यत्राप्लुता दिवं यान्ति मृता मुक्तिं प्रयान्ति च
Where those who have bathed ascend to heaven, and the dead attain liberation.
सैव त्रिवेणी विख्याता किमपूर्वां प्रशंससि
That alone is renowned as the Triveṇī—why do you praise some unprecedented place?
तत्कथ्यतां महाभाग लोकानां हितकाम्यया
Therefore, O greatly fortunate one, tell that for the welfare of the worlds.
श्रीवराह उवाच अत्र ते कीर्त्तयिष्यामि सेतिहासां कथां शुभाम्
Śrī Varāha said: Here I shall recount to you an auspicious story with history.
पुरा विष्णुस्तपस्तेपे लोकानां हितकाम्यया
Long ago, Viṣṇu performed austerities for the welfare of the worlds.
ततो बहुतिथे काले याते सति तपस्यतः
Then, after a long time had passed as he practiced austerities,
तस्योष्मणा समुद्भूतः स्वेदपूरस्तु गण्डयोः
From the heat of his body arose a flood of sweat from his cheeks.
महर्लोकादयः सर्वे विस्मिताः सर्वतो दिशम् १४४.
All the beings of Maharloka and beyond were astonished in every direction.
देवाः सर्वे ततो जग्मुर्ब्रह्माणं प्रति चोत्सुकाः
Then all the gods, eager, went to Brahmā.
ब्रह्मापि हि न जानाति मोहितस्तस्य मायया
Even Brahmā did not know, being deluded by his māyā.
तं दृष्ट्वा सहसा देवैः समेतं प्रत्युपस्थि तम्
Seeing him suddenly, the gods gathered and approached him.
ब्रह्मा तं च महादेवं पप्रच्छ प्रणतः स्थिताः
Brahmā, bowing, questioned that great god.
येन प्रत्याहता क्ष्माऽसौ जगद्व्यतिकरावहा
By whom was this earth restrained, which brings about disturbances in the world?
शिवः क्षणं ततो ध्यात्वा ब्रह्माद्यान् प्रत्युवाच ह
Śiva, after meditating for a moment, spoke to Brahmā and the others.
जगाम देवसहितः सोमः सहगणः प्रभुः
Soma, the lord, together with the gods and his attendants, went there.
उवाच परमप्रीतस्तदा शम्भुः स्मयन्निव
Then Śambhu, supremely pleased, spoke, as if smiling.
सर्वाधारोऽ खिलाध्यक्षस्तत्किं यत्तव दुर्ल्लभम्
He who is the support of all, the overseer of everything—what is there that is difficult for you?
अहं लोकहितार्थाय तपस्तप्तुं समुद्यतः १४४.
I have undertaken austerities for the sake of the welfare of the worlds.
त्वद्दर्शनममनुप्राप्य कृतार्थोऽस्मि जगत्पते
Having attained your vision, O Lord of the world, I am fulfilled.
शिव उवाच गण्डस्वेदोद्भवा यत्र गण्डकी सरितां वरा
Śiva said: Where the Gaṇḍakī river, best among rivers, arises from the sweat of the cheek,
भविष्यति न सन्देहो यस्या गर्भे भविष्यति
There will be no doubt that in whose womb it will be,
अहं ब्रह्मा च देवाश्च ऋषिभिः सह केशव
I, Brahmā, the gods, and the sages together, O Keśava,
वसिष्यामः सदैवात्र गण्डक्यां जगतां पते
Will always remain here, O Lord of the world, in the Gaṇḍakī.
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो मुक्तिभागी न संशयः
Freed from all sins, one attains liberation here, without doubt.
यत्र स्नानेन लभ्येत गंगास्नानफलं नरैः
Where, by bathing, people obtain the fruit of bathing in the Gaṅgā,
यस्यास्तत्समतां कान्या लभेद्गंगां विना नदीम्
Which other river, apart from the Gaṅgā, could equal its merit?
अपरा देविका नाम्ना गण्डक्या सह संगता
Another river named Devikā joined together with the Gaṇḍakī.
यत्र सृष्टिविधानार्थं कृत्वाश्रमपदं पृथक् १४४.
Where, for the purpose of creation, having made a separate hermitage,
ततोऽभूद्ब्रह्मतनया पुण्या सा सरितां वरा
Then arose Brahmā’s daughter, holy and foremost among rivers.
त्रिवेणी सा महापुण्या देवानामपि दुर्ल्लभा
That Triveṇī is supremely holy, rare even for the gods.