प्राचीमेवेह वत्स्यामि त्वया सार्द्धमहं सदा। सरस्वती महापुण्या क्षेत्रे चास्मिन्विशेषतः
I shall dwell always in the east here with you, especially in this field of the highly sacred Sarasvati.
न तस्य दुर्लर्भं किंचिदिह लोके परत्र च। सरस्वत्युत्तरे तीरे यस्त्यजेदात्मनस्तनुम्१५० 1.18.
There is nothing difficult to obtain in this world or the next for one who abandons his body on the northern bank of the Sarasvati.
प्राचीतटे जाप्यपरो न चेह म्रियते पुनः। आप्लुतो वाजिमेधस्य फलमाप्स्यति पुष्कलं
One devoted to recitation on the eastern shore does not die here again; having bathed, he attains the abundant fruit of a horse-sacrifice.
नियमैश्चोपवासैश्च कर्शयन्देहमात्मनः। जलाहारो वायुभक्षः पर्णाहारश्च तापसः
By disciplines and fasts, emaciating his own body, the ascetic subsists on water, air, or leaves.
तथा स्थंडिलशायी च ये चान्ये नियमाः पृथक्। करोति यो द्विजश्रेष्ठो नियमांस्तान्व्रतानि च
Likewise, those who sleep on the ground and practice other separate disciplines—whichever disciplines and vows the best of twice-born performs,
स याति शुद्धदेहश्च ब्रह्मणः परमं पदं। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु यैर्दत्तं तिलमात्रं तु कांचनं
He attains the supreme state of Brahman with a purified body; and whatever is given at that sacred place, even a morsel of sesame or gold,
मेरुदानसमं तत्स्यात्पुरा प्राह प्रजापतिः। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु ये श्राद्धं करिष्यंति हि मानवाः
Is equal to a gift of Mount Meru, so said the Lord of Creatures long ago; and those who perform ancestral rites at that sacred place,
एकविंशकुलोपेताः स्वर्गं यास्यंति ते नराः। पितॄणां च शुभं तीर्थं पिंडेनैकेन तर्पिताः
Those men, accompanied by twenty-one generations, will go to heaven; and the ancestors, satisfied by a single ball of rice at that sacred place,
ब्रह्मलोकं गमिष्यंति स्वपुत्रेणेह तारिताः। भूयश्चान्नं न चेच्छंति मोक्षमार्गं व्रजंति ते
Will go to the world of Brahma, having been delivered here by their own son; and if they do not desire food again, they proceed on the path of liberation.
प्राचीनत्वं सरस्वत्या यथा भूतं शृणुष्व तत्। सरस्वती पुरा प्रोक्ता देवैः सर्वैः सवासवैः
Hear now the ancient origin of the Sarasvati as it truly was; the Sarasvati was formerly spoken of by all the gods together with the Vasus.
तटं त्वया प्रयातव्यं प्रतीच्यां लवणोदधेः। वडवाग्निमिमं नीत्वा समुद्रे निक्षिपस्व ह
You must go to the shore in the west of the salt ocean, and taking this submarine fire, deposit it in the sea.
एवं कृते सुराः सर्वे भवंति भयवर्जिताः। अन्यथा वाडवाग्निस्तु दहते स्वेन तेजसा
When this is done, all the gods become free from fear; otherwise, the submarine fire burns with its own energy.
तस्माद्रक्षस्व विबुधानेतस्मादचिराद्भयात्। मातेव भव सुश्रोणि सुराणामभयप्रदा
Therefore, protect the gods from this danger soon; be like a mother, O beautiful-hipped one, granting fearlessness to the gods.
एवमुक्ता तु सा देवी विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना। आह नाहं स्वतंत्रास्मि पिता मे व्रियतां स्वराट्
Thus addressed by the mighty Vishnu, the goddess replied: 'I am not independent; let my father, the sovereign, be chosen.'
तदाज्ञाकारिणी नित्यं कुमारीह धृतव्रता। पित्रादेशाद्विना नाहं पदमेकमपि क्वचित्
Always obedient to his command, a maiden here, steadfast in vows, I do not go even a single step anywhere without my father's instruction.
गच्छामि तस्मात्कोप्यन्य उपायश्चिंत्यतामहो। तदाशयं विदित्वाहुस्ते समेत्य पितामहं
Therefore, let some other means be considered; knowing her intention, they all approached the grandfather.
नान्येन शक्यते नेतुं वडवाग्निः पितामह। अदृष्टदोषाम्मुक्त्वैकां कुमारीं तनयां तव
No one else is able to lead the submarine fire, O Forefather, except for your daughter, who is free from unseen faults and is a maiden.
सरस्वतीं समानीय कृत्वांके वरवर्णिनीं। शिरस्याघ्रायसस्नेहमुवाचाथसरस्वतीम्
Bringing Sarasvati, the radiant maiden, and placing her on his lap, he affectionately smelled her head and then spoke to Sarasvati.
मां च देवि सुराः प्राहुः स त्वं ब्रूहि यशस्विनीम्। नीत्वा विनिक्षिपेदेनं बाडवं लवणांबुनि
O goddess, the gods called me; now you, illustrious one, speak. Lead and cast this submarine fire into the salty ocean.
पितुर्वाक्यं हि तच्छ्रुत्वा वियुक्ता कुररी यथा। पित्रा तदैव सा कन्या रुरुदे दीनमानसा
Hearing her father's words, she became separated like a female crane, and at that very moment, the maiden wept, her mind distressed.
शोभते तन्मुखं तस्याः शोकबाष्पाविलेक्षणं। सितं विकसितं तद्वत्पद्मं तोयकणोक्षितम्
Her face, with eyes clouded by tears of sorrow, shone like a white, fully blossomed lotus sprinkled with drops of water.
तत्तथाविधमालोक्य पितामहपुरस्सराः। विबुधाः शोकभावस्य सर्वे वशमुपागताः
Seeing her in such a state, all the gods, led by the Forefather, were overcome by the feeling of sorrow.
संस्तभ्य हृदयं तस्याः शोकसंतापितं तदा। पितामहस्तामुवाच मा रोदीर्नास्ति ते भयम्
Then, steadying her heart, which was afflicted by grief, the Forefather spoke to her: 'Do not weep; there is no danger for you.'
मान लाभश्च भविता तव देवानुभावतः। नीत्वा क्षारोदमध्ये तु क्षिपस्व ज्वलनं सुते
Honor and gain will come to you by the power of the gods. Lead the fire, O daughter, and cast it into the midst of the salty ocean.
एवमुक्ता तु सा बाला बाष्पाकुलितलोचना। प्रणम्य पद्मजन्मानं गच्छाम्युक्तवती तु सा
Thus addressed, the young girl, her eyes filled with tears, bowed to the Lotus-born and said, 'I will go,' and departed.
मा भैरुक्ता पुनस्तैस्तु पित्रा चापि तथैव सा। त्यक्त्वा भयं हृष्टमनाः प्रयातुं समवस्थिता
Again, her father and those others said, 'Do not fear.' She abandoned her fear and, with a joyful heart, prepared to depart.
तस्याः प्रयाणसमये शंखदुंदुभिनिस्वनैः। मंगलानां च निर्घोषैर्जगदापूरितं शुभैः
At the time of her departure, the world was filled with auspicious sounds of conch shells, drums, and the resonance of blessings.
सितांबरधराधन्या सितचंदनमंडिता। शरदंबुजसच्छाय तारहारविभूषिता
She was adorned in white garments, decorated with white sandalwood, her radiance like an autumn lotus, and embellished with a necklace of stars.
संपूर्णचंद्रवदना पद्मपत्रायतेक्षणा। शुभां कीर्तिं सुरेशस्य पूरयंती दिशो दश
Her face was like a full moon, her eyes extended like lotus petals, spreading the auspicious fame of the lord of gods in all ten directions.
स्वतेजसा तद्धृदयान्निःसृता भासयज्जगत्। अनुव्रजन्ती तां गंगा तयोक्ता वरवर्णिनी
With her own brilliance, she departed from their hearts, illuminating the world; as she went, Ganga, the radiant one, spoke to her.