गङ्गोपाख्यानवर्णनम् नारद उवाच
The narration of the story of Gaṅgā.
भारते भारतीशापात्सा जगाम सुरेश्वरी
Nārada said: Because of the curse of Bhāratī, the goddess of the gods went to Bhārata.
कथं कुत्र युगे केन प्रार्थिता प्रेरिता पुरा
How, where, in which age, and by whom was she formerly invoked or inspired?
श्रीनारायण उवाच तस्य भार्या च वैदर्भी शैब्या च द्वे मनोहरे
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: His wives were Vaidarbhī and Śaibyā, both exceedingly beautiful.
तत्पत्न्यामेकपुत्रश्च बभूव सुमनोहरः
From one wife, he had a single son, who was most handsome.
अन्या चाऽऽराधयामास शंकरं पुत्र कामुकी
The other, desiring a son, worshipped Śaṃkara.
गते शताब्दे पूर्णे च मांसपिंडं सुषाव सा
When a full hundred years had passed, she gave birth to a lump of flesh.
शंभुर्ब्राह्मणरूपेण तत्समीपं जगाम ह
Śaṃbhu, in the form of a brāhmaṇa, came near her.
सर्वे बभूवुः पुत्राश्च महाबलपराक्रमाः
All became sons, mighty and valiant.
कपिलस्य मुनेः शापाद्बभूवुर्भस्मसाच्च ते 9.11.
By the curse of the sage Kapila, they were reduced to ashes.
तपश्चकाराऽसमंजो गंगानयनकारणात्
Asamañja performed austerities for the purpose of bringing the Gaṅgā.
अंशुमांस्तस्य तनयो गंगानयनकारणात्
Aṃśumān, his son, also sought to bring the Gaṅgā.
भगीरथस्तस्य पुत्रो महाभागवतः सुधीः
Bhagīratha, his son, was a great devotee and wise.
तपः कृत्वा लक्षवर्षं गंगानयनकारणात्
He performed austerities for a hundred thousand years to bring the Gaṅgā.
द्विभुजं मुरलीहस्तं किशोरगोपवेषिणम्
He saw the two-armed one, holding a flute, appearing as a youthful cowherd.
स्वेच्छामयं परं ब्रह्म परिपूर्णतमं प्रभुम्
He is the Supreme Brahman, self-willed, the most complete Lord.
निर्लिप्तं साक्षिरूपं च निर्गुणं प्रकृतेः परम्
Unattached, witness-like, without qualities, beyond nature.
वह्निशुद्धांशुकाधानं रलभूषणभूषितम्
Clad in garments purified by fire, adorned with various ornaments.
लीलया च वरं प्राप वांछितं वंशता रणम्
By his play, he obtained the desired boon—the continuation of his lineage.
श्रीभगवानुवाच सगरस्य सुतान्सर्वान्वृतान्कुरु ममाज्ञया ।।9.11.
Śrī Bhagavān said: At my command, accept all the sons of Sagara.
त्वत्स्पर्शवायुनाः पूता यास्यंति मम मंदिरम्
Purified by the wind of your touch, they will enter my temple.
मत्पार्षदा भविष्यंति सर्व कालं निरामयाः
They will become my attendants, forever free from disease.
कोटिजन्मार्जितं पापं भारते यत्कृतं नृभिः
The sin accumulated over millions of births, committed by men in Bharata,
स्पर्शनाद्दर्शनाद्देव्याः पुण्यं दशगुणं ततः
By touching or seeing the Goddess, the merit gained is tenfold.
शतकोटिजन्मपापं नश्यतीति श्रुतौ श्रुतम्
It is heard in scripture that the sin of a hundred million births is destroyed.
जन्मसंख्यार्जितान्येव कामतोऽपि कृतानि च
Even those sins earned through countless births or committed out of desire,
पुण्याहस्नानतः पुण्यं वेदा नैव वदंति च
The Vedas do not declare merit from bathing on auspicious days.
ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाद्याश्च सर्वं नैव वदंति च
Nor do Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others declare it.
पुण्यं दशगुणं चैव मौसलस्नानतः परम्
The merit gained from bathing at Mausala is ten times greater.
अमायां चापि तत्तुल्यं द्विगुणं दक्षिणायने 9.11.
On Amavasya it is equal, and in the southern solstice, it is double.