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.
गाङ्गेयं तु हरेत्तोयं पापमामरणान्तिकम्
The water of the Ganga removes sin, even up to the end of life.
न वर्ज्यं जाह्नवीतोयं न वर्ज्यं तुलसीदलम्
The water of Jahnavi must not be shunned, nor the leaf of Tulasi.
गङ्गाजलानां न तु शक्तिरस्ति वक्तुं गुणाख्यापरिमाणमत्र
Truly, there is no power to describe the immeasurable virtues of the waters of the Ganga.
गङ्गातोयस्य माहात्म्यात्सो ऽप्यत्र फलभाग्भवेत्
By the greatness of the water of the Ganga, even he here becomes a recipient of its fruit.
विशिष्टा यत्प्रयच्छन्ति भक्तेभ्यो वाञ्छितं फलम्
That which is most excellent, they grant to devotees—the desired reward.
कामधेनु स्तनोद्भूतान्भुङ्क्ते दिव्यरसान्दिवि
He enjoys in heaven the divine essences that arise from the udder of the wish-fulfilling cow.
अपहत्य तमस्तीव्रं भाति सूर्यो यथोदये
Just as the sun shines at dawn, dispelling intense darkness,
वीक्ष्य गङ्गां भवेत्पूतः पुरुषो नात्र संशयः
So, upon seeing the Ganga, a person becomes purified—of this there is no doubt.
सर्पवत्कञ्चुकं मुक्त्वा पापहीनो भवेत्स वै
Like a serpent casting off its skin, he becomes free from sin.
गङ्गांभसा विनश्यन्ति विष्णुभक्त्या यथापदः
By the water of the Ganga, sins are destroyed, just as by devotion to Vishnu.