युधिष्ठिराय तु शुभं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
To Yudhiṣṭhira, indeed, she is auspicious and destroys all sins.
माहात्म्यं च प्रयागस्य तीर्थानि विविधानि च
And the greatness of Prayāga and its various sacred places—
तस्यास्त्विदानीं माहात्म्यं वक्तुमर्हसि सत्तम
Now, O noble one, you should recount her greatness.
तारयेत् सर्वभूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च
She delivers all beings, both immobile and mobile.
इदानीं तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्वैकमनाः शुभम्
Now I shall declare that, O listen attentively to this auspicious tale.
ग्रामे वा यदि वारण्ये पुण्या सर्वत्र नर्मदा
Whether in village or in forest, Narmadā is holy everywhere.
सद्यः पुनाति गाङ्गेयं दर्शनादेव नार्मदम्
She instantly purifies the Ganges-born merely by her sight, O Narmada.
पुण्या च त्रिषु लोकेषु रमणीया मनोरमा
She is holy in the three worlds, delightful and charming.
तपस्तप्त्वा तु राजेन्द्र सिद्धिं तु परमां गताः
Having performed austerities, O king, they attained the highest perfection.
उपोष्य रजनीमेकां कुलानां तारयेच्छतम्
By fasting for a single night, one delivers a hundred families.
विस्तारेण तु राजेन्द्र योजनद्वयमायता
In extent, O king, she stretches for two yojanas.
पर्वतस्य समन्तात् तु तिष्ठन्त्यमरकण्टके
Around the mountain, they stand at Amarakaṇṭaka.
सर्वहिंसानिवृत्तस्तु सर्वभूतहिते रतः
One who has ceased from all harm and delights in the welfare of all beings,
तस्य पुण्यफलं राजन् शृणुष्वावहितो नृप
Hear attentively, O King, the merit and reward that accrues to such a one.
सप्सरोगणसंकीर्णो दिव्यस्त्रीपरिवारितः
Surrounded by hosts of celestial nymphs, attended by divine women,
क्रीडते देवलोके तु दैवतैः सह मोदते
He sports in the world of the gods and rejoices together with the deities.
गृहं तु लभते ऽसौ वै नानारत्नसमन्वितम्
He obtains a dwelling adorned with various precious gems,
आलेख्यवाहनैः शुभ्रैर्दासीदाससमन्वितम्
Furnished with splendid painted vehicles and attended by male and female servants.
जीवेद् वर्षशतं साग्रं तत्र भोगसमन्वितः
He lives there, enjoying pleasures, for more than a hundred years.
अनिवर्तिका गतिस्तस्य पवनस्याम्बरे यथा
His progress is unreturning, like the wind in the sky.
ह्रदो जलेश्वरो नाम त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः
There is a lake named Jaleshvara, renowned in the three worlds.
दशवर्षाणि पितरस्तर्पिताः स्युर्न संशयः
For ten years, his ancestors are satisfied—of this there is no doubt.
सरलार्जुनसंच्छन्ना नातिदूरे व्यवस्थिता
It is situated not far away, shaded by sarala and arjuna trees.
तत्र कोटिशतं साग्रं तीर्थानां तु युधिष्ठिर
There, O Yudhishthira, are more than a hundred million sacred bathing places.
नर्मदातोयसंस्पृष्टास्ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्
Those touched by the waters of the Narmada attain the highest state.
तत्र तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा विशल्यो भवति क्षणात्
There, at that holy place, a man becomes free from all wounds in an instant after bathing.
ईश्वरेण पुरा प्रोक्ता लोकानां हितकाम्यया
This was declared long ago by the Lord, desiring the welfare of all worlds.
सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति
With a mind purified from all sins, he goes to the world of Rudra.
ये वसन्त्युत्तरे कूले रुद्रलोके वसन्ति ते
Those who dwell on the northern bank reside in the world of Rudra.
समं स्नानं च दानं च यथा मे शङ्करो ऽब्रवीत्
Bathing and giving charity there are equal, just as Shankara has told me.