The Rite of Pilgrimage at Prayaga and the Praise of the Ganga

Verse 1 (padma.3.43.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । यथा प्रयागस्य मुने माहात्म्यं कथितं त्वया । तथातथा प्रमुच्येऽहं सर्वपापैर्न संशयः ।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca yathā prayāgasya mune māhātmyaṁ kathitaṁ tvayā tathātathā pramucye'haṁ sarvapāpairna saṁśayaḥ

Yudhishthira said: As you have told me, O sage, the greatness of Prayaga — accordingly I am freed from all sins, without doubt.

Verse 2 (padma.3.43.2)

भगवन्केन विधिना गंतव्यं धर्मनिश्चयैः । प्रयागे यो विधिः प्रोक्तः तन्मे ब्रूहि महामुने ।

bhagavankena vidhinā gaṁtavyaṁ dharmaniścayaiḥ prayāge yo vidhiḥ proktaḥ tanme brūhi mahāmune

O blessed one, by what rule should those resolved on dharma go there? Tell me, O great sage, what rule is prescribed at Prayaga.

Verse 3 (padma.3.43.3)

मार्कंडेय उवाच । कथयिष्यामि ते वत्स तीर्थयात्राविधिक्रमम् । यो गच्छेतकुरुश्रेष्ठ प्रयागं देवसंयुतम् ।

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca kathayiṣyāmi te vatsa tīrthayātrāvidhikramam yo gacchetakuruśreṣṭha prayāgaṁ devasaṁyutam

Markandeya said: I shall tell you, my child, the sequence of the rite of pilgrimage. O best of the Kurus, whoever goes to Prayaga, which is filled with gods —

Verse 4 (padma.3.43.4)

बलीवर्दसमारूढः शृणु तस्यापि यत्फलम् । वसते नरके घोरे गवां क्रोधे सुदारुणे ।

balīvardasamārūḍhaḥ śṛṇu tasyāpi yatphalam vasate narake ghore gavāṁ krodhe sudāruṇe

mounted upon a bull — hear what fruit is his too: he dwells in terrible hell, for he incurs the terrible anger of cattle.

Verse 5 (padma.3.43.5)

सलिलं च न गृह्णंति पितरस्तस्य देहिनः । यस्तु पुत्रांस्तथा बालान्स्नापयेत्पाययेत्तथा ।

salilaṁ ca na gṛhṇaṁti pitarastasya dehinaḥ yastu putrāṁstathā bālānsnāpayetpāyayettathā

The ancestors do not accept the water-offering of such a man. But whoever bathes and gives water to drink to his sons and children —

Verse 6 (padma.3.43.6)

यथात्मनस्तथा सर्वान्दानं विप्रेषु दापयेत् । ऐश्वर्यलोभान्मोहाद्वा गच्छेद्यानेन यो नरः ।

yathātmanastathā sarvāndānaṁ vipreṣu dāpayet aiśvaryalobhānmohādvā gacchedyānena yo naraḥ

just as for himself, so for all of them — and has gifts given to Brahmins for all — does well. But whoever, out of pride in his wealth or out of delusion, goes there by vehicle,

Verse 7 (padma.3.43.7)

निष्फलं तस्य तत्तीर्थं तस्माद्यानं परित्यजेत् । गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये यस्तु कन्यां प्रयच्छति ।

niṣphalaṁ tasya tattīrthaṁ tasmādyānaṁ parityajet gaṁgāyamunayormadhye yastu kanyāṁ prayacchati

for him that tirtha bears no fruit; therefore one should give up using a vehicle. Whoever gives a daughter in marriage between the Ganga and the Yamuna —

Verse 8 (padma.3.43.8)

आर्षेण तु विधानेन यथाविभवसंभवम् । न पश्यति यमं घोरं नरकं तेन कर्मणा ।

ārṣeṇa tu vidhānena yathāvibhavasaṁbhavam na paśyati yamaṁ ghoraṁ narakaṁ tena karmaṇā

according to the Arsha rite, to the extent his means allow — by that deed he does not behold terrible Yama or hell.

Verse 9 (padma.3.43.9)

उत्तरान्स कुरून्गत्वा मोदते कालमक्षयम् । पुत्रांस्तु दाराँल्लभते धार्मिकान्नयसंयुतान् ।

uttarānsa kurūngatvā modate kālamakṣayam putrāṁstu dārā~llabhate dhārmikānnayasaṁyutān

Going to the Northern Kurus, he rejoices for an imperishable span of time. He obtains sons and a wife who are righteous and endowed with good conduct.

Verse 10 (padma.3.43.10)

तत्र दानं प्रदातव्यं यथाविभवसंभवम् । तेन तीर्थफलैनैव वर्द्धते नात्र संशयः ।

tatra dānaṁ pradātavyaṁ yathāvibhavasaṁbhavam tena tīrthaphalainaiva varddhate nātra saṁśayaḥ

A gift should be given there according to one's means; by that, the fruit of the tirtha is itself increased — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 11 (padma.3.43.11)

स्वर्गे तिष्ठति राजेंद्र यावदाभूतसंप्लवम् । वटमूलं समाश्रित्य यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत् ।

svarge tiṣṭhati rājeṁdra yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam vaṭamūlaṁ samāśritya yastu prāṇānparityajet

He remains in heaven, O lord of kings, until the dissolution of all beings. And whoever, taking refuge at the root of the banyan tree, gives up his life —

Verse 12 (padma.3.43.12)

सर्वलोकानतिक्रम्य रुद्रलोकं च गच्छति । तत्र ते द्वादशादित्यास्तपंते रुद्रमाश्रिताः ।

sarvalokānatikramya rudralokaṁ ca gacchati tatra te dvādaśādityāstapaṁte rudramāśritāḥ

passing beyond all the worlds, goes to the world of Rudra. There the twelve Adityas, taking refuge in Rudra, blaze forth —

Verse 13 (padma.3.43.13)

निर्दहंति जगत्सर्वं वटमूलं न दह्यते । नष्टचंद्रार्कपवनं यदा चैकार्णवं जगत् ।

nirdahaṁti jagatsarvaṁ vaṭamūlaṁ na dahyate naṣṭacaṁdrārkapavanaṁ yadā caikārṇavaṁ jagat

consuming the whole world, yet the root of that banyan is not burnt. And when the moon, sun, and wind have perished, and the world becomes one single ocean —

Verse 14 (padma.3.43.14)

स्वपित्यत्रैव वै विष्णुर्जायमानः पुनः पुनः । देवदानवगंधर्व ऋषयः सिद्धचारणाः ।

svapityatraiva vai viṣṇurjāyamānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ devadānavagaṁdharva ṛṣayaḥ siddhacāraṇāḥ

Vishnu sleeps right there, being born again and again. Gods, Danavas, Gandharvas, sages, Siddhas, and Charanas —

Verse 15 (padma.3.43.15)

सदा सेवंति तत्तीर्थं गंगायमुनसंगमे । तत्र गच्छंति राजेंद्र प्रयागे संयुतं च यत् ।

sadā sevaṁti tattīrthaṁ gaṁgāyamunasaṁgame tatra gacchaṁti rājeṁdra prayāge saṁyutaṁ ca yat

ever resort to that tirtha at the confluence of the Ganga and the Yamuna. They go there, O lord of kings, to what is united in Prayaga.

Verse 16 (padma.3.43.16)

तत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा दिशश्चैव दिगीश्वराः । लोकपालाश्च साध्याश्च पितरो लोकसंमताः ।

tatra brahmādayo devā diśaścaiva digīśvarāḥ lokapālāśca sādhyāśca pitaro lokasaṁmatāḥ

There, Brahma and the other gods, the directions and their guardian lords, the world-protectors, the Sadhyas, and the ancestors honored by the world,

Verse 17 (padma.3.43.17)

सनत्कुमारप्रमुखास्तथैव परमर्षयः । अंगिरप्रमुखाश्चैव तथा ब्रह्मर्षयः परे ।

sanatkumārapramukhāstathaiva paramarṣayaḥ aṁgirapramukhāścaiva tathā brahmarṣayaḥ pare

the supreme sages headed by Sanatkumara, likewise those headed by Angiras, and other Brahmarshis besides,

Verse 18 (padma.3.43.18)

तथा नागाश्च सिद्धाश्च सुपर्णाः खेचराश्च ये । सरितः सागराः शैला नागा विद्याधरास्तथा ।

tathā nāgāśca siddhāśca suparṇāḥ khecarāśca ye saritaḥ sāgarāḥ śailā nāgā vidyādharāstathā

and the Nagas and the Siddhas, the Suparnas and all sky-going beings, the rivers, the oceans, the mountains, the Nagas, and the Vidyadharas as well,

Verse 19 (padma.3.43.19)

हरिश्च भगवानास्ते प्रजापतिपुरस्कृतः । गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये पृथिव्या जघनं स्मृतम् ।

hariśca bhagavānāste prajāpatipuraskṛtaḥ gaṁgāyamunayormadhye pṛthivyā jaghanaṁ smṛtam

and the blessed Hari himself is present there, honored before Prajapati. Between the Ganga and the Yamuna is remembered the hip of the earth —

Verse 20 (padma.3.43.20)

प्रयागं राजशार्दूल त्रिषुलोकेषु विश्रुतम् । ततः पुण्यतमं नास्ति त्रिषुलोकेषु भारत ।

prayāgaṁ rājaśārdūla triṣulokeṣu viśrutam tataḥ puṇyatamaṁ nāsti triṣulokeṣu bhārata

Prayaga, O tiger among kings, renowned in the three worlds. There is nothing more meritorious than that in the three worlds, O Bharata.

Verse 21 (padma.3.43.21)

श्रवणात्तस्य तीर्थस्य नामसंकीर्तनादपि । मृत्तिका लंभनाद्वापि नरः पापात्प्रमुच्यते ।

śravaṇāttasya tīrthasya nāmasaṁkīrtanādapi mṛttikā laṁbhanādvāpi naraḥ pāpātpramucyate

By merely hearing of that tirtha, or even by reciting its name, or even by obtaining its clay, a man is freed from sin.

Verse 22 (padma.3.43.22)

तत्राभिषेकं यः कुर्य्यात्संगमे संशितव्रतः । तुल्यं फलमवाप्नोति राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः ।

tatrābhiṣekaṁ yaḥ kuryyātsaṁgame saṁśitavrataḥ tulyaṁ phalamavāpnoti rājasūyāśvamedhayoḥ

Whoever, of strict vows, bathes at that confluence, obtains a fruit equal to both the Rajasuya and the Ashvamedha.

Verse 23 (padma.3.43.23)

न वेदवचनात्तात न लोकवचनादपि । मतिरुत्क्रमणीया ते प्रयागगमनं प्रति ।

na vedavacanāttāta na lokavacanādapi matirutkramaṇīyā te prayāgagamanaṁ prati

Not because of the word of the Veda, dear one, nor even because of the world's talk, should your resolve waver from going to Prayaga.

Verse 24 (padma.3.43.24)

दशतीर्थसहस्राणि षष्टिकोट्यस्तथापराः । येषां सान्निध्यमत्रैव कीर्तनात्कुरुनंदन ।

daśatīrthasahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭikoṭyastathāparāḥ yeṣāṁ sānnidhyamatraiva kīrtanātkurunaṁdana

Ten thousand tirthas, and sixty million others besides, whose presence is here itself — this is declared, O joy of the Kurus.

Verse 25 (padma.3.43.25)

या गतिर्योगयुक्तस्य सदुत्थस्य मनीषिणः । सा गतिस्त्यजतः प्राणान्गंगायमुनसंगमे ।

yā gatiryogayuktasya sadutthasya manīṣiṇaḥ sā gatistyajataḥ prāṇāngaṁgāyamunasaṁgame

Whatever destiny belongs to one accomplished in yoga, of good birth, wise — that same destiny belongs to one who gives up his life at the confluence of the Ganga and the Yamuna.

Verse 26 (padma.3.43.26)

तेन जीवंति लोकेऽस्मिन्यत्र यत्र युधिष्ठिर । ये प्रयागं न संप्राप्तास्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् ।

tena jīvaṁti loke'sminyatra yatra yudhiṣṭhira ye prayāgaṁ na saṁprāptāstriṣu lokeṣu viśrutam

By that destiny they live on wherever they are, O Yudhishthira. As for those who have not reached Prayaga, renowned in the three worlds —

Verse 27 (padma.3.43.27)

एवं दृष्ट्वा तु तत्तीर्थं प्रयागं परमं पदम् । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यः शशांक इव राहुणा ।

evaṁ dṛṣṭvā tu tattīrthaṁ prayāgaṁ paramaṁ padam mucyate sarvapāpebhyaḥ śaśāṁka iva rāhuṇā

having beheld that tirtha, Prayaga, the supreme abode, one is freed from all sins, like the moon released from Rahu.

Verse 28 (padma.3.43.28)

कंबलाश्वतरौ नागौ यमुना दक्षिणे तटे । तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः ।

kaṁbalāśvatarau nāgau yamunā dakṣiṇe taṭe tatra snātvā ca pītvā ca mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Guarded by the two serpents Kambala and Ashvatara, on the southern bank of the Yamuna — bathing and drinking there, one is freed from all sins.

Verse 29 (padma.3.43.29)

तत्र गत्वा तु तत्स्थानं महादेवस्य धीमतः । नरस्तारयते सर्वान्दशातीतान्दशापरान् ।

tatra gatvā tu tatsthānaṁ mahādevasya dhīmataḥ narastārayate sarvāndaśātītāndaśāparān

Going there to that place of the wise Mahadeva, a man carries across all — ten generations past and ten to come.

Verse 30 (padma.3.43.30)

कृत्वाभिषेकं तु नरः सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् । स्वर्गलोकमवाप्नोति यावदाभूतसंप्लवम् ।

kṛtvābhiṣekaṁ tu naraḥ so'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet svargalokamavāpnoti yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

Bathing there, a man obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha; he attains Svargaloka until the dissolution of all beings.

Verse 31 (padma.3.43.31)

पूर्वपार्श्वे तु गंगायां त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत । कूपं चैव तु सामुद्रं प्रतिष्ठानं तु विश्रुतम् ।

pūrvapārśve tu gaṁgāyāṁ triṣu lokeṣu bhārata kūpaṁ caiva tu sāmudraṁ pratiṣṭhānaṁ tu viśrutam

On the eastern side of the Ganga, O Bharata, renowned in the three worlds, is the well called Samudra, and Pratishthana, renowned as well.

Verse 32 (padma.3.43.32)

ब्रह्मचारी जितक्रोधस्त्रिरात्रं यदि तिष्ठति । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ।

brahmacārī jitakrodhastrirātraṁ yadi tiṣṭhati sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā so'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

If a celibate who has conquered anger stays there three nights, with soul purified of all sin, he obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha.

Verse 33 (padma.3.43.33)

उत्तरेण प्रतिष्ठानाद्भागीरथ्यास्तु पूर्वतः । हंसप्रपतनं नाम तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् ।

uttareṇa pratiṣṭhānādbhāgīrathyāstu pūrvataḥ haṁsaprapatanaṁ nāma tīrthaṁ trailokyaviśrutam

North of Pratishthana, and east of the Bhagirathi, is the tirtha named Hamsaprapatana, renowned in the three worlds.

Verse 34 (padma.3.43.34)

अश्वमेधफलं तस्मिन्स्नातमात्रस्य भारत । यावच्चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च तावत्स्वर्गे महीयते ।

aśvamedhaphalaṁ tasminsnātamātrasya bhārata yāvaccandraśca sūryaśca tāvatsvarge mahīyate

By merely bathing there, O Bharata, one obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha; for as long as the moon and sun endure, he is glorified in heaven.

Verse 35 (padma.3.43.35)

उर्वशीपुलिने रम्ये विपुले हंसपांडुरे । सलिलैस्तर्प्पयेद्यस्तु पितॄंस्तत्र विमत्सरः ।

urvaśīpuline ramye vipule haṁsapāṁḍure salilaistarppayedyastu pitṝṁstatra vimatsaraḥ

On the delightful, vast sandbank of Urvashi, white as swans, whoever, free of envy, offers libations of water there to his ancestors —

Verse 36 (padma.3.43.36)

षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि षष्टिवर्षशतानि च । सेवते पितृभिः सार्द्धं स्वर्गलोकं नराधिप ।

ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭivarṣaśatāni ca sevate pitṛbhiḥ sārddhaṁ svargalokaṁ narādhipa

for sixty thousand years and sixty hundred years, O lord of men, he dwells in Svargaloka together with his ancestors,

Verse 37 (padma.3.43.37)

पूज्यते सततं तत्र ऋषिगंधर्वकिन्नरैः । ततः स्वर्गपरिभ्रष्टः क्षीणकर्म्मा दिवश्च्युतः ।

pūjyate satataṁ tatra ṛṣigaṁdharvakinnaraiḥ tataḥ svargaparibhraṣṭaḥ kṣīṇakarmmā divaścyutaḥ

honored there continually by sages, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras. Then, fallen from heaven, his merit exhausted, cast down from the sky —

Verse 38 (padma.3.43.38)

उर्वशीसदृशीनां तु कन्यानां लभते शतम् । गवां शतसहस्राणां भोक्ता भवति भूमिप ।

urvaśīsadṛśīnāṁ tu kanyānāṁ labhate śatam gavāṁ śatasahasrāṇāṁ bhoktā bhavati bhūmipa

he obtains a hundred maidens equal to Urvashi in beauty; he becomes, O lord of the earth, an enjoyer of a hundred thousand cows,

Verse 39 (padma.3.43.39)

कांचीनूपुरशब्देन सुप्तोऽसौ प्रतिबुध्यते । भुक्त्वा तु विपुलान्भोगांस्तत्तीर्थं लभते पुनः ।

kāṁcīnūpuraśabdena supto'sau pratibudhyate bhuktvā tu vipulānbhogāṁstattīrthaṁ labhate punaḥ

and, though asleep, he is awakened by the sound of women's girdle-bells and anklets. Having enjoyed vast pleasures, he attains that tirtha once more.

Verse 40 (padma.3.43.40)

कुशासनधरो नित्यं नियतः संयतेंद्रियः । एककालं तु भुंजानो मासं भोगपतिर्भवेत् ।

kuśāsanadharo nityaṁ niyataḥ saṁyateṁdriyaḥ ekakālaṁ tu bhuṁjāno māsaṁ bhogapatirbhavet

One who ever bears a kusha-grass seat, disciplined, of controlled senses, eating only once a day for a month, becomes a lord of enjoyments.

Verse 41 (padma.3.43.41)

सुवर्णालंकृतानां तु नारीणां लभते शतम् । पृथिव्यामासमुद्रायां महाभोगपतिर्भवेत् ।

suvarṇālaṁkṛtānāṁ tu nārīṇāṁ labhate śatam pṛthivyāmāsamudrāyāṁ mahābhogapatirbhavet

He obtains a hundred women adorned with gold; on the earth bounded by the ocean, he becomes a great lord of enjoyments,

Verse 42 (padma.3.43.42)

दशग्रामसहस्राणां भोक्ता भवति भूमिपः । धनधान्यसमायुक्तो दाता भवति नित्यशः ।

daśagrāmasahasrāṇāṁ bhoktā bhavati bhūmipaḥ dhanadhānyasamāyukto dātā bhavati nityaśaḥ

a king who is the enjoyer of ten thousand villages, ever endowed with wealth and grain, and a constant giver.

Verse 43 (padma.3.43.43)

स भुक्त्वा विपुलान्भोगांस्तत्तीर्थं स्मरते पुनः । अथ तस्मिन्वटे रम्ये ब्रह्मचारी जितेंद्रियः ।

sa bhuktvā vipulānbhogāṁstattīrthaṁ smarate punaḥ atha tasminvaṭe ramye brahmacārī jiteṁdriyaḥ

Having enjoyed vast pleasures, he remembers that tirtha once more. Then, at that delightful banyan tree, a celibate of controlled senses,

Verse 44 (padma.3.43.44)

उपोष्य योगयुक्तश्च ब्रह्मज्ञानमवाप्नुयात् । कोटितीर्थं समासाद्य यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत् ।

upoṣya yogayuktaśca brahmajñānamavāpnuyāt koṭitīrthaṁ samāsādya yastu prāṇānparityajet

having fasted and being devoted to yoga, attains the knowledge of Brahman. And whoever, reaching Kotitirtha, gives up his life —

Verse 45 (padma.3.43.45)

कोटिवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टः क्षीणकर्म्मा दिवश्च्युतः ।

koṭivarṣasahasrāṇi svargaloke mahīyate tataḥ svargātparibhraṣṭaḥ kṣīṇakarmmā divaścyutaḥ

he is glorified in Svargaloka for ten million thousand years. Then, fallen from heaven, his merit exhausted, cast down from the sky,

Verse 46 (padma.3.43.46)

सुवर्णमणिमुक्ताढ्ये कुले भवति रूपवान् । ततो भोगवतीं गत्वा वासुकेरुत्तरेण तु ।

suvarṇamaṇimuktāḍhye kule bhavati rūpavān tato bhogavatīṁ gatvā vāsukeruttareṇa tu

he is born beautiful in a family rich in gold, jewels, and pearls. Then, going to Bhogavati, north of Vasuki's abode —

Verse 47 (padma.3.43.47)

दशाश्वमेधकं तत्र तीर्थं तत्रापरं भवेत् । कृत्वाभिषेकं तु नरः सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ।

daśāśvamedhakaṁ tatra tīrthaṁ tatrāparaṁ bhavet kṛtvābhiṣekaṁ tu naraḥ so'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

there is the tirtha Dashashvamedhaka there, and another tirtha as well. Bathing there, a man obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha,

Verse 48 (padma.3.43.48)

धनाढ्यो रूपवान्दक्षो दाता भवति धार्मिकः । चतुर्वेदेषु यत्पुण्यं सत्यवादिषु यत्फलम् ।

dhanāḍhyo rūpavāndakṣo dātā bhavati dhārmikaḥ caturvedeṣu yatpuṇyaṁ satyavādiṣu yatphalam

becomes wealthy, handsome, skillful, a righteous giver. Whatever merit is in the four Vedas, whatever fruit belongs to speakers of truth —

Verse 49 (padma.3.43.49)

अहिंसायां तु यो धर्म्मो गमनादेव तद्भवेत् । कुरुक्षेत्रसमा गंगा यत्रतत्रावगाह्यते ।

ahiṁsāyāṁ tu yo dharmmo gamanādeva tadbhavet kurukṣetrasamā gaṁgā yatratatrāvagāhyate

and whatever dharma there is in non-violence — all of that comes about simply by going there. The Ganga, wherever bathed in, equals Kurukshetra;

Verse 50 (padma.3.43.50)

कुरुक्षेत्राद्दशगुणा यत्र सिंध्वा समागता । यत्र गंगा महाभागा बहुतीर्थतपोधना ।

kurukṣetrāddaśaguṇā yatra siṁdhvā samāgatā yatra gaṁgā mahābhāgā bahutīrthatapodhanā

tenfold greater than Kurukshetra is the place where she meets the Sindhu. Where the greatly fortunate Ganga is rich with many tirthas and much austerity —

Verse 51 (padma.3.43.51)

सिद्धक्षेत्रं हि तज्ज्ञेयं नात्र कार्या विचारणा । क्षितौ तारयते मर्त्यान्नागांस्तारयतेऽप्यधः ।

siddhakṣetraṁ hi tajjñeyaṁ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā kṣitau tārayate martyānnāgāṁstārayate'pyadhaḥ

that is indeed to be known as a field of accomplishment — there should be no doubt about this. On earth she carries mortals across; below, she carries even the Nagas across;

Verse 52 (padma.3.43.52)

दिवि तारयते देवांस्तेन सा त्रिपथा स्मृता । यावदस्थीनि गंगायां तिष्ठंति तस्य देहिनः ।

divi tārayate devāṁstena sā tripathā smṛtā yāvadasthīni gaṁgāyāṁ tiṣṭhaṁti tasya dehinaḥ

in heaven she carries the gods across — for that reason she is remembered as Tripatha, 'the one of three paths.' As long as a person's bones remain in the Ganga,

Verse 53 (padma.3.43.53)

तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । तीर्थानां तु परं तीर्थं नदीनामुत्तमा नदी ।

tāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi svargaloke mahīyate tīrthānāṁ tu paraṁ tīrthaṁ nadīnāmuttamā nadī

for that many thousand years he is glorified in Svargaloka. She is the highest of tirthas, the best of rivers,

Verse 54 (padma.3.43.54)

मोक्षदा सर्वभूतानां महापातकिनामपि । सर्वत्र सुलभा गंगा त्रिषु स्थानेषु दुर्लभा ।

mokṣadā sarvabhūtānāṁ mahāpātakināmapi sarvatra sulabhā gaṁgā triṣu sthāneṣu durlabhā

granting liberation to all beings, even to the greatest of sinners. The Ganga is easily accessible everywhere, yet holds special significance at three places —

Verse 55 (padma.3.43.55)

गंगाद्वारे प्रयागे च गंगासागरसंगमे । तत्र स्नात्वा दिवं यांति ये मृतास्तेऽपुनर्भवाः ।

gaṁgādvāre prayāge ca gaṁgāsāgarasaṁgame tatra snātvā divaṁ yāṁti ye mṛtāste'punarbhavāḥ

at Gangadvara, at Prayaga, and at the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean. Bathing there, those who die go to heaven, never to be reborn.

Verse 56 (padma.3.43.56)

सर्वेषां चैव भूतानां पापोपहतचेतसाम् । गतिमन्वेषमाणानां नास्ति गंगासमा गतिः ।

sarveṣāṁ caiva bhūtānāṁ pāpopahatacetasām gatimanveṣamāṇānāṁ nāsti gaṁgāsamā gatiḥ

For all beings whose minds are stricken with sin, who seek a way out — there is no destiny equal to the Ganga.

Verse 57 (padma.3.43.57)

पवित्राणां पवित्रं या मंगलानां च मंगलम् । महेश्वरशिरोभ्रष्टा सर्वपापहरा शुभा ।

pavitrāṇāṁ pavitraṁ yā maṁgalānāṁ ca maṁgalam maheśvaraśirobhraṣṭā sarvapāpaharā śubhā

She is the purest of the pure, the most auspicious of the auspicious, fallen from the head of Maheshvara, auspicious, destroying all sin.