स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वक्रतुषु दीक्षितः
He is as one who has bathed in all sacred waters and been initiated in all sacrifices,
तपांसि तेन तप्तानि सर्वदानप्रदः स च
He has performed all austerities and is a giver of all gifts.
सर्ववर्णाश्रमेभ्यश्च वेदविद्भ्यश्च वै तथा
He is equal to all castes and stages of life, and likewise to those who know the Veda.
मनोवाक्कायजैर्दोषैर्दुष्टो बहुविधैरपि
Even if corrupted by many kinds of faults of mind, speech, or body,
कृते सर्वत्र तीर्थानि त्रेतायां पुष्करं परम्
In the Kṛta age, all sacred waters are present everywhere; in the Tretā, Puṣkara is supreme.
पूर्वजन्मांतराभ्यास वासनावशतो हरे
Due to the force of habits from previous births, O Hari,
ध्यानं कृते मोक्षहेतुस्त्रेतायां तच्च वै तपः
Meditation is the cause of liberation in the Kṛta age; in the Tretā, it is austerity.
यो देहपतनाद्यावद्गंगातीरं न मुंचति 4.1.27.
He who, until the fall of the body, does not leave the bank of the Gaṅgā,
कलौ कलुषचित्तानां परद्रव्यरतात्मनाम्
In the Kali age, for those whose minds are impure and who delight in others’ wealth,
अलक्ष्मीः कालकर्णी च दुःस्वप्नो दुर्विचिंतितम्
Misfortune, death, evil dreams, and wicked thoughts arise.
गंगा हि सर्वभूतानामिहामुत्र फलप्रदा
For all beings, the Gaṅgā bestows results both here and hereafter.
यज्ञ दान तपो योग जपाः सनियमा यमाः
Sacrifice, charity, austerity, yoga, recitation, self-restraint, and discipline—
किमष्टांगेन योगेन किं तपोभिः किमध्वरैः
What is the use of eight-limbed yoga, what of austerities, what of sacrifices?
अपि दूरस्थितस्यापि गंगामाहात्म्यवेदिनः
Even for one who dwells far away, if he knows the greatness of the Ganga—
श्रद्धा धर्मः परः सूक्ष्मः श्रद्धा ज्ञानं परं तपः
Faith is the supreme subtle virtue; faith is the highest knowledge and austerity.
अज्ञानरागलोभाद्यैः पुंसां संमूढचेतसाम्
By ignorance, passion, greed, and such, people of deluded minds—
बहिः स्थितं जलंयद्वन्नारिकेलांतरे स्थितम्
Just as water remains outside, yet is contained within a coconut—
गंगालाभात्परो लाभः क्वचिदन्यो न विद्यते 4.1.27.
There is no gain anywhere greater than the attainment of the Ganga.
शक्तस्य पंडितस्यापि गुणिनो दानशीलिनः
Even for one who is capable, learned, virtuous, and generous—
वृथा कुल वृथा विद्या वृथा यज्ञा वृथातपः
Lineage is in vain, knowledge is in vain, sacrifices are in vain, austerity is in vain—
गुणवत्पात्रपूजायां न स्याद्वै तादृशं फलम्
In the worship of a worthy recipient, such a result is not obtained.
ममतेजोग्निगर्भेयं ममवीर्यातिसंवृता
She is conceived in the fire of my energy, enveloped by my great power.
स्मरणादेव गंगायाः पापसंघातपंजरम्
By merely remembering the Ganga, the cage of accumulated sins—
गंगां गच्छति यस्त्वेको यस्तु भक्त्यानुमोदयेत्
Whoever goes to the Ganga alone, or inspires another with devotion—
गच्छंस्तिष्ठञ्जपन्ध्यान्भुंजञ्जाग्रत्स्वपन्वदन्
Whether going, standing, sitting, eating, awake, sleeping, or speaking—
पितॄनुद्दिश्य योभक्त्या पायसं मधुसंयुतम्
Whoever, with devotion, offers to the ancestors rice cooked with milk and honey—
तृप्ता भवंति पितरस्तस्य वर्षशतं हरे
His ancestors become satisfied, O Hari, for a hundred years.
लिंगे संपूजिते सर्वमर्चितं स्याज्जगद्यथा 4.1.27.
When the liṅga is worshipped, all is worshipped, just as the universe itself.
गंगायां तु नरः स्नात्वा यो लिंगं नित्यमर्चति
But the man who, having bathed in the Ganga, worships the liṅga daily—
अग्निहोत्रं च यज्ञाश्च व्रतदानतपांसि च
The agnihotra, the sacrifices, the vows, gifts, and austerities—