मुक्ताजालपरिच्छन्नान्वेणुवीणानिनादितान्
Adorned with strings of pearls and resounding with the music of flutes and vīṇās,
गन्धर्वदेहरुचिरान्दिव्यभोगसमन्वितान्
They possess the beautiful forms of Gandharvas and enjoy divine pleasures.
गङ्गायां तु नरः स्नात्वा यो नित्यं लिङ्गमर्चयेत्
But the man who bathes in the Ganges and daily worships the liṅga—
अग्निहोत्राणि वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च बहुदक्षिणाः
Agnihotra sacrifices, the Vedas, and sacrifices with abundant gifts—
पितॄनुदिश्य वा देवान्गङ्गांभिभिः प्रसिंचयेत्
He should sprinkle the Ganges water for the ancestors or the gods.
मृत्कुंभात्ताम्रकुंभैस्तु स्नानं दशगुणं स्मृतम्
Bathing with water from an earthen or copper pot is said to be ten times more meritorious.
एवमर्घे च नैवेद्ये बलिपूजादिषु क्रमात्
In the same way, in arghya, naivedya, bali, worship, and other rites, successively—
विभवे सति यो मोहान्न कुर्याद्विधिविस्तरम्
If someone, though able, neglects out of delusion to perform the full ritual as prescribed—
देवानां दर्शनं पुण्यं दर्शनात्स्पर्शनं वरम्
The sight of the gods is meritorious, but touching them is considered superior to seeing.
प्राहुर्गङ्गाजलैः स्नानं घृतस्नानसमं बुधाः
The wise declare that bathing with Ganges water is equal to bathing in ghee.
मागधप्रस्थमात्रेण ताम्रपात्रस्थितेन च
With a measure equal to a Māgadha prastha, and placed in a copper vessel,
आपः क्षीरं कुशाग्राणि घृतं दधि तथा मधु
Water, milk, blades of kuśa grass, ghee, curd, and also honey—
अष्टाङ्गैरेष युक्तोर्ऽघो भानवे परिकीर्तितः
This arghya, composed of eight ingredients, is proclaimed for the Sun.
गङ्गातीरे प्रतिष्ठां तु यः करोति नरोत्तमः
Whoever establishes a residence on the bank of the Ganges, O best of men—
अन्यतीर्थेषु करणात्कोटिगुणं भवेत्
By performing rites at other sacred places, the merit becomes ten million times greater.
सलक्षणानि कृत्वा तु प्रतिष्ठाप्य दिने दिने
Having performed the prescribed rites, one should establish them day by day.
गङ्गायां निक्षिपेन्नित्यं तस्य पुपयमनन्तकम्
One should always deposit them in the Ganges; his merit thereby becomes endless.
अष्टाक्षरं जपेद्भक्त्य मुक्तिस्तस्य करे स्थिता
By reciting the eight-syllabled mantra with devotion, liberation rests in his hand.
षण्मासं जपतः सर्वा ह्युपतिष्ठन्ति सिद्धयः
For one who recites for six months, all perfections indeed attend him.
चतुर्विशतिलक्षं वै जपेत्साक्षात्सशङ्करः
One who recites twenty-four lakhs, with Śaṅkara himself, directly attains it.
अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा जपन्निष्पातको भवेत्
Whether impure or pure, by reciting, one becomes freed from sin.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पूजयेदमरापगाम्
Therefore, with every effort, one should worship the river of the immortals.
रत्नकुंभसितांभोजवराभयकरं शुभाम्
She is auspicious, holding a lotus, a jewel pitcher, and gestures of boon and fearlessness.
सुप्रसन्नां सुवदनां करुणार्द्रहृदंबुजाम्
She is very gracious, with a beautiful face, and a heart-lotus softened by compassion.
ध्यात्वा जलमयीं गङ्गां पूजयन्पुण्यभाग्भवेत्
Meditating on the Ganges as composed of water and worshipping her, one becomes endowed with merit.
स एव देवसदृशो बहुकाले फलाधिकः
He alone, resembling a god, obtains greater fruit over a long time.
क्रोधात्पीता पुनस्त्यक्ता कर्णरङ्घ्रात्तु दक्षिणात्
If, out of anger, she is drunk and then abandoned from the right ear or foot—
अक्षयायां तु वैशाखे कार्तिके ऽपि शुभानने
In the imperishable month of Vaiśākha, and also in Kārtika, O auspicious-faced one,
विष्णुं गङ्गां च शंभुं च पूजयेद्भक्ति भावतः
With devotion, one should worship Viṣṇu, Gaṅgā, and Śaṃbhu.
तुलसीबिल्वपत्राद्यैर्मातुलुङ्गफलादिभिः
With tulasī, bilva leaves, and other such things, and with fruits like citron,