स्वकर्मणो विरोधेन भक्तिः कार्या जनार्दने
Devotion to Janardana should be performed even in opposition to one's own prescribed duties.
न तस्य तुष्यते विष्णुराचारेणैव तुष्यते
Vishnu is not pleased by mere conduct, but is pleased only by proper conduct.
आचारप्रभवो धर्मो धर्मस्य प्रभुरच्युतः
Dharma arises from proper conduct, and the source of dharma is the imperishable one.
सदाचारविहीनानां धर्मा अप्यसुखप्रदाः
For those lacking good conduct, even dharmas do not bring happiness.
यत्तु पृष्टं त्वया भूयस्तत्सर्वं गदितं मया
And whatever else you have asked, all that has been explained by me.
नारायणमणीयांसं सुखमेष्यसि शाश्वकतम्
You will easily attain the eternal, supreme Narayana.
द्वयोरन्तरदृग्याति नरकारन्कोटिशः खलः
The wicked one who creates division between two, goes to hell by the millions.
भेदकृद्दुःखमाप्नोति इह लोके परत्रघ च
The maker of discord obtains suffering in this world and in the next.
वसन्ति नरके ते तु राजंस्तव पितामहाः
O King, your forefathers now dwell in hell.
गङ्गा सर्वाणि पापानि नाशयत्येव भूपते
O King, the Ganga indeed destroys all sins.
नयति विष्णुसदनं स्पृष्टा गाङ्गेनर वारिणा
One touched by water from the Ganga is led to the abode of Vishnu.
स सर्वपापनिर्मुक्तः प्रयाति भवनं हरेः
Freed from all sins, he goes to the dwelling of Hari.
तानि कर्माणिर नश्यन्ति गङ्गाबिन्द्वभिषेचनात्
Those actions are destroyed by the sprinkling of drops of Ganga.
धर्मात्मानं धर्मराजः सद्यश्वान्तर्दधेतदा
Then, the righteous king of justice would immediately disappear.
निक्षिप्य पृथिवीं सर्वां सचिवेषु ययौ वनम्
Entrusting the whole earth to his ministers, he went to the forest.
पश्चिमे तुहिनाक्रान्ते शृङ्गेषोडशयोजने
On the farthest, snow-covered peak, sixteen yojanas in extent,
तपस्तप्त्वानयामास गङ्गां त्रैलोक्यपावनीम्
He performed austerities and brought down the Ganga, purifier of the three worlds.
कथमानीतवान्गङ्गामेतन्मे वक्तुमर्हसि
Tell me how the Ganga was brought down; you ought to relate this to me.
गच्छन्हिमाद्रिं तपसे प्राप्तो गोदावरी तटम्
Going to the Himalaya for austerity, he reached the bank of the Godavari.
कृष्णसारसमाकीर्णं मातङ्गगणसेवितम्
It was filled with black antelopes and frequented by herds of elephants.
व्रजद्वराहनिकरं चमरीपुच्छवीचितम्
Herds of wild boars roamed there, and it was adorned with the waving tails of yaks.
प्रवर्द्धितमहावृक्षं मुनिकन्याभिरादरात्
Great trees flourished there, lovingly tended by the daughters of sages.
मालतीयूथिकाकुन्दचम्पकाशअवत्थभूषितम्
Adorned with mālatī, yūthikā, kunda, campaka, and aśoka flowers.
वेदशास्त्रमहाघोषमाश्रमं प्राविशद्भुगोः
He entered the hermitage of Bhṛgu, resounding with the great chants of the Vedas and scriptures.
तेजसा सूर्यसदृशं भृगुं तत्र ददर्श सः
There he saw Bhṛgu, radiant like the sun in his brilliance.
आतिथ्यं भृगुरप्यस्य चक्रे सन्मानपूर्वकम्
Bhṛgu also offered him hospitality, with due honor and respect.
उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा विनयान्मुनिपुङ्गवम्
With joined palms and humility, he spoke to the foremost of sages.
पृच्छामि भवभीतो ऽहं नृणामुद्धारकारणम्
I ask you, fearful of worldly existence, about the means for the deliverance of people.
तन्ममाख्याहि सर्वज्ञ अनुग्राह्यो ऽस्मि ते यति
Therefore, tell me, O all-knowing one; I am worthy of your favor, O ascetic.
अन्यथा स्वकुलं सर्वं कथमुद्धर्त्तुमर्हसि
Otherwise, how could you deliver your entire lineage?