In Praise of Ganga, Prayaga and Yamuna

Verse 1 (padma.6.22.1)

महादेव उवाच । गांगं वक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं यथोक्तं मुनिसत्तम । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण अघं नश्यति तत्क्षणात्

mahādeva uvāca gāṁgaṁ vakṣyāmi māhātmyaṁ yathoktaṁ munisattama yasya śravaṇamātreṇa aghaṁ naśyati tatkṣaṇāt

Mahadeva said: I shall tell the glory of the Ganga, as it has been declared, O best of sages — merely by hearing which, sin is destroyed in that very instant.

Verse 2 (padma.6.22.2)

गंगागंगेति योब्रूयाद्योजनानां शतैरपि । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति

gaṁgāgaṁgeti yobrūyādyojanānāṁ śatairapi mucyate sarvapāpebhyo viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati

Whoever says 'Ganga, Ganga,' even from a hundred yojanas away, is freed from all sins and goes to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 3 (padma.6.22.3)

चरणाब्जसमुद्भूता गंगा नामेति विश्रुता । पापानां स्थूलराशीनां नाशिनी चेति नारद

caraṇābjasamudbhūtā gaṁgā nāmeti viśrutā pāpānāṁ sthūlarāśīnāṁ nāśinī ceti nārada

Born from the Lotus-feet, renowned by the name Ganga, she is, O Narada, the destroyer even of the great masses of sin.

Verse 4 (padma.6.22.4)

नर्मदा सरयूश्चैव तथा वेत्रवती नदी । तापी पयोष्णी चंद्रा च विपाशा कर्मनाशिनीम्

narmadā sarayūścaiva tathā vetravatī nadī tāpī payoṣṇī caṁdrā ca vipāśā karmanāśinīm

The Narmada, the Sarayu, and likewise the river Vetravati, the Tapi, the Payoshni, the Chandra, the Vipasha, the Karmanashini,

Verse 5 (padma.6.22.5)

पुष्या पूर्णा तथा दीपा विदीपा सूर्यतेजसा । सहस्रवृषदानात्तु यत्फलं लभते ध्रुवम्

puṣyā pūrṇā tathā dīpā vidīpā sūryatejasā sahasravṛṣadānāttu yatphalaṁ labhate dhruvam

the Pushya, the Purna, the Dipa, the Vidipa radiant with sun-like splendor — whatever fruit is certainly obtained from the gift of a thousand bulls,

Verse 6 (padma.6.22.6)

तत्फलं समवाप्नोति गंगादर्शनतः क्षणात् । इयं गंगा महापुण्या ब्रह्मघ्नानां विशेषतः

tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti gaṁgādarśanataḥ kṣaṇāt iyaṁ gaṁgā mahāpuṇyā brahmaghnānāṁ viśeṣataḥ

that same fruit is obtained in an instant merely by the sight of the Ganga. This Ganga is of great merit, especially for those who have killed a brahmin —

Verse 7 (padma.6.22.7)

तेषां निरययुक्तानां गंगा पापप्रहारिणी । चंद्र सूर्योपरागे च यत्फलं विद्यतेऽनघ

teṣāṁ nirayayuktānāṁ gaṁgā pāpaprahāriṇī caṁdra sūryoparāge ca yatphalaṁ vidyate'nagha

for those bound for hell, the Ganga is the very destroyer of sin. O sinless one, whatever fruit exists during a lunar or solar eclipse,

Verse 8 (padma.6.22.8)

तत्फलं समवाप्नोति गंगादर्शनमात्रतः । यथा सूर्योदये तात तमो गच्छति दूरतः

tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti gaṁgādarśanamātrataḥ yathā sūryodaye tāta tamo gacchati dūrataḥ

that same fruit is obtained merely by the sight of the Ganga. My son, just as darkness flees far away at sunrise,

Verse 9 (padma.6.22.9)

तथा गंगाप्रभावेन विलयं याति पातकम् । मान्येयं सर्वदा लोके पवित्रा पापनाशिनी

tathā gaṁgāprabhāvena vilayaṁ yāti pātakam mānyeyaṁ sarvadā loke pavitrā pāpanāśinī

so too, by the Ganga's power, sin dissolves away. She is always to be honored in this world, pure, the destroyer of sin,

Verse 10 (padma.6.22.10)

कल्याणरूपा सततं विष्णुना निर्मिता पुरा । दिव्यरूपा तु जननी दीनानां पावनी स्मृता

kalyāṇarūpā satataṁ viṣṇunā nirmitā purā divyarūpā tu jananī dīnānāṁ pāvanī smṛtā

of ever-auspicious form, fashioned long ago by Vishnu himself; she is remembered as the divine-formed mother and purifier of the wretched.

Verse 11 (padma.6.22.11)

देवानां च यथा विष्णुस्तथा गंगोत्तमा नदी । ये कुर्वंति नराः स्नानं माघमासे निरंतरम्

devānāṁ ca yathā viṣṇustathā gaṁgottamā nadī ye kurvaṁti narāḥ snānaṁ māghamāse niraṁtaram

As Vishnu is among the gods, so the Ganga is the finest among rivers. Those men who bathe continually through the month of Magha —

Verse 12 (padma.6.22.12)

न तेषां विद्यते दुःखं कल्पानां च शतत्रयम् । यत्र गंगा च यमुना यत्र चैव सरस्वती । तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च मुक्तिभागी न संशयः

na teṣāṁ vidyate duḥkhaṁ kalpānāṁ ca śatatrayam yatra gaṁgā ca yamunā yatra caiva sarasvatī tatra snātvā ca pītvā ca muktibhāgī na saṁśayaḥ

know no sorrow for three hundred kalpas. Where the Ganga is, where the Yamuna is, and where the Sarasvati too is — bathing and drinking there, a person becomes, without doubt, a sharer in liberation.

Verse 13 (padma.6.22.13)

महादेव उवाच । त्वद्वार्तां प्रियतो ब्रवीमि यदहं सा स्तुस्तुतिस्ते प्रभो यद्भुंजे तव तन्निवेदनमथो यद्यामि सा प्रेष्यता । यच्छांतः स्वपिमि त्वदंघ्रियुगले दंडप्रणामोऽस्तु नः। स्वामिन्यच्च करोमि तेन स भवान्विश्वेश्वरः प्रीयताम्

mahādeva uvāca tvadvārtāṁ priyato bravīmi yadahaṁ sā stustutiste prabho yadbhuṁje tava tannivedanamatho yadyāmi sā preṣyatā yacchāṁtaḥ svapimi tvadaṁghriyugale daṁḍapraṇāmo'stu naḥ svāminyacca karomi tena sa bhavānviśveśvaraḥ prīyatām

Mahadeva said: O Lord, whatever I speak of you with love, let that itself be your praise; whatever I enjoy, let that be an offering to you; wherever I go, let that be your service; whatever I speak in silence, let it rest at your very feet — let this be our full prostration. O Master, whatever I do, by that may you, Lord of the universe, be pleased.

Verse 14 (padma.6.22.14)

दृष्टेन वंदितेनापि स्पृष्टेन च धृतेन के ।। नरा येन विमुच्यंते तदेतद् यामुनं जलम्॥

dṛṣṭena vaṁditenāpi spṛṣṭena ca dhṛtena ke narā yena vimucyaṁte tadetad yāmunaṁ jalam

By whose very sight, salutation, touch, and holding men are set free — that is this water of the Yamuna.

Verse 15 (padma.6.22.15)

तावद् भ्रमंति भुवने मनुजा भवोत्थ दारिद्य्र रोग मरण व्यसनाभिभूताः ।। यावज्जलं तव महानदि नीलनीलं पश्यंति नो दधति मूर्धसु सूर्यपुत्रि ॥

tāvad bhramaṁti bhuvane manujā bhavottha dāridyra roga maraṇa vyasanābhibhūtāḥ yāvajjalaṁ tava mahānadi nīlanīlaṁ paśyaṁti no dadhati mūrdhasu sūryaputri

O great river, so long as men do not behold your deep-blue water, and do not bear it upon their heads, O daughter of the Sun, so long do they wander this world, overcome by poverty, disease, death, and worldly afflictions.

Verse 16 (padma.6.22.16)

यत्संस्मृतिः सपदि कृंतति दुष्कृतौघं पापावलीं जयति योजन लक्षतोऽपि ।। यन्नाम नाम जगदुच्चरितं पुनाति दिष्ट्या हि सा पथिदृशो भविताद्य गंगा ॥

yatsaṁsmṛtiḥ sapadi kṛṁtati duṣkṛtaughaṁ pāpāvalīṁ jayati yojana lakṣato'pi yannāma nāma jagaduccaritaṁ punāti diṣṭyā hi sā pathidṛśo bhavitādya gaṁgā

Whose very remembrance instantly cuts away the mass of misdeeds, who conquers the row of sins even from a hundred thousand yojanas away, whose very name, uttered, purifies the world — by good fortune may that very Ganga be present today before our sight.

Verse 17 (padma.6.22.17)

आलोकोत्कंठितेन प्रमुदित मनसा वर्त्म यस्याः प्रयातं सद्यस्मिन्कृत्यमेतामथ प्रथम कृती जज्ञिवान्स्वर्गसिंधुम् ।। स्नानं संध्या निवापः सुर यजनमपि श्राद्ध विप्राशनाद्यं सर्वं संपूर्णमेतत्भवति भगवतः प्रीतिदं नातिचित्रम् ॥

ālokotkaṁṭhitena pramudita manasā vartma yasyāḥ prayātaṁ sadyasminkṛtyametāmatha prathama kṛtī jajñivānsvargasiṁdhum snānaṁ saṁdhyā nivāpaḥ sura yajanamapi śrāddha viprāśanādyaṁ sarvaṁ saṁpūrṇametatbhavati bhagavataḥ prītidaṁ nāticitram

For one whose heart, eager for her sight, joyfully sets out at once upon her path, and who thus first accomplishes this duty — having reached the celestial river, his bathing, evening-worship, offerings, worship of the gods, ancestral rites, and feeding of brahmins all become complete and pleasing to the Lord — this is no great wonder.

Verse 18 (padma.6.22.18)

देवीभूत परं ब्रह्म परमानंददायिनी ।। अर्घं गृहाण मे गंगे पापं हर नमोस्तुते ॥

devībhūta paraṁ brahma paramānaṁdadāyinī arghaṁ gṛhāṇa me gaṁge pāpaṁ hara namostute

O Ganga, who have become the Goddess, the very Supreme Brahman, giver of supreme bliss — accept this offering from me, take away my sin — salutation to you!

Verse 19 (padma.6.22.19)

साक्षाद्धर्म द्रवौघं मुररिपु चरणांभोज पीयूषसारं।। दुःखस्याब्धेस्तरित्रं सुरमनुजनुतं स्वर्गसोपान मार्गम्। । सर्वांहोहारि वारि प्रवर गुणगणंभासि या संवहंती।। तस्यै भागीरथि श्रीमति मुदितमना देवि कुर्वे नमस्ते ॥

sākṣāddharma dravaughaṁ muraripu caraṇāṁbhoja pīyūṣasāraṁ duḥkhasyābdhestaritraṁ suramanujanutaṁ svargasopāna mārgam sarvāṁhohāri vāri pravara guṇagaṇaṁbhāsi yā saṁvahaṁtī tasyai bhāgīrathi śrīmati muditamanā devi kurve namaste

O Bhagirathi, you are the very stream of dharma made manifest, the very essence of nectar from Murari's lotus-feet, a boat across the ocean of sorrow, praised by gods and men, the path that is heaven's own stairway; flowing with your excellent virtues that carry away every sin — to you, O glorious, joyous goddess, I offer my salutation.

Verse 20 (padma.6.22.20)

स्वःसिंधो दुरिताब्धिमग्न जनता संतारणि प्रोल्लसत्कल्लोला। । मलकांतिनाशिततमस्तोमे जगत्पावनि ।। गंगे देवि पुनीहि दुष्कृतभयक्रांतं कृपाभाजनं मातर्मां शरणागतं शरणदे रक्षाथभोभीषितम् ॥

svaḥsiṁdho duritābdhimagna janatā saṁtāraṇi prollasatkallolā malakāṁtināśitatamastome jagatpāvani gaṁge devi punīhi duṣkṛtabhayakrāṁtaṁ kṛpābhājanaṁ mātarmāṁ śaraṇāgataṁ śaraṇade rakṣāthabhobhīṣitam

O River of Heaven, whose rippling waves carry across those sunk in the ocean of wrongdoing, who by your own pure radiance dispel the mass of darkness, purifier of the world — O Goddess Ganga, purify me, overcome with fear of my own misdeeds, a vessel of your compassion, come for refuge at your feet; O giver of refuge, protect me, terrified as I am.

Verse 21 (padma.6.22.21)

हं हो मानस कंपसे किमु सखे त्रस्तोभयान्नारकात्किं ते। भीतिरिति श्रुतिर्दुरितकृत्संजायते नारकी ।। माभैषीः शृणु मे गतिं यदि मया पापाचल। स्पर्द्धिनी प्राप्ता ते निरयं कथः किमपरं किं मे न धर्मं धनम् ॥

haṁ ho mānasa kaṁpase kimu sakhe trastobhayānnārakātkiṁ te bhītiriti śrutirduritakṛtsaṁjāyate nārakī mābhaiṣīḥ śṛṇu me gatiṁ yadi mayā pāpācala sparddhinī prāptā te nirayaṁ kathaḥ kimaparaṁ kiṁ me na dharmaṁ dhanam

'Hey, my mind, why do you tremble, my friend, terrified by fear of hell? This very fear is what makes the sinner one bound for hell. Do not fear — hear me: even if a mountain of sin has come upon me, why worry over hell? What else is there — do I not still have dharma and wealth?'

Verse 22 (padma.6.22.22)

सर्वेशादि प्रशंसा मुदमनुभवनं मज्जनं यत्र चोक्तं स्वर्नार्योवीक्ष्यहृष्टा। विबुध सुरपतिः प्राप्तिसंभावनेन ।। नीरे श्रीजह्नु कन्येयम् अनियमरताः स्नांति ये तावकीने।। देवत्वं ते लभंते स्फुटम् अशुभकृतोप्यत्र वेदाः प्रमाणम् ॥

sarveśādi praśaṁsā mudamanubhavanaṁ majjanaṁ yatra coktaṁ svarnāryovīkṣyahṛṣṭā vibudha surapatiḥ prāptisaṁbhāvanena nīre śrījahnu kanyeyam aniyamaratāḥ snāṁti ye tāvakīne devatvaṁ te labhaṁte sphuṭam aśubhakṛtopyatra vedāḥ pramāṇam

Praise of the Lord of all, the experience of joy, bathing — where it is said that even heavenly women look on delighted, and even the king of gods, hoping to attain merit — in the waters of this daughter of Jahnu, even those who bathe without strict observance clearly attain divinity; even the ill-doer here — the Vedas themselves are the proof.

Verse 23 (padma.6.22.23)

बुद्धे सद्बुद्धिरेवं भवतु तव सखे मानस स्वस्तिते ऽस्तु।। आस्तां पादौ पदस्थौ सततमिह युवां साधु दृष्टी च दृष्टी ।। वाणि प्राणप्रियेधि प्रकट गुण वपुः प्राप्नुहि प्राणि पुष्टिं यस्मात्सर्वैर्भवद्भिः।। सुखमतुलमहं प्राप्नुवं तीर्थपुण्यम् ॥

buddhe sadbuddhirevaṁ bhavatu tava sakhe mānasa svastite 'stu āstāṁ pādau padasthau satatamiha yuvāṁ sādhu dṛṣṭī ca dṛṣṭī vāṇi prāṇapriyedhi prakaṭa guṇa vapuḥ prāpnuhi prāṇi puṣṭiṁ yasmātsarvairbhavadbhiḥ sukhamatulamahaṁ prāpnuvaṁ tīrthapuṇyam

'May you have such good resolve, O mind, my friend — may there be well-being for you. May our feet remain steadfast here always, upon this sacred ground, and may our sight become good sight. O Speech, become dear as life, take on a body of manifest virtue, so that through all of you I may attain the incomparable happiness of this tirtha's merit.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.22.24)

श्रीजाह्नवी रविसुता परमेष्ठिपुत्री सिंधुत्रयाभरणतीर्थवर प्रयाग। । सर्वेश मामनुगृहाण नयस्व चोर्ध्वमंतस्तमो दशविधं दलय स्वधाम्ना ॥

śrījāhnavī ravisutā parameṣṭhiputrī siṁdhutrayābharaṇatīrthavara prayāga sarveśa māmanugṛhāṇa nayasva cordhvamaṁtastamo daśavidhaṁ dalaya svadhāmnā

O glorious Jahnavi, daughter of the Sun, daughter of Parameshthi! O Prayaga, best of tirthas, ornament of the confluence of three rivers! O Lord of all, be gracious to me, lead me upward, and destroy, by your own radiance, the tenfold darkness within me.

Verse 25 (padma.6.22.25)

वागीश विष्ण्वीश पुरंदराद्याः पापप्रणाशाय विदांविदोऽपि। । भजंति यत्तीरमनीलनीलं सतीर्थराजो जयति प्रयागः ॥

vāgīśa viṣṇvīśa puraṁdarādyāḥ pāpapraṇāśāya vidāṁvido'pi bhajaṁti yattīramanīlanīlaṁ satīrtharājo jayati prayāgaḥ

Vagisha, Vishnu, Ishana, Purandara, and others — the wise among the wise — resort to your dark, collyrium-hued bank for the destruction of sin: victorious is that king of tirthas, Prayaga!

Verse 26 (padma.6.22.26)

कलिंदजा संगम वाप्ययत्र प्रत्यग्गता स्वर्गधुनीधुनोति। । अध्यात्म तापत्रितयं जनस्य स तीर्थराजो जयति प्रयागः ॥

kaliṁdajā saṁgama vāpyayatra pratyaggatā svargadhunīdhunoti adhyātma tāpatritayaṁ janasya sa tīrtharājo jayati prayāgaḥ

Where, at the confluence with the daughter of Kalinda, the celestial river, having turned back, shakes off the threefold inner torment of people — victorious is that king of tirthas, Prayaga!

Verse 27 (padma.6.22.27)

श्यामो वटः श्यामगुणोवृणोति स्वच्छायया श्यामल याजनानाम्। । श्यामश्रमं कृंतति यत्रदृष्टः स तीर्थराजो जयति प्रयागः ॥

śyāmo vaṭaḥ śyāmaguṇovṛṇoti svacchāyayā śyāmala yājanānām śyāmaśramaṁ kṛṁtati yatradṛṣṭaḥ sa tīrtharājo jayati prayāgaḥ

Where the dark banyan tree, of dark virtue, shelters its worshippers with its own dark shade, and whose very sight cuts away the dark weariness of the Kali age — victorious is that king of tirthas, Prayaga!

Verse 28 (padma.6.22.28)

ब्रह्मादयोप्यात्मकृतिं विहाय भजंति पुण्यात्मक भागधेयम् ।। यत्रोज्झितादंडधरः स्वदंडं स तीर्थराजो जयति प्रयागः ॥

brahmādayopyātmakṛtiṁ vihāya bhajaṁti puṇyātmaka bhāgadheyam yatrojjhitādaṁḍadharaḥ svadaṁḍaṁ sa tīrtharājo jayati prayāgaḥ

Where even Brahma and others, abandoning their own self-made status, take refuge in that blessed one's merit, where even the wielder of the rod casts aside his own rod — victorious is that king of tirthas, Prayaga!

Verse 29 (padma.6.22.29)

यत्सेवया देव नृदेवतादि देवर्षयः प्रत्यहमामनंति। । स्वर्गं च सर्वोत्तम भूमिराज्यं स तीर्थराजो जयति प्रयागः ॥

yatsevayā deva nṛdevatādi devarṣayaḥ pratyahamāmanaṁti svargaṁ ca sarvottama bhūmirājyaṁ sa tīrtharājo jayati prayāgaḥ

By service to which the gods, kings who are gods among men, and the divine sages daily attain heaven and the very best kingdom of earth — victorious is that king of tirthas, Prayaga!

Verse 30 (padma.6.22.30)

एनांसि हंतीति प्रसिद्धवार्ता नाम प्रतापेन दृशो भवंति। । यस्य त्रिलोकीं प्रतताप गोभिः स तीर्थराजो जयति प्रयागः ॥

enāṁsi haṁtīti prasiddhavārtā nāma pratāpena dṛśo bhavaṁti yasya trilokīṁ pratatāpa gobhiḥ sa tīrtharājo jayati prayāgaḥ

Its very name, 'destroyer of sins,' proves true to sight through its own glory; whose radiance once scorched the three worlds with its rays — victorious is that king of tirthas, Prayaga!

Verse 31 (padma.6.22.31)

धत्ते ऽभितश्चामर चारुकांतिं सितासिते यत्रसरिद्वरेण्ये ।। आद्यो वटश्छत्रमिवातिभाति स तीर्थराजो जयति प्रयागः ॥

dhatte 'bhitaścāmara cārukāṁtiṁ sitāsite yatrasaridvareṇye ādyo vaṭaśchatramivātibhāti sa tīrtharājo jayati prayāgaḥ

Where the two supreme rivers, one white and one dark, bear about them the lovely radiance of moving chowries, and the primal banyan tree there shines like a very parasol — victorious is that king of tirthas, Prayaga!

Verse 32 (padma.6.22.32)

ब्राह्मीनपुत्री त्रिपथास्त्रिवेणी समागमे साक्षतयागमात्रात् ।। यत्राप्नुतान्ब्रह्मपदं नयंति स तीर्थराजो जयति प्रयागः॥

brāhmīnaputrī tripathāstriveṇī samāgame sākṣatayāgamātrāt yatrāpnutānbrahmapadaṁ nayaṁti sa tīrtharājo jayati prayāgaḥ

Brahma's daughter, the triple-pathed one, and the confluence of the Triveni — where, by the mere due performance of a rite, they lead those who attain it to the very state of Brahman — victorious is that king of tirthas, Prayaga!

Verse 33 (padma.6.22.33)

केषांचिज्जन्मकोटिर्व्रजति सुवचसां यामियामीति यस्मिन्केषां।। चित्प्रेप्सतां यं नियतमतियतेद् वर्षवृंदं वरिष्ठम्। । यत्प्राप्तं भाग्यलक्षैर्भवति भवति नो वास वाचामवाच्यो। । दिष्ट्या वेणी विशिष्टो भवति दृगतिथिः कं प्रयाग प्रयागः ॥

keṣāṁcijjanmakoṭirvrajati suvacasāṁ yāmiyāmīti yasminkeṣāṁ citprepsatāṁ yaṁ niyatamatiyated varṣavṛṁdaṁ variṣṭham yatprāptaṁ bhāgyalakṣairbhavati bhavati no vāsa vācāmavācyo diṣṭyā veṇī viśiṣṭo bhavati dṛgatithiḥ kaṁ prayāga prayāgaḥ

Even for some of excellent speech, this is attained only after millions of births; those in whose minds this longing remains fixed strive for it for years. What is obtained through hundreds of thousands of fortunes is beyond even words — by good fortune the sight of the Triveni becomes a special occasion indeed. Such is this Prayaga!

Verse 34 (padma.6.22.34)

लोकानामक्षमाणां मखकृतिषु कलौ स्वर्गकामैर्जय स्तुत्यादि स्तोत्रैर्वचोभिः।। कथममरपद प्राप्ति चिंतातुराणाम् ।। अग्निष्टोमाश्वमेध प्रमुख मखफलं सम्यगालोच्यसांगं।। ब्रह्माद्यैस्तीर्थराजो ऽभिमतद उपदिष्टो ऽयमेव प्रयागः ॥

lokānāmakṣamāṇāṁ makhakṛtiṣu kalau svargakāmairjaya stutyādi stotrairvacobhiḥ kathamamarapada prāpti ciṁtāturāṇām agniṣṭomāśvamedha pramukha makhaphalaṁ samyagālocyasāṁgaṁ brahmādyaistīrtharājo 'bhimatada upadiṣṭo 'yameva prayāgaḥ

For those in the Kali age unable to perform sacrifices, desiring heaven through hymns of praise and words, anxious about attaining a divine state — having duly considered the fruit of the Agnishtoma, Ashvamedha, and other rites, Brahma and the other gods have declared this very Prayaga, with all its parts, to be the king of tirthas that grants the desired fruit.

Verse 35 (padma.6.22.35)

मया प्रमादातुरतादि दोषतः संध्या विधिर्नो समुपासितोऽभूत्। । चेदत्र संध्यां चरते प्रसादतः संध्यास्तु पूर्णा ऽखिलजन्मनोऽपि मे ॥

mayā pramādāturatādi doṣataḥ saṁdhyā vidhirno samupāsito'bhūt cedatra saṁdhyāṁ carate prasādataḥ saṁdhyāstu pūrṇā 'khilajanmano'pi me

Through my own negligence and other faults, I have not properly performed the evening rite; but if, by grace, I perform the evening rite here, may that sandhya become complete for all my births.

Verse 36 (padma.6.22.36)

अन्यत्रापि प्रगर्जन्महिमनि तपसि प्रेमभिर्विप्रकृष्टैर्ध्यातः।। संकीर्तितो योऽभिमत पद विधातानिशं निर्व्यपेक्षंम् ।। श्रीमत्पांशुं त्रिवेणीपरिवृढम् अतुलं तीर्थराजं प्रयागं गोलंकारप्रकाशं स्वयममरवरं चेतनं तं नमामि ॥

anyatrāpi pragarjanmahimani tapasi premabhirviprakṛṣṭairdhyātaḥ saṁkīrtito yo'bhimata pada vidhātāniśaṁ nirvyapekṣaṁm śrīmatpāṁśuṁ triveṇīparivṛḍham atulaṁ tīrtharājaṁ prayāgaṁ golaṁkāraprakāśaṁ svayamamaravaraṁ cetanaṁ taṁ namāmi

That tirtha whose glory resounds everywhere, meditated upon with love even from afar, celebrated as the constant, independent granter of the desired state — to that glorious, incomparable lord of the Triveni, the king of tirthas, Prayaga, self-luminous, conscious, and the very best of the immortals, I bow.

Verse 37 (padma.6.22.37)

अस्माभिः सुतपोन्वतप्त किमहो एज्यंत किंवाध्वराः। पात्रे दानमदायि किं बहुविधं किं वा सुराश्चार्चिताः । किं सत्तीर्थमसेवि किं द्विजकुलं पूजादिभिः सत्कृतं येन प्रापि सदा। शिवस्य शिवदा सा राजधानी स्वयम्

asmābhiḥ sutaponvatapta kimaho ejyaṁta kiṁvādhvarāḥ pātre dānamadāyi kiṁ bahuvidhaṁ kiṁ vā surāścārcitāḥ kiṁ sattīrthamasevi kiṁ dvijakulaṁ pūjādibhiḥ satkṛtaṁ yena prāpi sadā śivasya śivadā sā rājadhānī svayam

Have we performed true austerity, have we offered sacrifices, have we given manifold gifts to worthy recipients, have we worshipped the gods, have we served a true tirtha, have we honored the brahmin community with worship — by which we have ever attained Shiva's own auspiciousness-granting capital?

Verse 38 (padma.6.22.38)

भाग्यैर्मेऽधिगता ह्यनेकजनुषां सर्वाघविध्वंसिनी। सर्वाश्चर्यमयी शिवपुरी संसारसिंधोस्तरी । लब्धं सज्जनुषः फलं कुलमलं चक्रे पवित्रीकृतः। स्वात्मा चाप्यखिलं कृतं किमपरं सर्वोपरिष्टात्स्थितम्

bhāgyairme'dhigatā hyanekajanuṣāṁ sarvāghavidhvaṁsinī sarvāścaryamayī śivapurī saṁsārasiṁdhostarī labdhaṁ sajjanuṣaḥ phalaṁ kulamalaṁ cakre pavitrīkṛtaḥ svātmā cāpyakhilaṁ kṛtaṁ kimaparaṁ sarvopariṣṭātsthitam

By the good fortune of many births, I have obtained this all-sin-destroying, all-wondrous city of Shiva, the very boat across the ocean of existence. The fruit of a good birth is obtained, my lineage too fully purified, my own self made whole — what more remains, standing higher than this?

Verse 39 (padma.6.22.39)

जीवन्नरः पश्यति भद्र लक्षमेवं वदंतीति मृषा न यस्मात् । तस्मान्मया वै वपुषे दृशे न प्राप्तापि काशी क्षणभंगुरेण

jīvannaraḥ paśyati bhadra lakṣamevaṁ vadaṁtīti mṛṣā na yasmāt tasmānmayā vai vapuṣe dṛśe na prāptāpi kāśī kṣaṇabhaṁgureṇa

'A living man beholds a hundred thousand blessings' — so it is said, and it is not false; and so, with this fleeting body of mine, I have not yet reached Kashi to see her.

Verse 40 (padma.6.22.40)

काश्यां विधातुममरैरपि दिव्यभूमौ सत्तीर्थ लिंगगणनार्चनता न शक्या । यानीह गुप्त विवृतानि पुरातनानि सिद्धानि योजितकरः प्रणमामि तेभ्यः

kāśyāṁ vidhātumamarairapi divyabhūmau sattīrtha liṁgagaṇanārcanatā na śakyā yānīha gupta vivṛtāni purātanāni siddhāni yojitakaraḥ praṇamāmi tebhyaḥ

In Kashi, upon that divine ground, even for the gods it is not possible to enumerate and worship every true tirtha and linga; whatever ancient, accomplished ones here are hidden or revealed, to all of them, with joined hands, I bow.

Verse 41 (padma.6.22.41)

किं भीत्या दुरितव्रजात्किमु मुदा पुण्यैरगण्यैः कृतैः। किं विद्याभ्यसनान्मदेन जडतादोषाद्विषादेन किम् । किं गर्वेण धनोदयादधनतातापेन किं भोजनाः । स्नात्वा श्रीमणिकर्णिकापयसि चेद्विश्वेश्वरो दृश्यते

kiṁ bhītyā duritavrajātkimu mudā puṇyairagaṇyaiḥ kṛtaiḥ kiṁ vidyābhyasanānmadena jaḍatādoṣādviṣādena kim kiṁ garveṇa dhanodayādadhanatātāpena kiṁ bhojanāḥ snātvā śrīmaṇikarṇikāpayasi cedviśveśvaro dṛśyate

What use is fear from the mass of sins? What use is the joy of countless merits performed? What use is pride from the study of learning? What use is despair from the fault of dullness? What use is arrogance from the rise of wealth, or the pain of poverty — if, having bathed in the waters of glorious Manikarnika, Vishveshvara himself is beheld?

Verse 42 (padma.6.22.42)

अल्पस्फीति निरामयापि तनुता प्रव्यक्तशक्यात्मता प्रोत्साहाढ्य बलेन केवलमनोरागद्वितीयेन यत् । अप्राप्यापि मनोरथैरविषयास्वप्नप्रवृत्तेरपि प्राप्ता सा। पि गदाधरस्य नगरी सद्योपवर्गप्रदा

alpasphīti nirāmayāpi tanutā pravyaktaśakyātmatā protsāhāḍhya balena kevalamanorāgadvitīyena yat aprāpyāpi manorathairaviṣayāsvapnapravṛtterapi prāptā sā pi gadādharasya nagarī sadyopavargapradā

With but modest resources, free of affliction, of subtle capacity, only through devotion born of eager strength and unique love of the mind — that city of Gadadhara, unattainable even by mere wishes, unthought-of even in dreams, becomes obtained — the very swift giver of liberation.

Verse 43 (padma.6.22.43)

मन्येनात्मकृतिर्नपूर्वपुरुषप्राप्तेर्बलं चात्र यन्नापीदं स्वजन। प्रमाणमचलं किंस्वापतापादिकम्। यादुष्प्राप गयाप्रयागयमुना काशीसुपर्वागमात्प्राप्तिस्तत्र। महाफलो विजयते श्रीशारदानुग्रहः

manyenātmakṛtirnapūrvapuruṣaprāpterbalaṁ cātra yannāpīdaṁ svajana pramāṇamacalaṁ kiṁsvāpatāpādikam yāduṣprāpa gayāprayāgayamunā kāśīsuparvāgamātprāptistatra mahāphalo vijayate śrīśāradānugrahaḥ

I do not know whether this is my own doing, or the merit of my forefathers' attainment, nor is this an unshakeable proof of my own austerity — where places as hard to attain as Gaya, Prayaga, Yamuna, and Kashi are reached through the coming of the gods, there it is the great-fruited grace of Sri Sharada that triumphs.

Verse 44 (padma.6.22.44)

यः श्राद्धसमये दूरात्स्मृतोऽपि पितृमुक्तिदः । तं गयायां स्थितं साक्षान्नमामि श्रीगदाधरम्

yaḥ śrāddhasamaye dūrātsmṛto'pi pitṛmuktidaḥ taṁ gayāyāṁ sthitaṁ sākṣānnamāmi śrīgadādharam

He who, merely remembered from afar at the time of shraddha, grants liberation to the ancestors — to him, present there at Gaya, glorious Gadadhara, I bow directly.

Verse 45 (padma.6.22.45)

पंथानं समतीत्य दुस्तरमिमं दूरादवीयस्तरं क्षुद्र व्याघ्रतरक्षुकंटकफणिप्रत्यार्थिभिः संकुलम् । आगत्य प्रथमव्ययं कृपणवाग्याचेज्जनः । कर्परीश्रीमद्वारिगदाधर प्रतिदिनं त्वां द्रष्टुमुत्कंठते

paṁthānaṁ samatītya dustaramimaṁ dūrādavīyastaraṁ kṣudra vyāghratarakṣukaṁṭakaphaṇipratyārthibhiḥ saṁkulam āgatya prathamavyayaṁ kṛpaṇavāgyācejjanaḥ karparīśrīmadvārigadādhara pratidinaṁ tvāṁ draṣṭumutkaṁṭhate

Having crossed this hard, most distant path, thronged with obstacles like fierce tigers, hyenas, thorns, and serpents, the pilgrim, coming here and praying with humble words for the first time — O Gadadhara, whose sacred water is like camphor — remains eager, day after day, to behold you.

Verse 46 (padma.6.22.46)

सर्वात्मन्निजदर्शनेन च गयाश्राद्धेन वै देवताः प्रीणन्विश्वमनीहवत्कथमिहौदासीन्यमालंबसे । किं ते सर्वदनिर्दयत्वमधुना किं वा प्रभुत्वं कलेः किं वा सत्वनिरीक्षणं नृषु चिरं किं वास्य सेवारुचिः

sarvātmannijadarśanena ca gayāśrāddhena vai devatāḥ prīṇanviśvamanīhavatkathamihaudāsīnyamālaṁbase kiṁ te sarvadanirdayatvamadhunā kiṁ vā prabhutvaṁ kaleḥ kiṁ vā satvanirīkṣaṇaṁ nṛṣu ciraṁ kiṁ vāsya sevāruciḥ

O Soul of all, by your very sight and by the shraddha performed at Gaya you please even the gods, without a thought for the whole world's concern — why then do you remain thus indifferent here? Is this your perpetual mercilessness, or is it Kali's dominance, or long-standing disregard for mankind, or reluctance for service?

Verse 47 (padma.6.22.47)

गदाधर मया श्राद्धं संचीर्णं त्वत्प्रसादतः । अनुजानीहि मां देव गमनाय गृहं प्रति

gadādhara mayā śrāddhaṁ saṁcīrṇaṁ tvatprasādataḥ anujānīhi māṁ deva gamanāya gṛhaṁ prati

O Gadadhara, by your grace I have duly performed the shraddha; O God, now grant me leave to return home.

Verse 48 (padma.6.22.48)

चतुर्णां देवतानां च स्तोत्रं स्वर्गार्थदायकम् । श्राद्धकाले पठेन्नित्यं स्नानकाले तु यः पठेत्

caturṇāṁ devatānāṁ ca stotraṁ svargārthadāyakam śrāddhakāle paṭhennityaṁ snānakāle tu yaḥ paṭhet

This hymn to the four deities, granter of heaven, one should recite always at the time of shraddha; and whoever recites it at the time of bathing —

Verse 49 (padma.6.22.49)

सर्वतीर्थसमं स्नानं श्रवणात्पठनाज्जपात् । प्रयागस्य च गंगाया यमुनायाः स्तुतेर्द्विज । श्रवणेन विनश्यंति दोषाश्चैव तु कर्मजाः

sarvatīrthasamaṁ snānaṁ śravaṇātpaṭhanājjapāt prayāgasya ca gaṁgāyā yamunāyāḥ stuterdvija śravaṇena vinaśyaṁti doṣāścaiva tu karmajāḥ

O twice-born, by hearing, reciting, or silently repeating this hymn of praise to Prayaga, Ganga, and Yamuna, one obtains the fruit of a bath equal to all tirthas; by hearing it, all faults born of one's own deeds are destroyed.