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.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा दिव्या देवनदी तथा
Hearing Narada's words, the divine river of the gods likewise—
मया नारद मोहेन कृतोऽधर्मो जुगुप्सितः
'Through delusion, O Narada, I have committed a reprehensible act of unrighteousness.'
समुद्रेण वियोगस्तु संजातो मम दैवतः
Separation from the ocean has arisen for me by divine ordinance.
अतो मया विलपितं मग्नया शोकसागरे
Therefore I have lamented, submerged in the ocean of sorrow.
इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा नारदो मुनिसत्तमः
Hearing her words, the eminent sage Narada,
प्रतिज्ञातं त्वया देवि वसूनां मोक्षकारणे
O goddess, you have pledged for the liberation of the Vasus.
प्राप्तास्ते वसवो लोकान्प्रसादात्तव सुव्रते
The Vasus have attained the worlds by your grace, O virtuous one.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा नारदस्य महात्मनः
Hearing the words of the great-souled Narada,
सत्यमुक्तं त्वया ब्रह्मञ्ज्ञातं सर्वं मयाऽधुना 5.2.71.
O Brahman, you have spoken truth; now I have understood everything.
अपवादभयाद्भीता भवंतं शरणं गता
Fearing the danger of slander, I have sought refuge in you.