तार्क्ष्यवीक्षणमात्रेण फणिनौ निर्विषा यथा
Just as serpents become without venom merely by the glance of Garuda,
गंगातटोद्भवां मृत्स्नां यो मौलौ बिभृयान्नरः
Whoever wears on his head the clay that arises from the bank of the Ganga,
व्यसनैरभिभूतस्य धनहीनस्य पापिनः
For one afflicted by misfortune, destitute of wealth, and sinful,
श्रुताभिलषिता दृष्टा स्पृष्टा पीताऽवगाहिता
The Ganga, desired through hearing, seen, touched, drunk, or entered,
कीर्तनाद्दर्शनात्स्पर्शाद्गंगापानावगाहनात् 4.1.28.
By singing, by seeing, by touching, by drinking, or by immersion in the Ganga,
ब्रह्मलोकस्तु लोकानां सर्वेषामुत्तमो यथा 4.1.28.
Among all worlds, Brahmaloka is the highest, just as—
ज्ञात्वाज्ञात्वा च गंगायां यः पंचत्वमवाप्नुयात् 4.1.28.
Whether knowingly or unknowingly, whoever attains death in the Ganga,
यावंति तस्या लोमानि मुने तत्संततेरपि
O sage, as many hairs as she has, so many are her descendants also.
उपायांतरमस्त्यन्यद्येन स्नानफलं लभेत्
There is another means by which one may obtain the fruit of bathing.
अशक्तानां च पंगूनामालस्योपहतात्मनाम्
For those unable, the crippled, and those whose selves are afflicted by indolence,
दानं वाऽथ व्रतंवाऽथ मंत्रःस्तोत्रजपोऽथवा
Either charity, or a vow, or mantra, or recitation of hymns,
यद्यस्तिकिंचित्षड्वक्त्र गंगास्नानफलप्रदम्
If there is anything, O six-faced one, that grants the fruit of bathing in the Ganga,
त्वत्तो न वेदस्कंदान्यो गंगागर्भ समुद्भव
No one but you, O Skanda, knows the origin of the Ganga.
स्थाने स्थाने च तीर्थानि जितात्माध्युषितानि च
In every place, the holy sites are inhabited by those who have mastered themselves.
दृष्टप्रत्ययकारीणि महामहिम भांज्यपि
Even among those of great glory, they are seen to produce evident results.
अनेनैवानुमानेन बुद्ध्यस्व कलशोद्भव
By this very inference, O born from the pot, understand.
स्नानकालेऽन्य तीर्थेषु जप्यते जाह्नवी जनैः
At the time of bathing, people recite the name of Jahnavi at other holy sites.
गंगास्नानफलं ब्रह्मन्गंगायामेव लभ्यते 4.1.29.
O Brahman, the fruit of bathing in the Ganga is obtained only in the Ganga.
अस्त्युपाय इह त्वेकः स्याद्येनाविकलं फलम्
Here, however, there is one method by which the fruit is complete.
शिवभक्ताय शांताय विष्णुभक्तिपराय च
For the devotee of Shiva, the peaceful one, and for one devoted to Vishnu,
कथनीयं न चान्यस्य कस्यचित्केनचित्क्वचित्
This should not be spoken of to anyone else, by anyone, anywhere.
महाश्रेयस्करं पुण्यं मनोरथकरं परम्
It is supremely auspicious, meritorious, and fulfills all desires.
नाम्नां सहस्रगंगायाः स्तवराजेषुशो भनम्
This is the king of hymns, the thousand names of Gaṅgā.
जपनीयं प्रयन्नेन मौनिना वाचकं विना
It should be recited in secret, in silence, without a speaker.
स्कंद उवाच ॐनमो गंगादेव्यै अत्युदाराऽभयाऽशोकाऽलकनंदाऽमृताऽमला
Skanda said: Om, obeisance to Goddess Gaṅgā, who is most generous, fearless, free from sorrow, Alakanandā, immortal, and pure.
अनाथवत्सलाऽमोघाऽपांयोनिरमृतप्रदा
She is affectionate to the helpless, unfailing, born of water, bestower of immortality.
अनाथनाथाऽभीष्टार्थसिद्धिदाऽनंगवर्धिनी
Protector of the helpless, granter of desired objects and success, increaser of love.
अचिंत्यशक्तिरनघाऽद्भुतरूपाऽघहारिणी 4.1.29.
Of inconceivable power, sinless, of wondrous form, destroyer of sin.
अक्षुण्णशक्तिरसुदाऽनंततीर्थाऽमृतोदका
Of unbroken strength, giver of nectar, with endless sacred fords, whose waters are immortal.
अशेषदेवतामूर्तिरघोराऽमृतरूपिणी
Embodiment of all deities, gentle, of the form of nectar.