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.
ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि हाहेत्युक्त्वा प्रयान्त्यलम्
Sins such as the slaying of a Brahmin, and others, depart at once, crying 'Alas!'
यः पुमान्स विमुच्येत पातकैः पूर्वसंचितैः
That man is indeed released from sins accumulated in previous lives.
स एव देवैर्मर्त्यैश्च पूजनीयो महर्षिभिः
He alone is worthy of worship by the gods, by mortals, and by great sages.
वास एव हि गङ्गायां सर्वतो ऽपि विशिष्यते
Indeed, dwelling by the Ganga surpasses all else.
स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदा गङ्गा सुखसेव्या यतः स्थिता
Because the Ganga bestows heaven and liberation, and is easy to serve wherever she abides.
यत्फलं लभते मर्त्यो गङ्गायां तद्दिनेन वै
The fruit that a mortal obtains in a single day at the Ganga—
गङ्गातीरे सुखं तिष्ठेत्स वै मोक्षस्य भाजनम्
He who dwells happily on the bank of the Ganga becomes a vessel for liberation.
प्रतिमासं चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां चैव सर्वदा
On the fourteenth and eighth days of each month, and always,
कृच्छ्राणि सर्वदा कृत्वा यत्फलं सुखमश्नुते
Having performed all penances, the fruit he enjoys is happiness.
गङ्गासेवापरस्येह दिवसार्द्धेन यत्फलम्
For one devoted to the service of the Ganga here, the fruit gained in half a day—
सर्वयज्ञतपोदानयोगस्वाध्यायकर्मभिः
The merit gained by all sacrifices, austerities, gifts, yoga, study, and actions—
यत्पुण्यं सत्यवचनैर्नैष्ठिकब्रह्मचारिणाम्
The merit that comes from truthful speech and from those who are steadfast celibates—
समातृपितृदाराणां कुलकोटिमनन्तकम्
The merit of those who honor mother, father, and wife, and of countless generations of a family—
संतोषः परमैश्वर्यं तत्त्वज्ञानं सुखात्मनाम्
Contentment, supreme prosperity, true knowledge, and happiness of the soul—
कृतकृत्यो भवेन्मर्त्यो गङ्गां प्राप्यैव केवलम्
A mortal becomes fulfilled simply by reaching the Ganga.
भक्त्या तज्जलसंस्पर्शी तज्जलं पिबते च यः
Whoever, with devotion, touches or drinks that water—
दीक्षितः सर्वयज्ञेषु सोमपानं दिने दिने
Is as if initiated in all sacrifices and drinks Soma every day.
देहं त्यक्त्वा नरास्ते तु मोदन्ते शिवसन्निधौ
When they leave the body, those people rejoice in the presence of Shiva.
अमृतान्युपभुञ्जन्ति तथा गङ्गाजलं नराः
They partake of immortality, just as those who drink the water of the Ganga.
अन्नदानैश्च गोदानैः स्वर्णदानादिभिस्तथा
By giving food, by giving cows, and by giving gold and the like—