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.
अनेकशाखाविततश्चतुर्मुख इवापरः। तत्कोटरकुटीकोटि प्रविष्टानां द्विजन्मनाम्
With many spreading branches, it appeared like another Four-faced One; in the hollows of its roots were countless huts of the twice-born.
श्रूयंते विविधा वाचः सुराणां रक्तचेतसाम्। वनस्पतिरपुष्पोपि पुष्पितश्चोपलक्ष्यते
Various voices of the gods, whose hearts were delighted, are heard there; though the tree bore no flowers, it was seen as if blossoming.
जातीचंपकवत्पुष्पैः शाखालग्नैः शुकैः शुभैः। केतकीभिः सुरभिभिरशोभत सरिद्वरा
The best of rivers was adorned with beautiful parrots clinging to its branches, with jasmine and champaka flowers, and fragrant ketaki blossoms.
कोकिलाभिस्स मालेव फेनकैः पुष्पितेव सा। हरेणेव यथा गंगा प्लक्षेणैव हि सा तथा
With cuckoos like garlands, with foam like blossoms, she shone, just as Ganga does with the hare or with the plaksha tree.
तत्रांभस्था तदा देवं प्रोवाचाथ जनार्दनम्। समर्पयस्व तं वह्निं देवादेशं करोम्यहम्
There, standing in the water, she then spoke to the god Janardana: 'Offer that fire; I will carry out the command of the gods.'
एवमुक्तेन सा तेन प्रत्युक्ता विष्णुना तदा। न ते दाहभयं त्याज्यस्त्वयायं वह्निराट्स्वयम्
Thus addressed by her, Vishnu replied at that time: 'You need not fear burning; this fire-lord is not to be abandoned by you.'
पश्चिमं सागरं नेतुं वाडवज्वलनं शुभे। एवं क्रमेण गच्छंत्या तदापं प्राप्स्यते शुभे
To lead the submarine fire to the western ocean, O auspicious one, proceed in this manner; thus, you will reach the waters, O blessed one.
ततस्तं शातकुंभस्थं कृत्वासौ वडवानलं। समर्पयत गोविंदः सरस्वत्या महोदरे
Then Govinda placed the submarine fire in a golden vessel and entrusted it to Sarasvati, the great river.
सा तं गृहीत्वा सुश्रोणी प्रतीच्यभिमुखी ययौ। अंतर्द्धानेन संप्राप्ता पुष्करं सा महानदी
She, the beautiful-hipped one, taking it, went westward; by her power of concealment, the great river reached Pushkara.
मर्यादापर्वते तस्मिन्संभूता विमला सरित्। पुष्करारण्यं विपुलं सुरसिद्धनिषेवितम्
At that boundary mountain, the pure river arose; the vast forest of Pushkara was frequented by gods and perfected beings.