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—
गंगां गंतुं विनिश्चित्य कृत्वा श्राद्धादिकं गृहे
Having firmly resolved to go to the Ganga, and having performed śrāddha and other rites at home,
पापानि च रुदंत्याशु हा क्व यास्याम इत्यलम्
the sins, lamenting quickly, cry out, 'Alas! Where shall we go now?'
यथा न गंगां यात्येष तथा विघ्नं प्रकुर्महे
Just as this person is about to go to the Ganga, so do we create obstacles for him.
गृहाद्गंगावगाहार्थं गच्छतस्तु पदेपदे
As he departs from his house for the purpose of bathing in the Ganga, at every step,
पूर्वजन्मकृतैः पुण्यैस्त्यक्त्वा लोभादिकं हरे
by the merit accumulated in previous births, abandoning greed and the like, O Hari,
अनुषंगेण मौल्येन वाणिज्येनापि सेवया
by means of association, by wealth, by trade, or even by service,
अनिच्छयापि संस्पृष्टो दहनो हि यथा दहेत्
even if touched without desire, just as fire burns,
तावद्धमति संसारे यावद्गंगां न सेवते 4.1.27.
one remains deluded in the world until one serves the Ganga.
यो गंगांभसि निस्नातो भक्त्या संत्यक्तसंशयः
He who bathes in the waters of the Ganga with devotion, having abandoned all doubts,
गंगास्नानार्थमुद्युक्तो मध्येमार्गं मृतो यदि
if, while intent on bathing in the Ganga, he dies along the way,