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,
माहात्म्यं ये च गंगायाः शृण्वंति च पठंति च
those who listen to or recite the greatness of the Ganga,
दुर्बुद्धयो दुराचारा हैतुका बहुसंशयाः
people of wicked mind, evil conduct, skeptical and full of many doubts,
जन्मांतरकृतैर्दानैस्तपोभिर्नियमैर्व्रतैः
by gifts, austerities, restraints, and vows performed in previous births,
गंगाभक्तिमतामर्थे महेंद्रादि पुरेषु च
for the sake of one devoted to the Ganga, even in the cities of Indra and others,
सिद्धयः सिद्धिलिंगानि स्पर्शलिंगान्यनेकशः
perfections, marks of perfection, and marks of touch, in many forms,
गंगाजलांतस्तिष्ठंति कलिकल्मषभीतितः
remain within the waters of the Ganga, out of fear of the sins of the Kali age.
सूर्योदये तमांसीव वज्रपातभयान्नगाः
Just as darkness at sunrise, or trees out of fear of a thunderbolt,
तत्त्वज्ञानाद्यथा मोहः सिंहं दृष्ट्वा यथा मृगाः 4.1.27.
so does delusion vanish through true knowledge, as deer flee upon seeing a lion.
दिव्यौषधैर्यथा रोगा लोभेन च यथा गुणाः
Just as divine herbs remove diseases, and virtues are destroyed by greed,
तूलशैलः स्फुलिंगेन यथा नश्यति तत्क्षणात्
As cotton or a mountain of cotton is consumed in an instant by a spark,
क्रोधेन च तपो यद्वत्कामेन च यथा मतिः
So is austerity destroyed by anger, and discernment by desire,
दंभ कौटिल्य मायाभिर्यथाधर्मो विनश्यति
And as righteousness is ruined by hypocrisy, crookedness, and deceit,
मानुष्यं दुर्लभं प्राप्य विद्युत्संपातचंचलम्
Having attained a human birth, which is rare and as fleeting as a flash of lightning,
विधूतपापा ये मर्त्याः परं ज्योतिःस्वरूपिणीम्
Those mortals who have cast off sin and realize the supreme form of light,
साधारणांभसा पूर्णां साधारण नदीमिव
Are like a common river filled with ordinary water,
संसारमोचकश्चाहं जनानामनुकंपया
I am the liberator from worldly existence, out of compassion for people,
सर्व एव शुभः कालः सर्वो देशस्तथा शुभः
Every moment is auspicious, and every place is likewise holy,
यथाश्वमेधो यज्ञानां नगानां हिमवान्यथा 4.1.27.
As the horse sacrifice is foremost among sacrifices, and the Himalaya among mountains,
प्राणायामश्च तपसां मंत्राणां प्रणवो यथा
So is breath control among austerities, and Om among mantras,
यथात्मविद्या विद्यानां स्त्रीणां गौरी यथोत्तमा
As self-knowledge is the highest among all branches of knowledge, and Gauri among women,