सप्तावपरान्परान्सप्त सप्ताथ परतः परान्
Seven ancestors before and after, and then seven more beyond them—
अश्रद्धयापि गङ्गाया यत्तु नामानुकीर्तनम्
Even if one recites the name of Ganga without faith—
सर्वावस्थां गतो वापि सर्वधर्मविवर्जितः
Whether one is in any condition, or devoid of all righteousness—
ब्रह्महा गुरुहागोघ्नः स्पृष्टो वा सर्वपातकैः
Even a slayer of a Brahmin, a killer of a guru, a destroyer of cows, or one tainted by every sin—
कदा द्रक्ष्यामि तां गङ्गां कदा स्नानं लभे ह्यहम्
When shall I see that Ganga? When indeed shall I obtain her bath?
अथ स्नानफलं देवि गङ्गायाः प्रवदामि ते
Now, O goddess, I shall tell you the fruit of bathing in the Ganga.
स्नातस्य गङ्गासलिले सद्यः पापं प्रणश्यति
For one who has bathed in the waters of the Ganga, sin is instantly destroyed.
स्नातानां शुचिभिस्तोयैर्गाङ्गेयैः प्रयतात्मनाम्
For those who have bathed, with pure Ganga water and a disciplined mind—
अपहत्य तमस्तीव्रं यथा भात्युदये रविः
Their intense darkness is dispelled, just as the sun shines at dawn.
एकेनैवापि विधिना स्नानेन नृपसुन्दरि
With even a single prescribed bath, O beautiful princess—
अनेकजन्मसंभूतं पुंसः पापं प्रणश्यति
The sin accumulated over many births by a person is destroyed.
अन्यस्थानकृतं पापं गङ्गातीरे विनश्यति
Sin committed elsewhere perishes on the bank of the Ganga.
रात्रौ दिवा च संध्यायां गङ्गायां तु प्रयत्नतः
At night, by day, and at twilight, one should bathe in the Ganga with devotion.
सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वेष्टायतनेषु च
The merit gained at all sacred waters and in all desired shrines—
महापातकसंयुक्तो युक्तो वा सर्वपातकैः
Even one burdened with great sins, or with all kinds of transgressions,
गङ्गा स्नानात्परं स्नानं न भूतं न भविष्यति
There has never been, nor will there ever be, a bath superior to bathing in the Ganga.
निहत्य कामजान्दोषान्कायवाक्चित्तसंभवान्
Having destroyed faults born of desire, arising from body, speech, and mind,
वर्षं स्नाति च गङ्गायां यो नरो भक्तिसंयुतः
A man who bathes in the Ganga for a year, endowed with devotion,
आमृत्युं स्नाति गङ्गायां यो नरो नित्यमेव च
A man who bathes in the Ganga daily, until death,
समस्तभोगसंयुक्तो विष्णुलोके महीयते
Enjoying all pleasures, he is honored in the realm of Vishnu.
गङ्गायां स्नाति यो मर्त्यो नैरन्तर्येण नित्यदा
A mortal who bathes in the Ganga constantly, without interruption,
प्रातःस्नानाद्दशगुणं पुण्यं मध्यन्दिने स्मृतम्
The merit from bathing in the morning is said to be ten times greater than at midday.
कपिलाकोटिदानाद्धि गङ्गास्नानं विशिष्यते
Indeed, bathing in the Ganga surpasses the merit of giving ten million Kapila cows.
हरिद्वारे प्रयागे च सिंधुसंगे फलाधिका
At Haridwar, at Prayag, and at the confluence of rivers, the fruits are greater.
ते भित्वा मण्डलं यान्ति मोक्षं चेति रवेर्वचः
Having broken through the circle, they attain liberation; so says the Sun.
सो ऽपि यास्यति नाकं वै इत्याह वरुणश्च ताम्
Varuna also says to her: 'He too will go to heaven.'
कीर्तयिष्यामि वामोरु सावधाना निशामय
I shall proclaim, O slender-thighed one; listen attentively.
सशक्रलोके सुचिरं कालं तिष्ठेत्सगोत्रजः
He remains for a long time in the world of Indra, along with his kin.
नैरन्तर्येण विधिवद्गङ्गायां स्नाति यो नरः
A man who bathes in the Ganga continuously, according to the prescribed method,
सो ऽपि विष्णुपदं याति कुलानां शतमुद्धरन्
He too attains the abode of Vishnu, uplifting a hundred of his lineage.