्तिष्ठन्ति सततं हरिसन्निधौ
Lakshmi, Sarasvati, and Ganga—these three are also wives of Hari; with love they always remain together in the presence of Hari.
चकार सैकदा गङ्गा विष्णोर्मुखनिरीक्षणम् । सस्मिता च सकामा च सकटाक्षं पुनः पुनः
Once, Ganga gazed at Vishnu's face, smiling, desirous, and repeatedly casting sidelong glances.
विभुर्जहास तद्वक्त्रं निरीक्ष्य च क्षणं तदा । क्षमां चकार तद् दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मीर्नैव सरस्वती
The Lord laughed, seeing her face for a moment; Lakshmi forgave her upon seeing this, but Sarasvati did not.
बोधयामास पद्मा तां सत्त्वरूपा च सस्मिता । क्रोधाविष्टा च सा वाणी न च शान्ता बभूव ह
Padma, embodying goodness and smiling, sought to instruct her; but Vani, seized by anger, did not become calm.
उवाच वाणी भर्तारं रक्तास्या रक्तलोचना । कुपिता कामवेगेन शश्वत्प्रस्फुरिताधरा
Vani, with red lips and red eyes, her lips trembling constantly with anger and passion, spoke to her husband.
सरस्वत्युवाच सर्वत्र समताबुद्धिः सद्भर्तुः कामिनीं प्रति । धर्मिष्ठस्य वरिष्ठस्य विपरीता खलस्य च
Sarasvati said: The mind that remains equal everywhere, especially toward a beloved wife, belongs to a most virtuous and excellent man; the opposite is found in a wicked person.
ज्ञातं सौभाग्यमधिकं गङ्गायां ते गदाधर । कमलायां च तत्तुल्यं न च किञ्चिन्मयि प्रभो
O Gadadhara, I know that Ganga possesses greater fortune, and Lakshmi has fortune equal to hers, but in me, O Lord, there is nothing of the sort.
गङ्गायाः पद्मया सार्धं प्रीतिश्चास्ति सुसम्मता । क्षमां चकार तेनेदं विपरीतं हरिप्रिया
There is mutual affection between Ganga and Padma, which is widely approved; because of this, O beloved of Hari, she has endured this contrary situation.
किं जीवनेन मेऽत्रैव दुर्भगायाश्च साम्प्रतम् । निष्कलं जीवनं तस्या या पत्युः प्रेमवञ्चिता
What is the use of my life now, so unfortunate as I am? The life of one deprived of her husband's love is truly empty.
त्वां सर्वे सत्त्वरूपं च ये वदन्ति मनीषिणः । ते च मूर्खा न वेदज्ञा न जानन्ति मतिं तव
All those wise ones who say that you are the embodiment of all beings—they are fools, not knowers of the Veda, for they do not understand your mind.
सरस्वतीवचः श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा तां कोपसंयुताम् । मनसा च समालोच्य स जगाम बहिः सभाम्
Hearing Sarasvati's words and seeing her filled with anger, he considered the matter in his mind and then left the assembly.
गते नारायणे गङ्गामुवाच निर्भयं रुषा । वागधिष्ठातृदेवी सा वाक्यं श्रवणदुष्करम्
When Narayana had gone, the goddess who presides over speech, fearless and angry, addressed Ganga with words difficult to hear.
हे निर्लज्जे हे सकामे स्वामिगर्वं करोषि किम् । अधिकं स्वामिसौभाग्यं विज्ञापयितुमिच्छसि
"O shameless one! O lustful one! Why do you display pride in your lord? Do you wish to proclaim your superior fortune as his wife?"
मानचूर्णं करिष्यामि तवाद्य हरिसन्निधौ । किं करिष्यति ते कान्तो ममैवं कान्तवल्लभे
"Today, in the presence of Hari, I will crush your pride! What will your beloved do for you, O favorite of your lover, against me?"
इत्येवमुक्त्वा गङ्गायाः केशं ग्रहीतुमुद्यता । वारयामास तां पद्मा मध्यदेशं समाश्रिता
Having spoken thus, she prepared to seize Ganga's hair, but Padma, standing in the middle, restrained her.
शशाप वाणी तां पद्मां महाबलवती सती । वृक्षरूपा सरिद्रूपा भविष्यसि न संशयः
Vani, powerful and steadfast, cursed Padma: "You shall become both a tree and a river—there is no doubt."
विपरीतं ततो दृष्ट्वा किञ्चिन्नो वक्तुमर्हसि । सन्तिष्ठति सभामध्ये यथा वृक्षो यथा सरित्
"Having acted wrongly, you deserve no reply; you shall remain in the midst of the assembly like a tree, like a river."
शापं श्रुत्वा तु सा देवी न शशाप चुकोप ह । तत्रैव दुःखिता तस्थौ वाणीं धृत्वा करेण च
Hearing the curse, the goddess did not retaliate but grew angry; she stood there, distressed, holding Vani by the hand.