The Glory of the Ganga

Verse 1 (padma.6.81.1)

पार्वत्युवाच । गंगायाश्चैव माहात्म्यं पुनर्वद महामते । यच्छ्रुत्वा मुनयः सर्वे वीतरागाः पुनः पुनः

pārvatyuvāca gaṁgāyāścaiva māhātmyaṁ punarvada mahāmate yacchrutvā munayaḥ sarve vītarāgāḥ punaḥ punaḥ

Parvati said: O wise one, now tell me again the glory of the Ganga, hearing which all sages again and again become free of worldly attachment.

Verse 2 (padma.6.81.2)

माहात्म्यं कीदृशं चैव तस्याः सर्वेश्वर प्रभो । उत्पत्तिश्च श्रुता पूर्वं महिमा न श्रुतो मया । त्वमाद्यः सर्वभूतानां त्वं देवश्च सनातनः

māhātmyaṁ kīdṛśaṁ caiva tasyāḥ sarveśvara prabho utpattiśca śrutā pūrvaṁ mahimā na śruto mayā tvamādyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ tvaṁ devaśca sanātanaḥ

O Lord of all, O Master, what is her glory? I have heard of her origin before, but not her glory. You alone are the origin of all beings, you alone are the eternal god.

Verse 3 (padma.6.81.3)

महादेव उवाच । बृहस्पतिसमं बुद्ध्या शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमम् । शरतल्पगतं भीष्मं ऋषयो द्रष्टुमाययुः

mahādeva uvāca bṛhaspatisamaṁ buddhyā śakratulyaparākramam śaratalpagataṁ bhīṣmaṁ ṛṣayo draṣṭumāyayuḥ

Mahadeva said: The sages came to see Bhishma, who was equal to Brihaspati in wisdom and to Indra in valor, as he lay upon his bed of arrows.

Verse 4 (padma.6.81.4)

अत्रिर्वसिष्ठश्च भृगुः पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः । अंगिरावगौतमोऽगस्त्यः सुमतिस्त्वापुरात्मवान्

atrirvasiṣṭhaśca bhṛguḥ pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ aṁgirāvagautamo'gastyaḥ sumatistvāpurātmavān

Atri, Vasishtha, Bhrigu, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Angira, Gautama, Agastya, and the self-controlled Sumati — all these arrived.

Verse 5 (padma.6.81.5)

विश्वामित्रः स्थूलशिराः सर्वज्ञः प्रमथाधिपः । रैभ्यो बृहस्पतिर्व्यासः पावनः कश्यपो ध्रुवः

viśvāmitraḥ sthūlaśirāḥ sarvajñaḥ pramathādhipaḥ raibhyo bṛhaspatirvyāsaḥ pāvanaḥ kaśyapo dhruvaḥ

Vishvamitra, Sthulashira, Sarvajna, the lord of the Pramathas, Raibhya, Brihaspati, Vyasa, Pavana, Kashyapa, and Dhruva —

Verse 6 (padma.6.81.6)

दुर्वासा जमदग्निश्च मार्कंडेयोऽथ गालवः । उशनाथ भरद्वाजः क्रतुरास्तीक एव च

durvāsā jamadagniśca mārkaṁḍeyo'tha gālavaḥ uśanātha bharadvājaḥ kraturāstīka eva ca

Durvasa, Jamadagni, Markandeya, Galava, Ushana, Bharadvaja, Kratu, and Astika —

Verse 7 (padma.6.81.7)

स्थूलाक्षः सर्वलोकाक्षः कण्वो मेधातिथिः कुशः । नारदः पर्वतश्चैव सुधन्वा च्यवनो द्विजः

sthūlākṣaḥ sarvalokākṣaḥ kaṇvo medhātithiḥ kuśaḥ nāradaḥ parvataścaiva sudhanvā cyavano dvijaḥ

Sthulaksha, Sarvalokaksha, Kanva, Medhatithi, Kusha, Narada, Parvata, Sudhanva, and the brahmin Chyavana —

Verse 8 (padma.6.81.8)

मतिभूर्भुवनो धौम्यः शतानंदोकृतव्रणः । जामदग्न्योऽथ रामश्च ऋचीकश्चैवमादयः

matibhūrbhuvano dhaumyaḥ śatānaṁdokṛtavraṇaḥ jāmadagnyo'tha rāmaśca ṛcīkaścaivamādayaḥ

Matibhu, Bhuvana, Dhaumya, Shatananda, Akritavrana, Parashurama the son of Jamadagni, and Richika — these and many other sages besides.

Verse 9 (padma.6.81.9)

तान्प्रणम्य यथान्यायं धर्मपुत्रः सहानुजः । पूजयामास विधिवज्जगत्पूज्यांस्तु तेजसः

tānpraṇamya yathānyāyaṁ dharmaputraḥ sahānujaḥ pūjayāmāsa vidhivajjagatpūjyāṁstu tejasaḥ

The son of Dharma (Yudhishthira), together with his younger brothers, duly bowed to those radiant ones worthy of the world's worship, and honored them in due form.

Verse 10 (padma.6.81.10)

ते पूजिता महात्मानः सुखासीनास्तपोधनाः । भीष्माश्रिताः कथाश्चक्रुर्दिव्यधर्माश्रितास्तथा

te pūjitā mahātmānaḥ sukhāsīnāstapodhanāḥ bhīṣmāśritāḥ kathāścakrurdivyadharmāśritāstathā

Those great, austerity-rich souls, thus honored, sat down comfortably and began telling tales concerning Bhishma and concerning divine dharma.

Verse 11 (padma.6.81.11)

कथांते तु ततस्तेषां ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम् । प्रणम्य शिरसा भीष्मं पप्रच्छेदं युधिष्ठिरः

kathāṁte tu tatasteṣāṁ ṛṣīṇāṁ bhāvitātmanām praṇamya śirasā bhīṣmaṁ papracchedaṁ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

When the tale-telling of those pure-souled sages had ended, Yudhishthira, bowing his head to Bhishma, asked this question.

Verse 12 (padma.6.81.12)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । के देशास्तु महापुण्याः के शैलाः केऽपिचाश्रमाः । सेव्या धर्मार्थिभिर्नित्यं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ke deśāstu mahāpuṇyāḥ ke śailāḥ ke'picāśramāḥ sevyā dharmārthibhirnityaṁ tanme brūhi pitāmaha

Yudhishthira said: O grandsire, which lands are of great merit, which mountains, which hermitages, that seekers of dharma should ever frequent? Tell me this.

Verse 13 (padma.6.81.13)

भीष्म उवाच । अत्रैवोदाहरंतीममितिहासं नरोत्तम । शिलोंछवृत्तेः संवादं सिद्धस्य च युधिष्ठिर

bhīṣma uvāca atraivodāharaṁtīmamitihāsaṁ narottama śiloṁchavṛtteḥ saṁvādaṁ siddhasya ca yudhiṣṭhira

Bhishma said: O best of men, O Yudhishthira, in this regard this ancient tale is cited — the dialogue between a gleaner living by gathering scattered grains and a siddha.

Verse 14 (padma.6.81.14)

कश्चित्सिद्धः परिक्रम्य समस्तां पृथिवीमिमाम् । उंछवृत्तेः शिबेराजन्गृहं प्राप्तो महात्मनः

kaścitsiddhaḥ parikramya samastāṁ pṛthivīmimām uṁchavṛtteḥ śiberājangṛhaṁ prāpto mahātmanaḥ

Some siddha, having circumambulated this entire earth, arrived at the house of a great soul named Shibi, who lived by gleaning scattered grain.

Verse 15 (padma.6.81.15)

आत्मविद्यासु तत्वज्ञः सर्वदा स जितेंद्रियः । रागद्वेषपरित्यक्तः कुशली ज्ञानकर्मसु

ātmavidyāsu tatvajñaḥ sarvadā sa jiteṁdriyaḥ rāgadveṣaparityaktaḥ kuśalī jñānakarmasu

He was learned in the true nature of self-knowledge, ever master of his senses, free of attachment and aversion, and skilled both in knowledge and in ritual action.

Verse 16 (padma.6.81.16)

वैष्णवेषु सदा श्रेष्ठो विष्णुधर्मपरायणः । अनिंदको वैष्णवानां सदा धर्मपरायणः

vaiṣṇaveṣu sadā śreṣṭho viṣṇudharmaparāyaṇaḥ aniṁdako vaiṣṇavānāṁ sadā dharmaparāyaṇaḥ

He was ever foremost among Vaishnavas, devoted to the dharma of Vishnu, never one to criticize other Vaishnavas, and ever devoted to righteousness.

Verse 17 (padma.6.81.17)

योगाभ्यासरतो नित्यं शंखचक्रविधारकः । त्रिकालपूजा तत्वज्ञः श्रीकंठेऽनुरतः सदा

yogābhyāsarato nityaṁ śaṁkhacakravidhārakaḥ trikālapūjā tatvajñaḥ śrīkaṁṭhe'nurataḥ sadā

He was ever devoted to the practice of yoga, bore the marks of the conch and discus, knew the essence of the thrice-daily worship, and was ever devoted also to Shiva.

Verse 18 (padma.6.81.18)

वेदविद्यासु विदुषो धर्माधर्मविचारकः । वेदपाठव्रतो नित्यं नित्यं चातिथिपूजकः

vedavidyāsu viduṣo dharmādharmavicārakaḥ vedapāṭhavrato nityaṁ nityaṁ cātithipūjakaḥ

He was learned in the knowledge of the Vedas, discerning of right and wrong, ever devoted to the vow of Vedic recitation, and ever a worshipper of guests.

Verse 19 (padma.6.81.19)

सतीर्थमतियुक्तस्तु शिलोंछेषु स्थितः सदा । चतुर्वेदेषु यद्ध्यानं गीतं यद्यत्स्वयंभुवा

satīrthamatiyuktastu śiloṁcheṣu sthitaḥ sadā caturvedeṣu yaddhyānaṁ gītaṁ yadyatsvayaṁbhuvā

He was possessed of understanding regarding sacred fords, and ever established in the gleaning mode of life. Whatever meditation is taught in the four Vedas, whatever was sung by the Self-Born One (Brahma) —

Verse 20 (padma.6.81.20)

तत्सर्वं स च जानाति द्विजो विष्णुस्वरूपधृक् । नानाधर्मार्थविशदो ह्यव्ययेष्टमतिः सदा

tatsarvaṁ sa ca jānāti dvijo viṣṇusvarūpadhṛk nānādharmārthaviśado hyavyayeṣṭamatiḥ sadā

— that brahmin, who bore the very form of Vishnu, knew all of this. He was learned and clear in the many branches of dharma and worldly matters, and his mind was ever fixed on the imperishable one.

Verse 21 (padma.6.81.21)

एकस्मिन्नेव काले तु गतोऽसौ वै शिबेर्गृहम् । तं दृष्ट्वा विधिवच्चैव कृत्वातिथ्यं महामनाः

ekasminneva kāle tu gato'sau vai śibergṛham taṁ dṛṣṭvā vidhivaccaiva kṛtvātithyaṁ mahāmanāḥ

At a certain time, that siddha arrived at Shibi's house. Seeing him, that noble-minded man duly extended hospitality to him.

Verse 22 (padma.6.81.22)

शिबिः संपृच्छयामास देशानां हितकारणम्

śibiḥ saṁpṛcchayāmāsa deśānāṁ hitakāraṇam

Shibi inquired of him about matters conducive to welfare regarding various lands.

Verse 23 (padma.6.81.23)

उंछवृत्तिरुवाच । के देशाः के जनपदाः के शैलाः केऽपि चाश्रमाः । पुण्या द्विजवर प्रीत्या मह्यं निर्देष्टुमर्हसि

uṁchavṛttiruvāca ke deśāḥ ke janapadāḥ ke śailāḥ ke'pi cāśramāḥ puṇyā dvijavara prītyā mahyaṁ nirdeṣṭumarhasi

He who lived by gleaning said: O best of brahmins, which lands, which regions, which mountains, and which hermitages are sacred — please tell me these with kindness.

Verse 24 (padma.6.81.24)

सिद्ध उवाच । ते देशास्ते जनपदास्ते शैलास्तेऽपि चाश्रमाः । पुण्यास्त्रिपथगा येषां मध्ये नित्यं सरिद्वरा

siddha uvāca te deśāste janapadāste śailāste'pi cāśramāḥ puṇyāstripathagā yeṣāṁ madhye nityaṁ saridvarā

The siddha said: Those very lands, those very regions, those very mountains, and those very hermitages are sacred through whose midst the Triple-Pathed One — that finest of rivers, the Ganga — ever flows.

Verse 25 (padma.6.81.25)

तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण यज्ञैस्त्यागेन वा पुनः । गतिं तां न लभेज्जंतुर्गंगां संसेव्य यां लभेत्

tapasā brahmacaryeṇa yajñaistyāgena vā punaḥ gatiṁ tāṁ na labhejjaṁturgaṁgāṁ saṁsevya yāṁ labhet

Through austerity, through celibacy, through sacrifices, or even through renunciation, a creature cannot attain that state which he attains by serving the Ganga.

Verse 26 (padma.6.81.26)

स्नातानां तत्र पयसि गांगेये नियतात्मनाम् । तुष्टिर्भवति या पुंसां न सा क्रतुशतैरपि

snātānāṁ tatra payasi gāṁgeye niyatātmanām tuṣṭirbhavati yā puṁsāṁ na sā kratuśatairapi

The contentment that self-controlled men obtain by bathing there in the waters of the Ganga is not obtained even by a hundred sacrifices.

Verse 27 (padma.6.81.27)

अपहृत्य तमस्तीव्रं यथा भात्युदये रविः । तथापहृत्य पाप्मानं भाति गंगाजलाप्लुतः

apahṛtya tamastīvraṁ yathā bhātyudaye raviḥ tathāpahṛtya pāpmānaṁ bhāti gaṁgājalāplutaḥ

Just as the sun, at its rising, dispels the intense darkness and shines forth, so one who has bathed in the water of the Ganga, having dispelled his sin, shines forth.

Verse 28 (padma.6.81.28)

अग्निं प्राप्य यथा विप्र तूलराशिर्विनश्यति । तथा गंगावगाहश्च सर्वं पापं व्यपोहति

agniṁ prāpya yathā vipra tūlarāśirvinaśyati tathā gaṁgāvagāhaśca sarvaṁ pāpaṁ vyapohati

O brahmin, just as a heap of cotton is destroyed on meeting fire, so bathing in the Ganga drives away every sin.

Verse 29 (padma.6.81.29)

यस्तु सूर्यांशुसंतप्तं गांगेयं सलिलं पिबेत् । स गोनीहारनिर्मुक्तः पावकाद्धि विशिष्यते

yastu sūryāṁśusaṁtaptaṁ gāṁgeyaṁ salilaṁ pibet sa gonīhāranirmuktaḥ pāvakāddhi viśiṣyate

Whoever drinks the water of the Ganga warmed by the sun's rays becomes distinguished, surpassing even the purifying power of fire.

Verse 30 (padma.6.81.30)

चांद्रायणसहस्रं तु पादेनैकेन यः पुमान् । संप्लुतश्चापि गंगायां यो नरः स विशिष्यते

cāṁdrāyaṇasahasraṁ tu pādenaikena yaḥ pumān saṁplutaścāpi gaṁgāyāṁ yo naraḥ sa viśiṣyate

Between the man who performs a thousand chandrayana vows standing on one foot, and the man who simply immerses himself in the Ganga — it is the latter who is distinguished.

Verse 31 (padma.6.81.31)

लंबेदधःशिरा यस्तु वर्षाणामयुतं नरः । मासमेकं तु गंगांभः सेवते यो नरोत्तमः

laṁbedadhaḥśirā yastu varṣāṇāmayutaṁ naraḥ māsamekaṁ tu gaṁgāṁbhaḥ sevate yo narottamaḥ

The man who hangs head-downward for ten thousand years, and the excellent man who serves the waters of the Ganga for a single month —

Verse 32 (padma.6.81.32)

ब्रह्महत्याविनिर्मुक्तो याति विष्णोरनामयम् । इयं वेणीसमा पुण्या पवित्रा पापनाशिनी

brahmahatyāvinirmukto yāti viṣṇoranāmayam iyaṁ veṇīsamā puṇyā pavitrā pāpanāśinī

— [the latter], freed even from the sin of killing a brahmin, attains Vishnu's untroubled abode. This Ganga is as meritorious as the Triveni confluence, pure, and a destroyer of sin.

Verse 33 (padma.6.81.33)

यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण बालहा मुच्यते क्षणात् । स प्रयागस्तीर्थराजो वैष्णवानां हि दुर्ल्लभः

yasyāḥ smaraṇamātreṇa bālahā mucyate kṣaṇāt sa prayāgastīrtharājo vaiṣṇavānāṁ hi durllabhaḥ

Merely by remembering her, even the slayer of a child is instantly freed. That Prayaga, king of sacred fords, is indeed rare even for Vaishnavas.

Verse 34 (padma.6.81.34)

स्नात्वा यत्र नरश्रेष्ठ वैकुंठे सत्वरं व्रजेत् । प्रियाप्रिये न जानाति धर्माधर्मौ न विंदति

snātvā yatra naraśreṣṭha vaikuṁṭhe satvaraṁ vrajet priyāpriye na jānāti dharmādharmau na viṁdati

O best of men, having bathed there, a man swiftly goes to Vaikuntha; he no longer knows pleasant or unpleasant, no longer experiences dharma or adharma, being beyond both.

Verse 35 (padma.6.81.35)

स्नात्वा चैव तु गंगायां महापापात्प्रमुच्यते

snātvā caiva tu gaṁgāyāṁ mahāpāpātpramucyate

By bathing in the Ganga, one is freed even from the greatest of sins.

Verse 36 (padma.6.81.36)

गंगागंगेति यो ब्रूयाद्योजनानां शतैरपि । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति

gaṁgāgaṁgeti yo brūyādyojanānāṁ śatairapi mucyate sarvapāpebhyo viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati

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

Verse 37 (padma.6.81.37)

ब्रह्महा चैव गोघ्नो वा सुरापी बालघातकः । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो दिवं याति च सत्वरम्

brahmahā caiva goghno vā surāpī bālaghātakaḥ mucyate sarvapāpebhyo divaṁ yāti ca satvaram

Even the slayer of a brahmin, the slayer of a cow, the drinker of liquor, or the slayer of a child, becomes freed of all sins and swiftly goes to heaven, by taking refuge in the Ganga.

Verse 38 (padma.6.81.38)

दर्शनं माधवस्याथ वरस्य दर्शनं तथा । वेण्यां स्नानं प्रकुर्वाणो वैकुंठं प्रति गच्छति

darśanaṁ mādhavasyātha varasya darśanaṁ tathā veṇyāṁ snānaṁ prakurvāṇo vaikuṁṭhaṁ prati gacchati

The sight of Madhava, and the sight of that excellent confluence, and one who bathes at the Triveni, proceeds toward Vaikuntha.

Verse 39 (padma.6.81.39)

उदिते च यथा सूर्ये विलयं याति वै तमः । तथैव तस्यां पापानि नश्यंति स्नानमात्रतः

udite ca yathā sūrye vilayaṁ yāti vai tamaḥ tathaiva tasyāṁ pāpāni naśyaṁti snānamātrataḥ

Just as darkness vanishes when the sun rises, so in that Ganga, sins are destroyed by the mere act of bathing.

Verse 40 (padma.6.81.40)

गंगाद्वारे कुशावर्ते गल्लिके(बिल्वके?) नीलपर्वते । स्नात्वा कनखले तीर्थे पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते

gaṁgādvāre kuśāvarte gallike(bilvake?) nīlaparvate snātvā kanakhale tīrthe punarjanma na vidyate

Bathing at Gangadvara, Kushavarta, Bilvaka, Nilaparvata, and the sacred ford of Kankhal, one is not born again.

Verse 41 (padma.6.81.41)

एवं ज्ञात्वा नरश्रेष्ठो गंगास्नायी पुनःपुनः । स्नानमात्रेण भो राजन्मुच्यते किल्बिषादतः

evaṁ jñātvā naraśreṣṭho gaṁgāsnāyī punaḥpunaḥ snānamātreṇa bho rājanmucyate kilbiṣādataḥ

O king, knowing this, the excellent man bathes again and again in the Ganga; by the mere act of bathing, he becomes freed from sin.

Verse 42 (padma.6.81.42)

देवानां प्रवरो विष्णुर्यज्ञानां चाश्वमेधकः । अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां नदी भागीरथी सदा

devānāṁ pravaro viṣṇuryajñānāṁ cāśvamedhakaḥ aśvatthaḥ sarvavṛkṣāṇāṁ nadī bhāgīrathī sadā

Among gods, Vishnu is foremost; among sacrifices, the Ashvamedha; among trees, the ashvattha (peepal); and among rivers, the Bhagirathi (Ganga) is ever foremost.