The Ganga's Descent and the Regions

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.8.7.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । गिरी मेरुं च पूर्वेण द्वौ चाष्टादशयोजनैः । सहस्रैरायतौ चोदग्द्विसहस्रं पृथूच्चकौ

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | girī meruṁ ca pūrveṇa dvau cāṣṭādaśayojanaiḥ | sahasrairāyatau codagdvisahasraṁ pṛthūccakau

Shri Narayana said: East of Mount Meru are two mountains, extending eighteen thousand yojanas, and two thousand in breadth and height —

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.8.7.2)

जठरो देवकूटश्च तावेतौ गिरिवर्यकौ । मेरोः पश्चिमतोऽद्री द्वौ पवमानस्तथापरः

jaṭharo devakūṭaśca tāvetau girivaryakau | meroḥ paścimato'drī dvau pavamānastathāparaḥ

Jathara and Devakuta — these two are the foremost mountains. West of Meru are two mountains, Pavamana, and another,

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.8.7.3)

पारियात्रश्च तौ तावद्विख्यातौ तुङ्गविस्तरौ । मेरोर्दक्षिणतः ख्यातौ कैलासकरवीरकौ

pāriyātraśca tau tāvadvikhyātau tuṅgavistarau | merordakṣiṇataḥ khyātau kailāsakaravīrakau

Pariyatra — these two are renowned for their towering height and extent. South of Meru, Kailasa and Karavira are renowned,

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.8.7.4)

प्रागायतौ पूर्ववृत्तौ महापर्वतराजकौ । एवं चोत्तरतो मेरोस्त्रिशृङ्गमकरौ गिरी

prāgāyatau pūrvavṛttau mahāparvatarājakau | evaṁ cottarato merostriśṛṅgamakarau girī

extending east to west, round in shape, great kingly mountains. Likewise, north of Meru, are the two mountains named Trishringa and Makara.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.8.7.5)

एतैश्चाद्रिवरैरष्टसङ्ख्यैः परिवृतो गिरिः । सुमेरुः काञ्चनगिरिः परिभ्राजन् रविर्यथा

etaiścādrivarairaṣṭasaṅkhyaiḥ parivṛto giriḥ | sumeruḥ kāñcanagiriḥ paribhrājan raviryathā

Surrounded by these eight excellent mountains, Sumeru, the golden mountain, shines resplendent, like the sun.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.8.7.6)

मेरोर्मूर्धनि धातुर्हि पुरी पङ्कजजन्मनः । मध्यतश्चोपक्लृप्तेयं दशसाहस्रयोजनैः

merormūrdhani dhāturhi purī paṅkajajanmanaḥ | madhyataścopaklṛpteyaṁ daśasāhasrayojanaiḥ

On the summit of Meru is the city named Dhatu, belonging to the lotus-born Brahma; situated at the centre, ten thousand yojanas in extent,

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.8.7.7)

समानचतुरस्रां च शातकौम्भमयीं पुरीम् । वर्णयन्ति महात्मानः परावरविदो बुधाः

samānacaturasrāṁ ca śātakaumbhamayīṁ purīm | varṇayanti mahātmānaḥ parāvaravido budhāḥ

equally four-square, a city made wholly of gold — thus do the great souls, the wise knowers of past and future, describe it.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.8.7.8)

तां पुरीमनुलोकानामष्टानामीशिषां पराः । पुर्यः प्रख्यातसौवर्णरूपास्ताश्च यथादिशम्

tāṁ purīmanulokānāmaṣṭānāmīśiṣāṁ parāḥ | puryaḥ prakhyātasauvarṇarūpāstāśca yathādiśam

Around that city, in their own several directions, stand the celebrated golden cities of the eight guardians of the quarters,

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.8.7.9)

यथारूपं सार्धनेत्रसहस्रप्रमिताः कृताः । मेरोर्नव पुराणि स्युर्मनोवत्यमरावती

yathārūpaṁ sārdhanetrasahasrapramitāḥ kṛtāḥ | merornava purāṇi syurmanovatyamarāvatī

each fashioned in that same form, in the measure of two and a half thousand yojanas. Meru has nine cities: Manovati, Amaravati,

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.8.7.10)

तेजोवती संयमनी तथा कृष्णाङ्गनापरा । श्रद्धावती गन्धवती तथा चान्या महोदया

tejovatī saṁyamanī tathā kṛṣṇāṅganāparā | śraddhāvatī gandhavatī tathā cānyā mahodayā

Tejovati, Sanyamani, and another, Krishnangana, Shraddhavati, Gandhavati, and another, Mahodaya,

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.8.7.11)

यशोवती च ब्रह्मेन्द्रवह्न्यादीनां यथाक्रमम् । तत्रैव यज्ञलिङ्गस्य विष्णोर्भगवतो विभोः

yaśovatī ca brahmendravahnyādīnāṁ yathākramam | tatraiva yajñaliṅgasya viṣṇorbhagavato vibhoḥ

and Yashovati — belonging in order to Brahma, Indra, Agni and the rest. There, of the Blessed Lord Vishnu, the very form of sacrifice,

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.8.7.12)

वामपादाङ्गुष्ठनखनिर्भिन्नस्य च नारद । अण्डोर्ध्वभागरन्ध्रस्य मध्यात्संविशती दिवः

vāmapādāṅguṣṭhanakhanirbhinnasya ca nārada | aṇḍordhvabhāgarandhrasya madhyātsaṁviśatī divaḥ

O Narada, pierced through by the nail of whose left foot's toe, entering through the aperture at the upper part of the cosmic egg, from the sky,

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.8.7.13)

मूर्धन्यवततारेयं गङ्गा संविशती विभो । लोकानामखिलानां च पापहारिजलाकुला

mūrdhanyavatatāreyaṁ gaṅgā saṁviśatī vibho | lokānāmakhilānāṁ ca pāpahārijalākulā

O mighty one, spreading upon its crown, this Ganga enters — filled with waters that remove the sin of every world.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.8.7.14)

इयं च साक्षाद्भगवत्पदी लोकेषु विश्रुता । कालेन महता सा तु युगसाहस्रकेण तु

iyaṁ ca sākṣādbhagavatpadī lokeṣu viśrutā | kālena mahatā sā tu yugasāhasrakeṇa tu

This is directly the very foot-water of the Blessed Lord, renowned throughout the worlds. After a vast span of time, after a thousand yugas,

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.8.7.15)

दिवो मूर्धानमागत्य देवी देवनदीश्वरी । यत्तद्विष्णुपदं नाम स्थानं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्

divo mūrdhānamāgatya devī devanadīśvarī | yattadviṣṇupadaṁ nāma sthānaṁ trailokyaviśrutam

having reached the summit of the sky, that goddess, mistress of the celestial river, comes to that place named Vishnupada, celebrated throughout the three worlds,

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.8.7.16)

औत्तानपादिर्यत्रास्ते ध्रुवः परमपावनः । भगवत्पादयुगलं पद्मकोशरजो दधत्

auttānapādiryatrāste dhruvaḥ paramapāvanaḥ | bhagavatpādayugalaṁ padmakośarajo dadhat

where dwells the most purifying Dhruva, son of Uttanapada, bearing the pollen of the lotus-cup that is the pair of feet of the Blessed Lord.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.8.7.17)

अद्याप्यास्ते स राजर्षिः पदवीमचलां श्रितः । तत्र सप्तर्षयस्तस्य प्रभावज्ञा महाशयाः

adyāpyāste sa rājarṣiḥ padavīmacalāṁ śritaḥ | tatra saptarṣayastasya prabhāvajñā mahāśayāḥ

That royal sage remains established to this day, holding his unmoving station; there the great-souled Seven Sages, who know his greatness, desiring the welfare of all the worlds,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.8.7.18)

प्रदक्षिणं प्रक्रमन्ति सर्वलोकहितेप्सवः । आत्यन्तिकी सिद्धिरियं तपतां सिद्धिदायिनी

pradakṣiṇaṁ prakramanti sarvalokahitepsavaḥ | ātyantikī siddhiriyaṁ tapatāṁ siddhidāyinī

circumambulate him; this is the ultimate accomplishment, giver of perfection to those who practise austerity.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.8.7.19)

आद्रियन्ते च शिरसा जटाजूटोषितेन च । ततो विष्णुपदाद्देवी नैकसाहस्रकोटिभिः

ādriyante ca śirasā jaṭājūṭoṣitena ca | tato viṣṇupadāddevī naikasāhasrakoṭibhiḥ

They honour him even with their matted-locked heads. Then, from Vishnupada, that goddess, thronged by many thousands of crores

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.8.7.20)

विमानैराकुले देवयानेऽवतरती च सा । चन्द्रमण्डलमाप्लाव्य पतन्ती ब्रह्यसद्यनि

vimānairākule devayāne'vataratī ca sā | candramaṇḍalamāplāvya patantī brahyasadyani

of celestial chariots, descends along the path of the gods, flooding the disc of the moon, and falls upon the hall of Brahma.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.8.7.21)

चतुर्धा भिद्यमाना सा ब्रह्मलोके च नारद । चतुर्भिर्नामभिर्देवी चतुर्दिशमभिसृता

caturdhā bhidyamānā sā brahmaloke ca nārada | caturbhirnāmabhirdevī caturdiśamabhisṛtā

There, O Narada, dividing into four parts in Brahmaloka, that goddess flowed out under four names toward the four directions.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.8.7.22)

सरितां च नदीनां च पतिमेवान्वपद्यत । सीता चालकनन्दा च चतुर्भद्रेति नामभिः

saritāṁ ca nadīnāṁ ca patimevānvapadyata | sītā cālakanandā ca caturbhadreti nāmabhiḥ

She became the mistress of the rivers and streams; under the names Sita, Alakananda, and the 'fourfold blessing' —

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.8.7.23)

सीता च ब्रह्मसदनाच्छिखरेभ्यः क्षमाभृताम् । केसराभिधनाम्ना च प्रस्रवन्ती च स्वर्णदी

sītā ca brahmasadanācchikharebhyaḥ kṣamābhṛtām | kesarābhidhanāmnā ca prasravantī ca svarṇadī

Sita, flowing from the peaks of the mountains that stand from Brahma's hall, under the name Kesara, and also as the golden river,

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.8.7.24)

गन्धमादनमूर्ध्नीह पतिता पापहारिणी । अन्तरेण तु भद्राश्ववर्षं प्राच्यां समागता

gandhamādanamūrdhnīha patitā pāpahāriṇī | antareṇa tu bhadrāśvavarṣaṁ prācyāṁ samāgatā

falling here upon the summit of Gandhamadana, remover of sin, passed through the region of Bhadrashva-varsha and reached the eastern direction,

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.8.7.25)

क्षारोदधिं गता सा तु द्युनदी देवपूजिता । ततो माल्यवतः शृङ्गाद् द्वितीया परिनिर्गता

kṣārodadhiṁ gatā sā tu dyunadī devapūjitā | tato mālyavataḥ śṛṅgād dvitīyā parinirgatā

and that celestial river, worshipped by the gods, joined the salt-water ocean. Then the second stream went forth entirely from the peak of Malyavan,

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.8.7.26)

ततो वेगवती भूत्वा केतुमालं समागता । चक्षुर्नाम्नी देवनदी प्रतीच्यां दिश्युपागता

tato vegavatī bhūtvā ketumālaṁ samāgatā | cakṣurnāmnī devanadī pratīcyāṁ diśyupāgatā

and, becoming swift, arrived at Ketumala; that celestial river, named Chakshu, reached the western direction,

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.8.7.27)

सरितां पतिमाविष्टा सा गङ्गा देववन्दिता । ततस्तृतीया धारा तु नाम्ना ख्याता च नारद

saritāṁ patimāviṣṭā sā gaṅgā devavanditā | tatastṛtīyā dhārā tu nāmnā khyātā ca nārada

and, becoming lord of the rivers, that Ganga, revered by the gods, entered the sea. Then the third stream, celebrated by its name, O Narada,

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.8.7.28)

पुण्या चालकनन्दा वै दक्षिणेनाब्जभूपदात् । वनानि गिरिकूटानि समतिक्रम्य चागता

puṇyā cālakanandā vai dakṣiṇenābjabhūpadāt | vanāni girikūṭāni samatikramya cāgatā

the sacred Alakananda, came from the south of the lotus-born Brahma's hall, having crossed forests and mountain-peaks,

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.8.7.29)

हेमकूटं गिरिवरं प्राप्तातोऽपीह निर्गता । अतिवेगवती भूत्वा भारतं चागतापरा

hemakūṭaṁ girivaraṁ prāptāto'pīha nirgatā | ativegavatī bhūtvā bhārataṁ cāgatāparā

and, having reached the excellent mountain Hemakuta, went forth from there again, and, becoming exceedingly swift, came to Bharata-varsha,

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.8.7.30)

दक्षिणं जलधिं प्राप्ता तृतीया सा सरिद्वरा । यस्याः स्नानाय सरतां मनुजानां पदे पदे

dakṣiṇaṁ jaladhiṁ prāptā tṛtīyā sā saridvarā | yasyāḥ snānāya saratāṁ manujānāṁ pade pade

and reached the southern ocean — that excellent third river; for men who bathe in her, at every step,

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.8.7.31)

राजसूयाश्वमेधादि फलं तु न हि दुर्लभम् । ततश्चतुर्थी धारा तु भृङ्गवत्पर्वतात्पुनः

rājasūyāśvamedhādi phalaṁ tu na hi durlabham | tataścaturthī dhārā tu bhṛṅgavatparvatātpunaḥ

the fruit of the Rajasuya, the Ashvamedha and the rest is indeed not hard to obtain. Then the fourth stream, again from Mount Bhringavat,

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.8.7.32)

भद्राभिधा संस्रवन्ती कुरून्सन्तर्प्य चोत्तरान् । समुद्रं समनुप्राप्ता गङ्गा त्रैलोक्यपावनी

bhadrābhidhā saṁsravantī kurūnsantarpya cottarān | samudraṁ samanuprāptā gaṅgā trailokyapāvanī

flowing under the name Bhadra, having nourished the northern Kurus, joined the ocean — the Ganga, purifier of the three worlds.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.8.7.33)

अन्ये नदाश्च नद्यश्च वर्षे वर्षेऽपि सन्ति हि । बहुशो मेरुमन्दारप्रसूताश्चैव नारद

anye nadāśca nadyaśca varṣe varṣe'pi santi hi | bahuśo merumandāraprasūtāścaiva nārada

And there are, O Narada, many other rivers and streams too in every region, born in abundance from Meru and Mandara.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.8.7.34)

तत्रापि भारतं वर्षं कर्मक्षेत्रमुशन्ति हि । अन्यानि चाष्टवर्षाणि भौमस्वर्गप्रदानि च

tatrāpi bhārataṁ varṣaṁ karmakṣetramuśanti hi | anyāni cāṣṭavarṣāṇi bhaumasvargapradāni ca

There too, they declare Bharata-varsha to be the field of action; and the other eight regions grant the fruits of earthly deeds and bestow heaven,

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.8.7.35)

स्वर्गिणां पुण्यशेषस्य भोगस्थानानि नारद । पुरुषाणां चायुतायुर्वज्राङ्गा देवसन्निभाः

svargiṇāṁ puṇyaśeṣasya bhogasthānāni nārada | puruṣāṇāṁ cāyutāyurvajrāṅgā devasannibhāḥ

O Narada, being places of enjoyment for the residual merit of the dwellers of heaven. Men there have a lifespan of ten thousand years, limbs hard as diamond, resembling the gods,

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.8.7.36)

पुरुषा नागसाहस्रैर्दशभिः परिकल्पिताः । महासौरतसन्तुष्टाः कलत्राढ्याः सुखान्विताः

puruṣā nāgasāhasrairdaśabhiḥ parikalpitāḥ | mahāsauratasantuṣṭāḥ kalatrāḍhyāḥ sukhānvitāḥ

men fashioned with the strength of ten thousand elephants, satisfied with great pleasures, rich in wives, and full of happiness.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.8.7.37)

एकवर्षोनके चायुष्याप्तगर्भाः स्त्रियोऽपि हि । त्रेतायुगसमः कालो वर्तते सर्वदैव हि

ekavarṣonake cāyuṣyāptagarbhāḥ striyo'pi hi | tretāyugasamaḥ kālo vartate sarvadaiva hi

Even the women there conceive when their age lacks but a single year; a span of time equal to the Treta age prevails there always.