ते विष्णुलोकं गच्छन्ति स्तूयमाना दिविस्थितैः
They go to the realm of Vishnu, praised by those dwelling in heaven.
स याति न पुनर्जन्म ब्रह्मसायुज्यमेति च
He attains union with Brahman and does not return to birth again.
सा गेतिस्त्यजतः प्राणान् गङ्गायां तु शरीरिणः
That is the path for one who gives up life in the Ganga while embodied.
सत्यमेव परं लोकमाप्नोति पितृभिः सह
He truly attains the supreme world together with his ancestors.
गतानि बहुजन्मानि यत्र यत्र मृतानि च
Wherever many births have occurred and wherever deaths have taken place,
अत्रदूरे समीपे च सदृशं योजनद्वयम्
Whether far or near, within a distance of two yojanas,
ज्ञानतो ऽज्ञानतो वापि कामतो ऽपि वा
Whether knowingly, unknowingly, or even out of desire,
प्राणेषूत्सृज्यमानेषु यो गङ्गां संस्मरेन्नरः
When life is departing, whoever remembers the Ganga,
स्पृशेद्वा पापशीलो ऽपि स वै याति परां गतिम्
Or even touches her, though sinful, he surely attains the highest state.
तस्मात्सुर्वान्प्रोह्य मुक्तिप्रदान्वै सेवेद्गङ्गामा शरीरस्य पातम्
Therefore, abandoning all gods, one should serve the Ganga, the bestower of liberation, until the fall of the body.
ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवैः पूज्यं पदमक्षय्यमश्नुते
He attains the imperishable abode, worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
चिन्तयेन्मनसा गङ्गां स गतिं परमां लभेत्
Whoever meditates upon the Ganga in his mind attains the supreme state.
भक्त्या गङ्गां स्मरन्याति शैवं वा वैष्णवं पुरम्
With devotion, one who remembers the Ganga, or the Shaiva or Vaishnava city,
प्लावयित्वा दिवं निन्ये या पापान्यगरात्मजान्
Having washed away sins, she led to heaven those born from the womb of sin.
तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते
For thousands of years, one is honored in the heavenly realm.
तत्कालमादितः कृत्वा स्वर्गलोके भवेत्स्थितिः
From that time onward, having attained it, one remains in heaven.
न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिर्ब्रह्मलोकात्कथञ्चन
There is never any return for him from Brahmaloka.
गङ्गायां मरणे यादृक्तादृक्फलमवाप्नुयात्
Whatever the manner of death at the Ganga, such is the fruit one obtains.
तदस्थिपिण्डं पुटके निधाय पश्यन् दिशं प्रेतगणोपगूढाम्
Placing the bundle of bones in a cloth, seeing the region surrounded by hosts of spirits,
स्नात्वा ततस्तीर्थवटाक्षयं च दृष्ट्वा प्रदद्यादथ दक्षिणां तु
After bathing and seeing the sacred banyan tree at the ford, one should then give a gift.
एवं कृत्वा प्रेतपुरे स्थितस्य स्वर्गे गतिः स्यात्त महेन्द्रतुल्या
Having done thus, for one dwelling in the city of the departed, the path to heaven is equal to that of Mahendra.
तत्र नारायणः स्वामी नान्यः स्वामी कदाचन
There, Narayana is the master; no other master exists at any time.
भाद्रशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां यावदाक्रमते जलम्
On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadra, as far as the water extends,
सार्द्धहस्तशतं यावद्गर्भस्तीरं ततः परम्
As far as one hundred and fifty cubits, and further to the womb-shore,
तीराद्गव्यूतिमात्रं तु परितः क्षेत्रमुच्यते
From the shore, the field is said to extend all around for the distance of a cow's cry.
एकयोजनविस्तीर्णा क्षेत्रसीमा तटद्वयात्
The boundary of the field, from both banks, is one yojana in breadth.
तां तु दृष्ट्वा पलायन्ते यथा सिंहं वनौकसः
Seeing it, they flee just as forest-dwellers flee from a lion.
सिद्धक्षेत्रं तु तज्ज्ञेयं समन्तात्तु त्रियोजनम्
That should be known as the perfected field, extending three yojanas in all directions.
निमित्तेषु च सर्वेषु तन्निवृत्तो भवेन्नरः
In all omens, a man becomes released from it.
निष्फलं तस्य तत्तीर्थं यावत्तद्धनमुच्यते
For him, that ford is fruitless as long as that wealth is spoken of.