पिंडादूर्ध्वं स्थिता ये च पितरो मातृगोत्रजाः। भवंति सुखिनः सर्वे मर्त्याश्शतसहस्रशः
The ancestors who are situated above the rice-ball, and those born of the maternal line, all become happy mortals by the hundreds and thousands.
स्वर्गे तस्य स्थिताः सत्वा अधःस्था मध्यवासिनः। नित्यं वांञ्छंति सद्गंगां गच्छंतु सुरनिम्नगाम्
Those beings who dwell in heaven, those below, and those in the middle realms, all constantly desire to go to the blessed Ganga, the divine river.
एको गच्छति गंगां यः पूयंते तस्य पूरुषाः। एतदेव महापुण्यं तरते तारयत्यपि
When one person goes to the Ganga, his ancestors are purified; this alone is great merit—he crosses over and also causes others to cross.
गंगा कृत्स्नगुणं वक्तुं न शक्तश्चतुराननः। अतः किंचिद्वदाम्यत्र भागीरथ्या द्विजा गुणम्
Even the Four-faced One is not able to speak the full greatness of the Ganga; therefore, O twice-born, I will tell here a little of Bhagirathi's virtue.
मुनयः सिद्धगंधर्वा ये चान्ये सुरसत्तमाः। गंगातीरे तपस्तप्त्वा स्वर्गलोकेऽच्युताभवन्
Sages, perfected beings, Gandharvas, and other excellent gods, having performed austerities on the banks of the Ganga, became unfallen in the heavenly world.
दिव्येन वपुषा सर्वे कामगेन रथेन च। अद्यापि न निवर्तंते रत्नपूर्णक्षयेषु वै
All of them, with divine bodies and wish-fulfilling chariots, even now do not return from the mansions filled with jewels.
प्रासादा यत्र सौवर्णास्सर्वलोकोर्ध्वगाश्शिवाः। इष्टद्रव्यैः सुसंपूर्णाः स्त्रियो यत्र मनोरमाः
There, the golden palaces are auspicious and rise above all worlds, filled with desired treasures, and the women there are charming.
पारिजातः समाः पुष्पवृक्षाः कल्पद्रुमोपमाः। गंगातीरे तपस्तप्त्वा तत्रैश्वर्यं लभंति हि
The flowering trees there are like Parijata and resemble wish-fulfilling trees; by performing austerities on the banks of the Ganga, they attain such sovereignty.
तपोभिर्बहुभिर्यज्ञैर्व्रतैर्नानाविधैस्तथा। पुरुदानैर्गतिर्या च गंगां संसेवतां च सा
The result attained by many austerities, sacrifices, and various vows, as well as abundant gifts, is also gained by those who serve the Ganga.
जारजं पतितं दुष्टमंत्यजं गुरुघातिनम्। सर्वद्रोहेण संयुक्तं सर्वपातकसंयुतम्
One who is born of adultery, fallen, wicked, an outcaste, a killer of a teacher, joined with all kinds of treachery, and associated with every sin—
त्यजंति पितरं पुत्राः प्रियं पत्न्यः सुहृद्गणाः। अन्ये च बांधवाः सर्वे गंगा तु न परित्यजेत्
Sons abandon their father, beloved wives and groups of friends do so, and all other relatives as well; but the Ganga never abandons anyone.
यथा माता स्वयं जन्ममलशौचं च कारयेत्। क्रोडीकृत्य तथा तेषां गंगा प्रक्षालयेन्मलम्
Just as a mother herself cleanses the impurity of birth, embracing her child, so does the Ganga wash away their impurity.
भवंति ते सुविख्याता भोग्यालंकारपूजिताः। दर्शने क्रियते गंगा सकृद्भक्त्या नरैस्तु यैः
They become widely renowned, honored with enjoyments and adornments, those who, even once, worship the Ganga with devotion.
तेषां कुलानां लक्षं तु भवात्तारयते शिवा। स्मृतार्ति हर्त्री यैर्ध्याता संस्तुता साधुमोदिता
The auspicious Ganga delivers a hundred thousand families of those who remember her, who meditate upon her, praise her, and rejoice in her.
गंगा तारयते नॄणामुभौ वंशौ भवार्णवात्। संक्रांतिषु व्यतीपाते ग्रहणे चंद्रसूर्ययोः
The Ganga delivers both lineages of men from the ocean of worldly existence, during transitions, eclipses of the moon and sun.
पुण्ये स्नात्वा तु गंगायां कुलकोटिं समुद्धरेत्। शुक्लपक्षे दिवामर्त्या गंगायामुत्तरायणे
By bathing in the Ganga at auspicious times, one uplifts a crore of one's lineage; during the bright fortnight, in daylight, and when the sun moves northward in the Ganga.
धन्या देहं विमुंचंति हृदिस्थे च जनार्दने। अनेन विधिना यस्तु भागीरथ्या जले शुभे
Blessed are those who relinquish their bodies with Janardana abiding in their hearts; by this method, whoever in the pure waters of Bhagirathi—
प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा व्रजेत्स्वर्गं पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम्। यो गंगानुगतो नित्यं सर्वदेवानुगो हि सः
Having abandoned their life-breath, they go to heaven, never to return; whoever follows the Ganga always, indeed follows all the gods.
सर्वदेवमयो विष्णुर्गंगा विष्णुमयी यतः। गंगायां पिंडदानेन पितॄणां वै तिलोदकैः
Vishnu is composed of all the gods, and the Ganga is composed of Vishnu; by offering rice-balls and sesame-water to ancestors in the Ganga—
नरकस्था दिवं यांति स्वर्गस्था मोक्षमाप्नुयुः। परदारपरद्रव्य बाधा द्रोहपरस्य च
Those dwelling in hell attain heaven, those in heaven gain liberation; even for those who harm another's wife or property, or are hostile to others.
गतिर्मनुष्यमात्रस्य गंगैव परमा गतिः। वेदशास्त्रविहीनस्य गुरुनिंदापरस्य च
For every human being, the Ganga is the supreme destination; even for one lacking Vedic scripture, or who reviles the teacher.
समयाचारहीनस्य नास्ति गंगासमा गतिः। किं यज्ञैर्बहुवित्ताढ्यैः किं तपोभिः सुदुष्करैः
For one lacking proper conduct and observance, there is no destination equal to the Ganga; what use are many sacrifices with abundant wealth, or difficult austerities?
स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदा गंगा सुखसौभाग्यपूजिता। नियमैः परमैर्नित्यं किं योगैश्चित्तरोधकैः
The Ganga bestows heaven and liberation, worshipped for happiness and good fortune; what need is there for highest disciplines or yogas that restrain the mind?
भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदा गंगा सुखमोक्षाग्रतः स्थिता। अनेकजन्मसंघात पापं पुंसां विनश्यति
The Ganga grants both enjoyment and liberation, established foremost in happiness and release; the multitude of sins from many births is destroyed for men.
स्नानमात्रेण गंगायां सद्यः स्यात्पुण्यभाङ्नरः। प्रभासे गोसहस्रस्य राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे
By merely bathing in the Ganga, a person instantly becomes a sharer in merit; at Prabhasa, during the eclipse of the sun devoured by Rahu, one gains the fruit of giving a thousand cows.
लभते यत्फलं दाने गंगास्नानाद्दिनेदिने। दृष्ट्वा तु हरते पापं स्पृष्ट्वा तु लभते दिवम्
The fruit obtained by giving, is gained daily by bathing in the Ganga; by seeing her, sin is destroyed, by touching her, one attains heaven.
प्रसंगादपि सा गंगा मोक्षदा त्ववगाहिता। सर्वेन्द्रियाणां चापल्यं वासनाशक्तिसंभवम्
Even by mere contact, that Ganga bestows liberation when entered; the restlessness of all the senses arises from the power of latent impressions.
निर्घृणत्वं ततो गंगा दर्शनात्प्रविनश्यति। परद्रव्याभिकांक्षित्वं परदाराभिलाषिता
By the sight of Ganga, cruelty is destroyed; the desire for others’ wealth and longing for others’ spouses vanish.
परधर्मे रुचिश्चैव दर्शनादेव नश्यति। यदृच्छालाभ संतोषस्स्वधर्मेषु प्रवर्तते
Even the inclination toward another’s duty is lost by her sight; contentment with what comes by chance arises in one’s own duty.
सर्वभूतसमत्वं च गङ्गायां मज्जनाद्भवेत्। यस्तु गंगां समाश्रित्य सुखं तिष्ठति मानवः
Equality toward all beings is attained by bathing in Ganga; and the person who abides in Ganga lives happily.