स्थाणु श्चरिष्णुर्महदल्पकं च असञ्च सज्जीवमजीमास
The steadfast, the moving, the great and the small, the unmanifest and the manifest, the living and the non-living.
स्वतन्त्रमेकं गुणुनां गुणं च नमामि भूयः प्रणमामि भूयः
To the independent, the one, the quality among qualities, I bow again and again.
आविर्बभूव भृपस्य संतत्पतपसोग्रतः
From the king’s intense and continuous austerity, he appeared.
त्रिलोचनमुदाराङ्गं नागयज्ञोपवीतिनम्
He had three eyes, a noble form, and wore a serpent as his sacred thread.
गजचर्माम्बरधरं सुरार्चितपदाम्बुजम्
Clad in an elephant hide, his lotus feet were worshipped by the gods.
तत उत्थाय सहसा शिवाग्रे विहिताञ्जलिः
Then, rising quickly, he stood before Shiva with hands joined in reverence.
विज्ञाय भक्तिं भूपस्य शङ्करः शशिशेखरः
Recognizing the king’s devotion, Śaṅkara, the moon-crested one,
तोषितो ऽस्मि त्वया सम्यक् स्तोत्रेण तपसा तथा
said, 'I am truly pleased with you—by your hymn and your austerity as well.'
उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा जगतामीश्वरेश्वरेश्वरम्
With joined palms, he addressed the Lord of lords of the worlds.
तदा गङ्गां प्रयच्छास्मत्पितॄणां मुक्तिहेतवे
'Then, grant me Gaṅgā for the liberation of my ancestors.'
तुभ्यं मोक्षं परश्चेति तमुक्त्वान्तर्दधे शिवः
'Liberation is granted to you and to them,' said Shiva, and then he vanished.
पावयन्ती जगत्सर्वमन्वगच्छद्भगीरथम्
Purifying the whole world, Gaṅgā followed Bhagiratha.
भागीरथीति विख्याता त्रिषु लोकेष्वभून्मुने
She became renowned as Bhāgīrathī in the three worlds, O sage.
तं देशं प्लावयामास गङ्गा सर्वसरिद्वरा
That supreme river, Gaṅgā, flooded that land.
तदैव नरके मग्ना उद्धृताश्च गतैनसः
At that very moment, those sunk in hell were lifted up, freed from sin.
त एव पूचितास्तेन गङ्गाजलपरिप्लुताः
Bathed in Gaṅgā’s water, they were honored by him.
प्रणम्याभ्यर्च्य विधिवत्प्राह तान्प्रीतमानसः
After bowing and worshipping them properly, he addressed them with a joyful heart.
मुक्ता विमानमारुह्य गच्छध्वं विष्णुमन्दिरम्
'Freed, ascend the celestial chariot and go to Viṣṇu’s abode.'
दिव्यदेहधरा भूत्वा विष्णुलोकं प्रपेदिरे
Assuming divine bodies, they reached Viṣṇu’s world.
सर्वलोकेषु विख्याता महापातकनाशिनी
She became famed in all worlds as the destroyer of great sins.
पठेच्च शृणुयाद्वापि गङ्गास्नानफलं लभेत्
Whoever recites or even listens to this attains the merit of bathing in the Ganges.
स याति विष्णुभवनं पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम्
He goes to the abode of Vishnu, from which there is no return.
श्रावितं सर्वपापन्घं गङ्गामाहात्म्य मुत्तमम्
The supreme glory of the Ganges, which destroys all sins, has been proclaimed.
किं पप्रच्छ पुनः सूत सनकं मुनिसत्तमम्
Then, O Sūta, what did you further ask of the eminent sage Sanaka?
पृष्टं पुनर्यथा प्राह प्रवक्ष्यामि तथैव तत्
What was asked again, I will now recount exactly as it was spoken.
श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मसुतो भूयः पृष्टवानिदमादरात्
Having heard, the son of Brahma again respectfully inquired as follows.
गाङ्गेयमाहात्म्यमघप्रणाशि त्वत्तो मुने कारुणिकादभीष्टम्
O compassionate sage, from you I wish to hear the greatness of the Ganges, which destroys sin.
नानोपदेशैः सुविमुग्धचित्तं प्रबोधयन्ति प्रसभं प्रसन्नम्
Various instructions do not forcibly awaken the mind that is truly pure and clear.
ददाति भक्तिं भजतां दयालुर्मुक्तिस्तु तस्या विदिता हि दासी
The compassionate one grants devotion to those who worship; for her, liberation is indeed known as a servant.
भक्तानुसेवासु महाप्रयासं विमृश्य कस्यापि न भक्तियोगम्
Considering the great effort in serving the devotees, hardly anyone attains the yoga of devotion.