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,
सर्वषामेव पात्राणां शिवभक्तो यथा वरः
So among all vessels, the devotee of Shiva is the best,
हरेयश्चावयोर्भेदं न करोति महामतिः
The wise do not make a distinction between us, O Hari,
पापपांसुमहावात्या पापद्रुमकुठारिका
I am the great wind that scatters the dust of sin, the axe that fells the tree of evil,
नानारूपाश्च पितरो गाथा गायंति सर्वदा
The ancestors, of many forms, always sing hymns,
देवर्षीन्परिसंतर्प्य दीनानाथांश्च दुःखितान्
Having satisfied the divine sages, and the poor, the helpless, and the afflicted,
अपि नः स कुले भूयाच्छिवे विष्णौ च साम्यदृक्
May one such as this be born in our lineage, who sees equality in Shiva and Vishnu.
अकामो वा सकामो वा तिर्यग्योनिगतोपि वा
Whether without desire or with desire, or even one born in an animal womb,
तीर्थमन्यत्प्रशंसंति गंगातीरे स्थिताश्च ये 4.1.27.
Those who, standing on the banks of the Ganga, praise any other sacred place,
मां च त्वां चैव यो द्वेष्टि गंगां च पुरुषाधमः
Whoever hates me, you, or the Ganga, that lowest of men—
षष्टिर्गणसहस्राणि गंगां रक्षंति सर्वदा
Sixty thousand hosts always protect the Ganga.