भारती सर्वलोकानां चानने मानसे स्थिता। तथैव सर्वशास्त्रेषु धर्मोद्देशं करोति सा
Speech, abiding in the faces and minds of all beings, likewise in all the scriptures, she establishes the teaching of righteousness.
विज्ञानं कलहं शोकं मोहामोहं शिवाशिवम्। तया विना जगत्सर्वं यात्यतत्त्वमिति स्मृतम्
Knowledge, conflict, sorrow, delusion and clarity, auspiciousness and inauspiciousness—all these, without her, the entire world is said to lose its true nature.
कमलासंभवश्चैव वस्त्रभूषणसंचयः। सुखं राज्यं त्रिलोके तु ततः सा हरिवल्लभा
The birth from the lotus, the collection of garments and ornaments, happiness, and sovereignty over the three worlds—all these are due to her, the beloved of Hari.
उमया हेतुना शंभोर्ज्ञानं लोकेषु संततम्। ज्ञानमाता च सा ज्ञेया शंभोरर्धाङ्गवासिनी
By the cause of Uma, the knowledge of Śambhu is spread among the worlds; she is to be known as the mother of knowledge, dwelling in half the body of Śambhu.
वर्णिकाशक्तिरत्युग्रा सर्वलोकप्रमोहिनी। सर्वलोकेषु लोकानां स्थितिसंहारकारिणी१०० 1.62.100 देव्या च निहतौ पूर्वमसुरौ मधुकैटभौ। रुरुश्चापि हतो घोरः सर्वलोकपरिश्रुतः
The power of speech is exceedingly fierce, bewildering all the worlds; in all realms, she brings about the creation and destruction of beings. By the goddess, the demons Madhu and Kaiṭabha were previously slain, and the terrible Ruru, renowned in all the worlds, was also killed.
सर्वदेवैकजेतारं सा जघ्ने महिषासुरम्। निहता लीलया देव्या येऽसुरा दैत्यपुंगवाः
She slew Mahiṣāsura, the conqueror of all the gods; by the goddess, those foremost among the demons were effortlessly destroyed.
एवं बलानि दैत्यानां निहत्य सर्वदा तया। पालितं मोदितं चैव कृत्स्नमेतज्जगत्त्रयम्
Thus, having always destroyed the powers of the demons, she has protected and delighted this entire threefold world.
धर्मद्रवस्वरूपा च सर्वधर्मप्रतिष्ठिता। महतीं तां समालोक्य मया कमंडलौ धृता
She is the very form of the essence of righteousness, established in all dharmas; beholding that great one, I held the water-pot.
विष्णुपादाब्जसम्भूता शंभुना शिरसा धृता। अस्माभिश्च त्रिभिर्युक्ता ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वरैः
Born from the lotus feet of Viṣṇu, she was received upon the head by Śambhu, and joined by us three—Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara.
धर्मद्रवा परिख्याता जलरूपा कमंडलौ। बलियज्ञेषु संभूता विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना
Known as the essence of righteousness, in the form of water in the water-pot, she was manifested in the sacrifice of Bali by the mighty Viṣṇu.
छद्मना छलितः पूर्वं बलिर्बलवतां वरः। ततः पादद्वयेनैव क्रांतं सर्वं महीतलम्
By means of a disguise, Bali, the foremost of the strong, was previously deceived; then, with just two steps, the entire earth was traversed.
नभः पादश्च ब्रह्माण्डं भित्वा मम पुरः स्थितः। मया संपूजितः पादः कमण्डलुजलेन वै
Piercing the heavens and the cosmic egg, his foot stood before me; I worshipped that foot with water from the water-pot.
प्रक्षाल्यैवार्चितात्पादाद्धेमकूटेऽपतज्जलम्। तत्कूटाच्छंकरं प्राप्य भ्रमते सा जटास्थिता
Having washed and worshipped the foot, the water fell upon the golden peak; from that peak, reaching Śaṃkara, it wandered, held in his matted locks.
ततो भगीरथेनैव समाराध्य शिवं भुवि। आनीयाराधितो नित्यं तपसा गजपुंगवः
Then, by Bhagīratha, having worshipped Śiva on earth, and by constant austerity, the great elephant was brought down and worshipped.
तेन भित्वा नगं वीर्यात्त्रिभिर्दंतैः कृतं बिलम्। ततस्त्रिबिलगा यस्मात्त्रिस्रोता लोकविश्रुता
By his strength, breaking the mountain with his three tusks, a cave was made; therefore, as she flows through three caves, she is famed among the worlds as the Three-streamed.
हरिब्रह्महरयोगात्पूता लोकस्य पावनी। समासाद्य च तां देवीं सर्वधर्मफलं लभेत्
By the union of Hari, Brahmā, and Hara, she became pure, the purifier of the world; approaching that goddess, one obtains the fruit of all righteousness.
पाठयज्ञपरैः सर्वैर्मंत्र होम सुरार्चनैः। सा गतिर्न भवेज्जंतोर्गंगा संसेवया च या
By all who are devoted to recitation, sacrifice, mantra, oblation, and worship of the gods, that goal is not attained except by service to Gaṅgā.
धर्मस्य साधनोपायो ह्यतः परो न विद्यते। त्रैलोक्यपुण्यसंयोगात्तस्मात्तां व्रज नारद
There is no means superior to this for the accomplishment of righteousness; because of the union with the merit of the three worlds, therefore, go to her, O Nārada.
गंगातोयास्थिसंयोगात्सुतास्ते सगरस्य च। स्वर्गताः पितृभिश्चैव स्वपूर्वापरजैः सह
By the union of the waters of the Ganga with their bones, the sons of Sagara, together with their ancestors of former and later generations, attained heaven.
ततो ब्रह्ममुखाच्छ्रुत्वा नारदो मुनिपुंगवः। गंगाद्वारे तपः कृत्वा ब्रह्मणा सदृशोभवत्
Then, having heard this from the mouth of Brahma, the eminent sage Narada performed austerities at the gateway of the Ganga and became equal to Brahma.
सर्वत्र सुलभा गंगा त्रिषुस्थानेषु दुर्लभा। गंगाद्वारे प्रयागे च गंगासागरसंगमे
The Ganga is easily accessible everywhere, but difficult to reach in three places: at the gateway of the Ganga, at Prayaga, and at the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean.
त्रिरात्रेणैकरात्रेण नरो याति परां गतिम्। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सद्यो मुक्तिं विचिंतयेत्
In three nights or even in a single night, a person attains the highest state; therefore, with every effort, one should contemplate immediate liberation.
ततो गच्छत धर्मज्ञाः शिवां भागीरथीमिह। अचिरेणैव कालेन स्वर्गं मोक्षं प्रगच्छथ
Therefore, O knowers of righteousness, go to the auspicious Bhagirathi here; in a short time you shall attain heaven and liberation.
विशेषात्कलिकाले च गंगा मोक्षप्रदा नृणां। कृच्छ्राच्च क्षीणसत्वानामनंतः पुण्यसंभवः
Especially in the age of Kali, the Ganga grants liberation to people; and for those whose strength is diminished by hardship, infinite merit arises.
ततस्ते ब्राह्मणा हृष्टाः श्रुत्वा व्यासाद्गिरं शुभाम्। गंगायां तु तपस्तप्त्वा मोक्षमार्गं ययुस्तदा
Then those Brahmins, delighted after hearing the auspicious words from Vyasa, performed austerities at the Ganga and set out on the path of liberation.
य इदं शृणुयान्मर्त्यः पुण्याख्यानमनुत्तमम्। सर्वं तरति दुःखौघ गंगास्नानफलं लभेत्
Whoever among mortals hears this most excellent sacred narrative crosses over all floods of sorrow and obtains the fruit of bathing in the Ganga.
सकृदुच्चारिते चैव सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत्। दानं जप्यं तथा ध्यानं स्तोत्रं मंत्रं सुरार्चनम्
By reciting it even once, one obtains the fruit of all sacrifices, as well as of giving, recitation, meditation, hymns, mantras, and worship of the gods.
तत्रैव कारयेद्यस्तु स चानंतफलं लभेत्। तस्मात्तत्रैव कर्त्तव्यं जपहोमादिकं नरैः
Whoever causes these to be performed there obtains infinite fruit; therefore, acts such as recitation and oblation should be performed there by people.
अनंतं च फलं प्रोक्तं जन्मजन्मसु लभ्यते
It is said that the infinite fruit is obtained in birth after birth.
पुलस्त्य उवाच- एतस्मिन्नंतरे पूर्वं व्यासशिष्यो महामुनिः। नमस्कृत्य गुरुं भीष्म संजयः परिपृच्छति
Pulastya said: At that time, the great sage Sanjaya, disciple of Vyasa, after bowing to his teacher Bhishma, asked him: