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.
द्रक्ष्यामि त्वां पुनरहं प्रयासि कुत्र मे सखि। एवमुक्ता तु सा गंगा प्रोवाच मधुरां गिरम्
'I will see you again; where are you going, my friend?' Thus addressed, Ganga spoke sweet words.
यदैवायास्यसि प्राचीं दिशं मां पश्यसे शुभे। विबुधैस्त्वं परिवृता दर्शनं तव संश्रये
'Whenever you come to the eastern direction, you will see me, O auspicious one. Surrounded by the gods, I will seek your audience.'
उदङ्मुखी तदा भूत्वा त्यज शोकं शुचिस्मिते। अहं चोदङ्मुखी पुण्या त्वं तु प्राची सरस्वति
'Then, facing north, abandon your sorrow, O smiling one. I am the holy one facing north, and you, Sarasvati, face east.'
तत्र क्रतुशतं पुण्यं स्नानदानेन सुव्रते। श्राद्धदाने तथा नित्यं पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्
There, a hundred sacred rites are performed through bathing and giving, O virtuous one; and by offering oblations to ancestors, the gifts given there are eternal.
ये करिष्यंति मनुजा विमुक्तास्त्ते ऋणैस्त्रिभिः। मोक्षमार्गं गमिष्यंति विचारो नात्र विद्यते
Those humans who become free from the three debts will proceed on the path of liberation; there is no doubt about this.
तामुवाच ततो गंगा पुनर्दर्शनमस्तु ते। गच्छ स्वमालयं भद्रे स्मर्तव्याहं त्वयानघे
Then Ganga spoke to her: 'May you have another meeting; go to your own abode, O blessed one, and remember me, O sinless one.'
यमुनापि तथैवं सा गायत्री च मनोरमा। सावित्र्या सहिताः सर्वाः सखीं संप्रैषयंस्तथा
In the same way, Yamuna and the lovely Gayatri, together with Savitri, all sent their companion likewise.
ततो विसृज्य तान्देवान्नदी भूत्वा सरस्वती। उत्तंकस्याश्रमपद उद्भूता सा मनस्विनी
Then, having taken leave of those goddesses, Sarasvati, possessing a noble mind, became a river and appeared at the hermitage of Uttanka.
अधस्तात्प्लक्षवृक्षस्य अवरोप्य च तां तनुम्। अवतीर्णा महाभागा देवानां पश्यतां तदा
Descending from below the plaksha tree and leaving her form there, the illustrious one manifested before the gods at that time.
विष्णुरूपस्तरुः सोत्र सर्वदेवैस्तु वंदितः। संसेव्यश्च द्विजैर्नित्यं फलहेतोर्महोदयः
There, the tree in the form of Vishnu was honored by all the gods, and constantly served by the twice-born for the great benefit of its fruits.