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—
ततः शतगुणं पुण्यं गङ्गांभश्चुलुकाशनात्
The merit from sipping even a handful of Ganga water is a hundred times greater than that.
ततो ऽधिकफलं गङ्गातोयपानादवाप्यते
Even greater fruit is obtained by drinking the water of the Ganga.
स्वच्छन्दं यः पिबेदंभस्तस्य मुक्तिः करे स्थिता
Whoever freely drinks this water, for him liberation is held in his hand.
नार्मदं दशभिर्मासैर्गाङ्गं वर्षेण जीर्यति
The water of the Narmada loses its potency in ten months, but that of the Ganga in a year.
तदुत्तरफलावाप्तिर्गङ्गायामस्थियोगतः
After that, the fruit is attained by the presence of Ganga water with the bones.
यः पिबेत्तु यथेष्ठं हि गङ्गाम्भः स विशिष्यते
Whoever drinks Ganga water as much as he wishes, he excels.
स स्वर्गं ज्ञानममलं योगं मोक्षं च विन्दति
He attains heaven, pure knowledge, yoga, and liberation.
गोमूत्रयावकाहाराद्गाङ्गपानं विशिष्यते
Drinking Ganga water surpasses subsisting on cow's urine and barley gruel.
यदुक्तं हि पुराणेषु मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः
That which has been spoken in the Purāṇas by sages who perceive the truth,
गङ्गासंदर्शनात्तद्वत्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Just as one is freed from all sins by seeing the Gaṅgā,