स्तोत्रैश्च च निकरैर्ध्यानैर्युतं पूजाविधिक्रमैः
Along with many hymns, meditations, and the procedures of worship.
भवंति विमुखा येन जना मां तत्करिष्यति
By which people become averse to me, that he will do.
जना मन्मंत्रपूताश्च गमिष्यंति च मत्पदम्
People purified by my mantra will come and reach my abode.
निष्फलं भविता सर्वं ब्रह्मांडं चैव ब्रह्मणः
All will become fruitless—the entire universe of Brahmā as well.
पृथिवीवासिनः कचित्केचित्स्वर्गनिवासिनः 9.12.
Some dwellers on earth, some dwellers in heaven.
प्रतिज्ञां सुदृढां सद्य स्ततो मूर्तिं च द्रक्ष्यति
Whoever holds firm to this vow will immediately see my form.
तच्छुत्वा जगतां धाता तमुवाच शिवं मुदा
Hearing that, the Creator of the worlds joyfully spoke to Shiva.
गंगातोयं करे कृत्वा स्वीकारं च चकार सः
Taking Ganga water in his hand, he made his acceptance.
वेदसारं करिष्यामि प्रतिज्ञापालनाय च
I will uphold the essence of the Vedas and keep my promise.
स याति कालसूत्रं च यावद्वै ब्रह्मणो वयः
He proceeds to the thread of time, for as long as Brahma's age endures.
आविर्बभूव श्रीकृष्णो राधया सहितस्ततः
Then, Shri Krishna appeared together with Radha.
परमानन्दपूर्णाश्च चक्रुश्च पुनरुत्सवम्
Filled with supreme bliss, they celebrated once again.
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं सुगोप्यं च सुदुर्लभम्
Thus, all this has been told—most secret and exceedingly rare.
राधाकृष्णांगसंभूता भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदा
Arising from the bodies of Radha and Krishna, it bestows the fruits of enjoyment and liberation.
गङ्गोपाख्यानवर्णनम् नारद उवाच कलेः पञ्चसहस्राब्दे समतीते सुरेश्वर । क्व गता सा महाभाग तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
Nārada said: O Lord of the gods, when five thousand years of Kali have passed, where did that most fortunate one go? Please explain this to me.
श्रीनारायण उवाच भारतं भारतीशापात्समागत्येश्वरेच्छया । जगाम तत्र वैकुण्ठे शापान्ते पुनरेव सा
Shri Narayana said: By the curse of Bharati, she came to Bharata by the will of the Lord; at the end of the curse, she went again to Vaikuntha.
भारती भारतं त्यक्त्वा तज्जगाम हरेः पदम् । पद्मावती च शापान्ते गङ्गा सा चैव नारद
Bharati, leaving Bharata, went to the abode of Hari; and at the end of the curse, so too did Padmavati and Ganga, O Narada.
गङ्गा सरस्वती लक्ष्यीश्चैतास्तिस्रः प्रिया हरेः । तुलसीसहिता ब्रह्मंश्चतस्रः कीर्तिताः श्रुतौ
Ganga, Sarasvati, and Lakshmi—these three are beloved of Hari; along with Tulasi, O Brahman, the four are praised in the scriptures.
नारद उवाच केनोपायेन सा देवी विष्णुपादाब्जसम्भवा । ब्रह्मकमण्डलुस्था च श्रुता शिवप्रिया च सा
Nārada said: By what means did that goddess, born from Vishnu's lotus feet, who is known to dwell in Brahma's water pot and is dear to Shiva, come to be?
बभूव सा मुनिश्रेष्ठ गङ्गा नारायणप्रिया । अहो केन प्रकारेण तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
How did she, O best of sages, become Ganga, beloved of Narayana? Please explain to me by what process this occurred.
श्रीनारायण उवाच पुरा बभूव गोलोके सा गङ्गा द्रवरूपिणी । राधाकृष्णाङ्गसम्भूता तदंशा तत्स्वरूपिणी
Shri Narayana said: Formerly, in Goloka, Ganga existed in liquid form, born from the bodies of Radha and Krishna, a portion of them, of their very nature.
द्रवाधिष्ठातृदेवी या रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि । नवयौवनसम्पन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता
She is the goddess presiding over liquids, incomparable in form on earth, endowed with ever-fresh youth and adorned with all ornaments.
शरन्मध्याह्नपद्मास्या सस्मिता सुमनोहरा । तप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभा शरच्चन्द्रसमप्रभा
Her face is like a lotus at midday in autumn, smiling and exceedingly beautiful; her complexion shines like molten gold, her radiance equal to the autumn moon.
स्निग्धप्रभातिसुस्निग्धा शुद्धसत्त्वस्वरूपिणी । सुपीनकठिनश्रोणिः सुनितम्बयुगंधरा
Her luster is gentle and exceedingly soft, her nature is pure sattva; her hips are well-rounded and firm, and she bears a graceful pair of loins.
पीनोन्नतं सुकठिनं स्तनयुग्मं सुवर्तुलम् । सुचारुनेत्रयुगलं सुकटाक्षं सुवंक्रिमम्
Her full, firm, and well-rounded pair of breasts, her beautiful pair of eyes, graceful and with charming glances, and her lovely, curved form—
वंक्रिमं कबरीभारं मालतीमाल्यसंयुतम् । सिन्दूरबिन्दुललितं सार्धं चन्दनबिन्दुभिः
Her wavy, abundant hair adorned with garlands of jasmine, decorated with a mark of vermilion along with spots of sandalwood—
कस्तूरीपत्रिकायुक्तं गण्डयुग्मं मनोरमम् । बन्धूककुसुमाकारमधरोष्ठं च सुन्दरम्
Her cheeks, delightful and adorned with musk spots, and her lower lip, beautiful and shaped like a bandhūka flower—
पक्वदाडिमबीजाभदन्तपंक्तिसमुज्ज्वलम् । वाससी वह्निशुद्धे च नीवीयुक्ते च बिभ्रती
Her row of teeth, shining like ripe pomegranate seeds, and her garments, purified by fire, with a waistband, which she wore—
सा सकामा कृष्णपार्श्वे समुवास सुलज्जिता । वाससा मुखमाच्छाद्य लोचनाभ्यां विभोर्मुखम्
She, desiring union, sat beside Krishna, bashful, covering her face with her garment and gazing at the Lord's face with her eyes—
निमेषरहिताभ्यां च पिबन्ती सततं मुदा । प्रफुल्लवदना हर्षान्नवसङ्गमलालसा
With her eyes, unblinking, she joyfully drank in his face, her countenance blooming with delight, eager for new union—