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.
अपवादभयाद्भीता यदि त्वं देवि पुण्यदे
If you, O goddess, bestower of merit, are afraid of the danger of slander,
अवंती तु समाख्याता सप्त कल्पसनातनी
Avanti has been declared as the eternal city of seven cycles.
तस्यास्तीरे शुभं लिंगं दुर्द्धर्षेश्वरदक्षिणे
On its shore is a blessed linga, to the south of the Lord Durddharsha.
तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण कृतकृत्या भविष्यसि
By merely seeing it, you will have fulfilled your purpose.
इत्युक्ता सा त्रिपथगा नारदेन महात्मना
Thus addressed by the great-souled Narada, the river Tripathaga,
संश्लेषं च तदा कृत्वा लिंगं दृष्ट्वा सुपावनम्
Then, having embraced, she beheld the supremely pure linga.
अथ सूर्यसुता देवी यमुना पापनाशिनी
Then the goddess Yamuna, daughter of the Sun, destroyer of sin,
ददर्श देवी तां गंगां ध्यायंती शंकरं शिवम्
The goddess beheld Ganga, meditating on Shankara, Shiva.
अथ तेनैव कालेन प्राचीदेवी सरस्वती 5.2.71.
Then, at that very time, the eastern goddess Sarasvati appeared.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि शक्रं .प्राह स नारदः
Meanwhile, O goddess, Narada spoke to Shakra.