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.
चतुर्मास्यां पौर्णमास्यामनंतं पुण्यमेव च
On the full moon of the four-month period, the merit is infinite.
असंख्यपुण्यफलदमेतेषु स्नानदानकम्
On these occasions, bathing and giving yield immeasurable fruits of merit.
मन्वतराद्यायां तिथौ युगाद्यायां तथैव च
On the day marking the beginning of a Manu's reign, and likewise at the start of an age,
अथाप्यशोकाष्टम्यां च नवम्यां च तथा हरेः
Also on Ashoka Ashtami and Navami, as well as on the day of Hari,
दशहरादशम्यां तु युगाद्यादिसमं फलम्
On Dashahara and Dashami, the result is equal to that of the beginning of an age.
ततश्चतुर्गुणं पुण्यं द्विमहत्पूर्वके सति
Then, if preceded by two great occasions, the merit is fourfold.
चंद्रोपरागसमये सूर्ये दशगुणं ततः
At the time of a lunar eclipse, and for the sun, the merit is tenfold.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा देवेशो विरराम तयोः पुरः
Having thus spoken, the Lord of the gods ceased before them.
गंगोवाच तवाज्ञया च राजेंद्र तपसा चैव सांप्रतम्
Ganga said: By your command, O King, and through my austerities, now—
दास्यंति पापिनो मह्यं पापानि यानि कानि च 9.11.
—the sinners, whatever sins they have, will become my servants.