ऋग्वेदमूर्तिर्गंगा स्याद्यमुना च यजुर्ध्रुवम्
Gaṅgā is the embodiment of the Ṛgveda, and Yamunā is certainly of the Yajurveda.
गंगा सर्वसरिद्योनिः समुद्रस्यापि पूरणी
Gaṅgā is the source of all rivers and the fulfiller even of the ocean.
किंतु पूर्वं तपस्तप्त्वा रेवया बह्वनेहसम्
But formerly, having performed austerities with Reva, who was full of great sin—
गंगा साम्यं विधे देहि प्रसन्नोसि यदि प्रभो
'O Lord, if you are pleased, grant equality to Gaṅgā.'
यदि त्र्यक्षसमत्वं तु लभ्यतेऽन्येन केनचित् 4.2.92.
If equality with the three-eyed one is attained by anyone else,
पुरुषोत्तम तुल्यः स्यात्पुरुषोन्यो यदि क्वचित
If there is ever another man equal to the Supreme Person,
यदि गौरी समा नारी क्वचिदन्या भवेदिह
If there is ever another woman here who is equal to Gauri,
यदि काशीपुरी तुल्या भवेदस्या क्वचित्पुरी
If there is ever a city anywhere that is equal to Kashi,
निशम्येति विधेर्वाक्यं नर्मदा सरिदुत्तमा
Hearing these words of the ordinance, Narmada, the foremost river,
सर्वेभ्योपि हि पुण्येभ्यः काश्यां लिंगप्रतिष्ठितेः
For, among all merits, the establishment of the linga in Kashi—
अथ सा नर्मदा पुण्या विधिपूर्वां प्रतिष्ठितिम्
Then that holy Narmada received the installation according to the ordinance.
ततः शंभुः प्रसन्नोभूऽत्तस्यै नद्यै शुभात्मने
Then Shambhu, being pleased, became gracious to that auspicious river.
सरिद्वरा निशम्येति रेवा प्राह महेश्वरम्
Hearing this, the best of rivers, Reva, spoke to Maheshvara:
निर्द्वंद्वा त्वत्पदद्वंद्वे भक्तिरस्तु महेश्वर
May there be undivided devotion to your pair of feet, O Maheshvara.
प्रोवाच च सरिच्छेष्ठे त्वयोक्तं यत्तथास्तु तत् 4.2.92.
And the foremost of rivers said, 'Let it be as you have spoken.'
यावंत्यो दृषदः संति तव रोधसि नर्मदे
As many stones as there are on your banks, O Narmada,
अन्यं च ते वरं दद्या तमप्याकर्णयोत्तमम्
I will grant you another boon; listen to this excellent one as well.
सद्यः पापहरा गंगा सप्ताहेन कलिंदजा
The Ganga removes sin instantly; the Kalindi in seven days.
अपरं च वरं दद्यां नर्मदे दर्शनाघहे
I will grant you another boon, O Narmada: the mere sight of you destroys sin.
यत्तल्लिंगं महापुण्यं मुक्तिं दास्यति शाश्वतीम
That linga, supremely meritorious, will grant eternal liberation.
प्रणमिष्यंति यत्नेन महाश्रेयोभिवृद्धये
Those who bow down with effort will attain the increase of the highest good.
परं हि नर्मदेशस्य महिमा कोपि चाद्भुतः
Indeed, the greatness of Narmada is truly extraordinary and wondrous.
नर्मदापि प्रहृष्टासीत्पावित्र्यं प्राप्य चाद्भुतम्
Even the Narmada was filled with joy, having attained wondrous purity.
वाक्यं मृकंडजमुनेस्तेपि श्रुत्वा मुनीश्वराः
Hearing the words of Mrikandu, the great sages listened attentively.
पापकंचुकमुत्सृज्य प्राप्स्यति ज्ञानमुत्तमम् ।। 4.2.92.
Casting off the cloak of sin, one will attain supreme knowledge.
इदानीं कथय स्कंद सतीश्वर समुद्भवम्
Now tell, O Skanda, the origin of Sati's Lord.
स्कंद उवाच मित्रावरुणसंभूत कथयामि कथां शृणु
Skanda said: Born of Mitra and Varuna, I will recount the tale—listen.
पुरा तताप सुमहत्तपः शतधृतिर्मुने
Long ago, Shatadhriti performed a great austerity, O sage.
उवाच चापि ब्रह्माणं नितरां ब्राह्मणप्रियः
He spoke also to Brahma, who is exceedingly fond of Brahmins.
तदा त्वं मे भव सुतो देवी दक्षसुताऽस्तु च
At that time, he said: 'Become my son, and let the goddess be the daughter of Daksha.'