विमोहिनीं स्वामिसुतोञ्ज्झितां च जगाद वाक्यं विदुतामवीराम्
He spoke words of wisdom to Mohinī, who was abandoned by her master’s son.
गतिं ते कारयिष्यामि तीर्थस्नानादिकर्मणा
I will arrange your liberation through the rites of bathing in holy waters and other acts.
विससर्ज नमस्कृत्य मोहिनीपितरं मुदा
After respectfully saluting Mohinī’s father, he departed with joy.
जगाम लोकं तमसः परमव्यक्तवर्त्मना
He went to that world beyond darkness, along the path of the unmanifest.
मोहिनीं समनुग्राह्यां मत्वा हृदि विचारयन्
Reflecting in his heart that Mohinī was worthy of being uplifted,
मुहूर्त्तं ध्यानमापन्नो बुबुधे कारणं गतेः
Entering meditation for a moment, he understood the cause of her journey.
उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा सर्वलोकहिते रतः
Engaged in the welfare of all beings, he spoke with gentle words.
येन विज्ञातमात्रेण पापिनां गतिरुत्तमा
By merely knowing this, even sinners attain the highest state.
न तस्या सदृशं किञ्चिद्विद्यते पापनाशनम्
There is nothing equal to it in destroying sin.
प्रणता मोहिनी प्राह गङ्गास्नानकृतादरा
Mohinī, having bowed and performed the Ganges bath with reverence, spoke.
सर्वेषां च पुराणानां संमतं वद सांप्रतम्
Now tell what is approved by all the Purāṇas.
पश्चात्पापविनाशिन्यां स्नातुं यास्ये त्वया सह
Afterwards, I will go with you to bathe in that which destroys sin.
माहात्म्यं कथयामास गङ्गायाः पापनाशनम्
He narrated the greatness of the Ganges, the destroyer of sin.
येषां भागीरथी पुण्या समीपे वर्तते सदा
Those for whom the holy Bhāgīrathī always dwells nearby—
तां गतिं न लभेज्जन्तुर्गङ्गां संसेव्य यां लभेत्
A creature cannot attain that state by any means other than serving the Ganga, which is attained by serving her.
शेषे गङ्गां निषेवन्ते ते ऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम् न तत्फलमवाप्रोति गङ्गां सेव्य यदाप्नुयात्
Even those who worship the Ganga at the end of life also attain the highest state; but the fruit gained by serving the Ganga cannot be obtained otherwise.
मासमेकं तु गङ्गायां स्नातस्तुल्यफलावुभौ
Bathing in the Ganga for a single month yields the same result for both.
तिष्ठेद्यथेष्टं यश्चापि गङ्गायां स विशिष्यते
And whoever remains in the Ganga as long as they wish surpasses the rest.
गतिमन्वेषमाणानां न गङ्गासदृशी गतिः
For those seeking liberation, there is no path equal to the Ganga.
प्रसह्य तारयेद्गुङ्गा गच्छतो निरये ऽशुचौ
The Ganga forcibly delivers even those who are going to impure hell.
ये ऽभिगच्छन्ति सततं गङ्गामभिमतां सुरैः
Those who constantly approach the Ganga, beloved of the gods—
देवैः सेंद्रैर्मुनिभिर्मानवैश्च निषेविता सर्वकालं समृद्ध्ये
—worshipped at all times for prosperity by gods with Indra, sages, and humans—
यावत्पुण्या ह्यमावास्या दिनानि दश मोहिनि
As long as the auspicious new moon lasts, for ten days, O enchanting one—
पाताले सन्निधानं तु कुरुते स्वयमेव हि
She herself establishes her presence in the netherworld.
पञ्चम्यं तानि सा स्वर्गे भवेत्सन्निहिता सदा
On the fifth day, she is always present in heaven.
द्वापरे तु कुरुक्षेत्रं कलौ गङ्गा विशिष्यते
In the Dvapara age, Kurukshetra is foremost; in the Kali age, the Ganga excels.
गङ्गायां प्रतिमुञ्चन्ति सा तु देवी न कुत्रचित्
They immerse themselves in the Ganga, but that goddess is never absent anywhere.
पापशीला अपि नराः परां गतिमवाप्नुयुः
Even men of sinful conduct may attain the highest state.
स एव द्रवरूपेण गङ्गांभो नात्र संशयः
That very Ganga is present in liquid form—there is no doubt about this.
गङ्गांभसा च पूयन्ते नात्र कार्या विचारणा
By the water of the Ganga, one is purified—there need be no deliberation about this.