एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो राज्ञः संस्तुतं मृदु वल्गु च
Hearing the king’s words, praised, soft and charming,
वारिता विप्रिये वापि त्यजेयं त्वामसंशयम्
If you forbid me or dislike me, I will surely leave you, without doubt.
एवमस्त्विति तेनोक्तं सत्येन सुकृतेन च
‘So be it,’ she replied to him, with truth and virtue.
उपचारेण च रहस्तुतोष जगतीपतिः
With courtesy and in private, the lord of the earth was pleased.
मानुषं विग्रहं कृत्वा श्रीमंतं वरवर्णिनि
Assuming a human form, splendid and of excellent complexion,
स राजा रति सक्तत्वादुत्तमस्त्रीगुणैर्हृतः
The king, absorbed in pleasure, was captivated by her supreme feminine qualities.
रममाणस्तया सार्द्धं यथाकामं नरेश्वरः
The lord of men enjoyed with her as he wished.
जातं जातं च सा पुत्रं क्षिपत्यंभसि मुक्तये
Each time a son was born, she cast him into the water for liberation.
नास्य तत्तु प्रियं राज्ञः शंतनोर्ह्यभवत्तदा 5.2.71.
This was not pleasing to King Śantanu at that time.
अथैनामष्टमे पुत्रे जाते प्रहसतीमिव
Then, when the eighth son was born, as she smiled,
मा वधीः कस्य कासीति किं विध्वंसि सुतानिति
He said, ‘Do not kill! Whose are you? Why do you destroy your sons?’
जीर्णस्तु मम वासोऽयं यथा मे समयः कृतः
‘My time is fulfilled, as my vow was made; this garment of mine is worn out.’
अहं गंगा जह्नुसुता महर्षिगणसेविता
‘I am Gaṅgā, daughter of Jahnu, honored by hosts of great sages.’
इमेऽष्टौ वसवो देवा महाभीमा महौजसः
‘These eight are the Vasus, mighty gods, of great power and awe.’
तेषामानयिता नान्यस्त्वदृते भुवि विद्यते
There is no one else on earth who can bring them here except you.
तस्मात्तज्जननीहेतोर्मानुषत्वमुपागता
Therefore, for the sake of giving birth to them, I have taken human birth.
सैवमुक्त्वा तदा गङ्गा विष्णुमायाविमोहिता
Having spoken thus, at that time, Ganga, deluded by Vishnu's maya,
अहो बत महत्कष्टं यदमी घातिताः सुताः
Alas, what great suffering it is that these sons have been slain!
हा वत्सा हा सुताः पुत्रा हा तातास्तनयाः क्व वै 5.2.71.
Ah, my children! Ah, my sons! My dear ones! Where are you now, my sons?
मातर्मातेति करुणं ब्रुवाणाः स्वयमागता
Crying out piteously, 'Mother! Mother!' they themselves came forth.
कस्य जातु प्रणीतेन पिंगेन क्षितिरेणुना
Who has ever, with fine, tawny dust of the earth,
अंगप्रत्यंगसंभूता मनोहृदयनंदनाः
Created such delightful children, born from every limb, who gladden the heart and mind?
काँल्लोकान्नु गमिष्यामि कृत्वा कर्म सुदारुणम्
To what worlds shall I go, having committed such a terrible deed?
इत्येवं करुणं कृत्वा रुदित्वा च पुनःपुनः
Thus, lamenting in this way and weeping again and again,
एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि नारदो मुनिसत्तमः
At that moment, O goddess, the eminent sage Narada arrived.
विस्मयोप्फुल्लनयनः किमेतदिति चिंतयत्
With eyes wide in astonishment, he wondered, 'What is this?'
समुद्रमहिषी दिव्या पुण्या त्रिपथगा नदी
The divine, meritorious queen of the ocean, the threefold holy river,
इत्येवं चिंतयित्वा च समीपमगमन्मुनिः उवाचोच्चैर्वियत्स्थोऽसौ देवि गंगे नमोऽस्तुते
Thinking thus, the sage approached; standing in the sky, he spoke aloud: 'O goddess Ganga, I bow to you.'
नारदोऽहं महापुण्ये कस्माद्रोदिषि पावनि 5.2.71.
'I am Narada, O supremely pure one. Why do you weep, O purifier?'
धृता शिरसि देवेन शिवेन परमेष्ठिना
You were borne upon the head by Shiva, the supreme lord.