The Greatness of Ganga, and the Dashahara Hymn

Verse 1 (skanda.4.27.1)

स्कंद उवाच॥ वाराणसीति प्रथितं यथा चानंदकाननम्॥ तथा च कथयामीह देवदेवेनभाषितम्

skaṁda uvāca vārāṇasīti prathitaṁ yathā cānaṁdakānanam tathā ca kathayāmīha devadevenabhāṣitam

Skanda said: Just as this place became renowned as Varanasi, and as Anandakanana, so now I shall relate here what was spoken by the God of Gods.

Verse 2 (skanda.4.27.2)

॥ ईश्वर उवाच॥ निशामय महाबाहो विष्णो त्रैलोक्यसुंदर॥ प्राप्तं वाराणसीत्याख्यामविमुक्तं यथा तथा

īśvara uvāca niśāmaya mahābāho viṣṇo trailokyasuṁdara prāptaṁ vārāṇasītyākhyāmavimuktaṁ yathā tathā

Ishvara said: 'Listen, O mighty-armed Vishnu, beauty of the three worlds — hear how Avimukta came to receive the name Varanasi.'

Verse 3 (skanda.4.27.3)

निर्दग्धान्सागराञ्छ्रुत्वा कपिलक्रोधवह्निना॥ अश्वमेधाश्वसंयुक्तान्पूर्वजान्स्वान्भगीरथः

nirdagdhānsāgarāñchrutvā kapilakrodhavahninā aśvamedhāśvasaṁyuktānpūrvajānsvānbhagīrathaḥ

Having heard that his own forefathers, together with the Ashvamedha horse, had been burnt to ashes by the fire of Kapila's wrath, Bhagiratha...

Verse 4 (skanda.4.27.4)

सूर्यवंशे महातेजा राजा परमधार्मिकः॥ आरिराधयिषुर्गंगां तपसे कृतनिश्चयः

sūryavaṁśe mahātejā rājā paramadhārmikaḥ ārirādhayiṣurgaṁgāṁ tapase kṛtaniścayaḥ

...a king of the solar dynasty, of great splendor and supreme righteousness, resolved to perform austerity in order to win the favor of Ganga.

Verse 5 (skanda.4.27.5)

हिमवंतं नगश्रेष्ठममात्य न्यस्तराज्यधूः॥ जगाम यशसां राशिरुद्दिधीर्षुः पितामहान्

himavaṁtaṁ nagaśreṣṭhamamātya nyastarājyadhūḥ jagāma yaśasāṁ rāśiruddidhīrṣuḥ pitāmahān

That embodiment of glory entrusted the weight of his kingdom to his ministers and, wishing to deliver his forefathers, set out for the Himalaya, greatest of mountains.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.27.6)

ब्रह्मशापाग्निनिर्दग्धान्महादुर्गतिगानपि॥ विना त्रिमार्गगां विष्णो को जंतूंस्त्रिदिवं नयेत्

brahmaśāpāgninirdagdhānmahādurgatigānapi vinā trimārgagāṁ viṣṇo ko jaṁtūṁstridivaṁ nayet

'Without the river of the three paths, O Vishnu, who could lead to heaven those creatures who, burnt by the fire of a brahmin's curse, have fallen into so terrible a plight?'

Verse 7 (skanda.4.27.7)

ममैव सा परामूर्तिस्तोयरूपा शिवात्मिका॥ ब्रह्मांडानामनेकानामाधारः प्रकृतिः परा

mamaiva sā parāmūrtistoyarūpā śivātmikā brahmāṁḍānāmanekānāmādhāraḥ prakṛtiḥ parā

'She is my own supreme form, embodied in water, of the very nature of Shiva — the supreme Prakriti, the support of countless universes.'

Verse 8 (skanda.4.27.8)

शुद्धविद्यास्वरूपा च त्रिशक्तिः करुणात्मिका॥ आनंदामृतरूपा च शुद्धधर्मस्वरूपिणी

śuddhavidyāsvarūpā ca triśaktiḥ karuṇātmikā ānaṁdāmṛtarūpā ca śuddhadharmasvarūpiṇī

'She is the very form of pure knowledge, the threefold Shakti, of the essence of compassion; of the form of the nectar of bliss, embodying pure Dharma itself.'

Verse 9 (skanda.4.27.9)

यामेतां जगतां धात्रीं धारयामि स्वलीलया॥ विश्वस्य रक्षणार्थाय परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणीम्

yāmetāṁ jagatāṁ dhātrīṁ dhārayāmi svalīlayā viśvasya rakṣaṇārthāya parabrahmasvarūpiṇīm

'Her, the sustainer of the worlds, of the very form of the Supreme Brahman, I bear by my own divine play, for the protection of the universe.'

Verse 10 (skanda.4.27.10)

त्रैलोक्ये यानि तीर्थानि पुण्यक्षेत्राणि यानि च॥ सर्वत्र सर्वे ये धर्माः सर्वयज्ञाः सदक्षिणाः॥ तपांसि विष्णो सर्वाणि श्रुतिः सांगा चतुर्विधा॥ अहं च त्वं च कश्चापि देवतानां गणाश्च ये

trailokye yāni tīrthāni puṇyakṣetrāṇi yāni ca sarvatra sarve ye dharmāḥ sarvayajñāḥ sadakṣiṇāḥ tapāṁsi viṣṇo sarvāṇi śrutiḥ sāṁgā caturvidhā ahaṁ ca tvaṁ ca kaścāpi devatānāṁ gaṇāśca ye

'Whatever tirthas exist in the three worlds, whatever sacred fields there are; whatever forms of Dharma exist everywhere, all sacrifices together with their fees, every austerity, O Vishnu, the fourfold Veda with its ancillary texts, myself, you, Brahma, and all the hosts of the gods...'

Verse 11 (skanda.4.27.11)

पुरुषार्थाश्च सर्वे वै शक्तयो विविधाश्च याः॥ गंगायां सर्व एवैते सूक्ष्मरूपेण संस्थिताः

puruṣārthāśca sarve vai śaktayo vividhāśca yāḥ gaṁgāyāṁ sarva evaite sūkṣmarūpeṇa saṁsthitāḥ

'...all the aims of human life, and all the various powers there are — every one of these resides within Ganga in subtle form.'

Verse 12 (skanda.4.27.12)

स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वक्रतुषु दीक्षितः॥ चीर्णसर्वव्रतः सोपि यस्तु गंगां निषेवते

sa snātaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu sarvakratuṣu dīkṣitaḥ cīrṇasarvavrataḥ sopi yastu gaṁgāṁ niṣevate

'Whoever resorts to Ganga is, by that alone, bathed in every tirtha, initiated into every sacrifice, and has completed every vow.'

Verse 13 (skanda.4.27.13)

तपांसि तेन तप्तानि सर्वदानप्रदः स च॥ स प्राप्त योगनियमो यस्तु गंगां निषेवते

tapāṁsi tena taptāni sarvadānapradaḥ sa ca sa prāpta yoganiyamo yastu gaṁgāṁ niṣevate

'By him every austerity has been performed, he has given every gift, and he has attained the discipline of Yoga — whoever resorts to Ganga.'

Verse 14 (skanda.4.27.14)

सर्ववर्णाश्रमेभ्यश्च वेदविद्भ्यश्च वै तथा॥ शास्त्रार्थपारगेभ्यश्च गंगास्नायी विशिष्यते

sarvavarṇāśramebhyaśca vedavidbhyaśca vai tathā śāstrārthapāragebhyaśca gaṁgāsnāyī viśiṣyate

'One who bathes in Ganga surpasses those of every caste and stage of life, the knowers of the Veda, and even those who have mastered the meaning of the scriptures.'

Verse 15 (skanda.4.27.15)

मनोवाक्कायजैर्दोषैर्दुष्टो बहुविधैरपि॥ वीक्ष्य गंगां भवेत्पूतः पुरुषो नात्र संशयः

manovākkāyajairdoṣairduṣṭo bahuvidhairapi vīkṣya gaṁgāṁ bhavetpūtaḥ puruṣo nātra saṁśayaḥ

'Even a person corrupted by manifold faults of mind, speech, and body becomes pure merely by beholding Ganga — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 16 (skanda.4.27.16)

कृते सर्वत्र तीर्थानि त्रेतायां पुष्करं परम्॥ द्वापरे तु कुरुक्षेत्रं कलौ गंगैव केवलम्

kṛte sarvatra tīrthāni tretāyāṁ puṣkaraṁ param dvāpare tu kurukṣetraṁ kalau gaṁgaiva kevalam

'In the Krita age all tirthas are equal; in Treta, Pushkara is supreme; in Dvapara, Kurukshetra; but in the Kali age, Ganga alone.'

Verse 17 (skanda.4.27.17)

पूर्वजन्मांतराभ्यास वासनावशतो हरे॥ गंगातीरे निवासः स्यान्मदनुग्रहतः परात्

pūrvajanmāṁtarābhyāsa vāsanāvaśato hare gaṁgātīre nivāsaḥ syānmadanugrahataḥ parāt

'O Hari, dwelling on the bank of Ganga comes through the force of impressions carried over from practice in former lives — and, above all, through my own supreme grace.'

Verse 18 (skanda.4.27.18)

ध्यानं कृते मोक्षहेतुस्त्रेतायां तच्च वै तपः॥ द्वापरे तद्द्वयं यज्ञाः कलौ गंगैव केवलम्

dhyānaṁ kṛte mokṣahetustretāyāṁ tacca vai tapaḥ dvāpare taddvayaṁ yajñāḥ kalau gaṁgaiva kevalam

'In Krita, meditation is the cause of liberation; in Treta, austerity; in Dvapara, both of these together with sacrifice; in Kali, Ganga alone.'

Verse 19 (skanda.4.27.19)

यो देहपतनाद्यावद्गंगातीरं न मुंचति॥ स हि वेदांतविद्योगी ब्रह्मचर्यव्रती सदा॥ कलौ कलुषचित्तानां परद्रव्यरतात्मनाम्॥ विधिहीनक्रियाणां च गतिर्गंगा विना नहि

yo dehapatanādyāvadgaṁgātīraṁ na muṁcati sa hi vedāṁtavidyogī brahmacaryavratī sadā kalau kaluṣacittānāṁ paradravyaratātmanām vidhihīnakriyāṇāṁ ca gatirgaṁgā vinā nahi

'Whoever does not leave the bank of Ganga until the body falls away is indeed a knower of Vedanta, a yogi, ever true to the vow of celibacy. In the Kali age, for those of impure mind, whose hearts delight in others' wealth, and whose deeds lack all proper rite — there is simply no path for them, apart from Ganga.'

Verse 20 (skanda.4.27.20)

अलक्ष्मीः कालकर्णी च दुःस्वप्नो दुर्विचिंतितम्॥ गंगागंगेति जपनात्तानि नोपविशंति हि

alakṣmīḥ kālakarṇī ca duḥsvapno durviciṁtitam gaṁgāgaṁgeti japanāttāni nopaviśaṁti hi

'Misfortune, the ill-omened Kalakarni, bad dreams, and evil thoughts — merely by repeating "Ganga, Ganga," these never come to settle upon anyone.'

Verse 21 (skanda.4.27.21)

गंगा हि सर्वभूतानामिहामुत्र फलप्रदा॥ भावानुरूपतो विष्णो सदा सर्वजगद्धिता

gaṁgā hi sarvabhūtānāmihāmutra phalapradā bhāvānurūpato viṣṇo sadā sarvajagaddhitā

'For Ganga, O Vishnu, grants fruit to all beings both here and hereafter, according to the measure of their devotion, and is ever the benefactress of the whole world.'

Verse 22 (skanda.4.27.22)

यज्ञ दान तपो योग जपाः सनियमा यमाः॥ गंगासेवासहस्रांशं न लभंते कलौ हरे

yajña dāna tapo yoga japāḥ saniyamā yamāḥ gaṁgāsevāsahasrāṁśaṁ na labhaṁte kalau hare

'Sacrifice, giving, austerity, Yoga, japa, together with all restraints and observances — in the Kali age, O Hari, none of these together attain even a thousandth part of the merit of serving Ganga.'

Verse 23 (skanda.4.27.23)

किमष्टांगेन योगेन किं तपोभिः किमध्वरैः॥ वास एव हि गंगायां ब्रह्मज्ञानस्य कारणम्

kimaṣṭāṁgena yogena kiṁ tapobhiḥ kimadhvaraiḥ vāsa eva hi gaṁgāyāṁ brahmajñānasya kāraṇam

'What need is there of the eightfold Yoga, of austerities, of sacrifices? Dwelling by Ganga alone is itself the cause of the knowledge of Brahman.'

Verse 24 (skanda.4.27.24)

अपि दूरस्थितस्यापि गंगामाहात्म्यवेदिनः॥ अयोग्यस्यापि गोविंदभक्त्या गंगा प्रसीदति

api dūrasthitasyāpi gaṁgāmāhātmyavedinaḥ ayogyasyāpi goviṁdabhaktyā gaṁgā prasīdati

'Even for one who lives far away, even for one unworthy, if he knows the greatness of Ganga, O Govinda, Ganga is pleased with him through his devotion.'

Verse 25 (skanda.4.27.25)

श्रद्धा धर्मः परः सूक्ष्मः श्रद्धा ज्ञानं परं तपः॥ श्रद्धा स्वर्गश्च मोक्षश्च श्रद्धया सा प्रसीदति

śraddhā dharmaḥ paraḥ sūkṣmaḥ śraddhā jñānaṁ paraṁ tapaḥ śraddhā svargaśca mokṣaśca śraddhayā sā prasīdati

'Faith is the supreme, subtle Dharma; faith is knowledge, the highest austerity; faith is heaven and liberation itself — it is by faith alone that she is pleased.'

Verse 26 (skanda.4.27.26)

अज्ञानरागलोभाद्यैः पुंसां संमूढचेतसाम्॥ श्रद्धा न जायते धर्मे गंगायां च विशेषतः

ajñānarāgalobhādyaiḥ puṁsāṁ saṁmūḍhacetasām śraddhā na jāyate dharme gaṁgāyāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

'In those whose minds are utterly confounded by ignorance, passion, greed and the like, faith arises neither in Dharma in general, nor, most of all, in Ganga.'

Verse 27 (skanda.4.27.27)

बहिः स्थितं जलंयद्वन्नारिकेलांतरे स्थितम्॥ तथा ब्रह्मांडबाह्यस्थं परब्रह्मांबु जाह्नवी

bahiḥ sthitaṁ jalaṁyadvannārikelāṁtare sthitam tathā brahmāṁḍabāhyasthaṁ parabrahmāṁbu jāhnavī

'Just as the water within a coconut is of the same nature as the water outside it, so the Jahnavi — the Supreme Brahman itself in the form of water, standing beyond the universe — pervades within it too, in just the same way.'

Verse 28 (skanda.4.27.28)

गंगालाभात्परो लाभः क्वचिदन्यो न विद्यते॥ तस्माद्गंगामुपासीत गंगैव परमः पुमान्॥ शक्तस्य पंडितस्यापि गुणिनो दानशीलिनः॥ गंगास्नानविहीनस्य हरे जन्म निरर्थकम्

gaṁgālābhātparo lābhaḥ kvacidanyo na vidyate tasmādgaṁgāmupāsīta gaṁgaiva paramaḥ pumān śaktasya paṁḍitasyāpi guṇino dānaśīlinaḥ gaṁgāsnānavihīnasya hare janma nirarthakam

'There is no gain anywhere greater than the gain of Ganga; one should therefore worship Ganga — Ganga herself is the Supreme Being. O Hari, even for one who is capable, learned, virtuous and generous, if he lacks the bathing in Ganga, his very birth is in vain.'

Verse 29 (skanda.4.27.29)

वृथा कुल वृथा विद्या वृथा यज्ञा वृथातपः॥ वृथा दानानि तस्येह कलौ गंगां न यो भजेत्

vṛthā kula vṛthā vidyā vṛthā yajñā vṛthātapaḥ vṛthā dānāni tasyeha kalau gaṁgāṁ na yo bhajet

'For one who does not turn to Ganga in this Kali age, his lineage is in vain, his learning in vain, his sacrifices in vain, his austerity in vain, and his gifts all in vain.'

Verse 30 (skanda.4.27.30)

गुणवत्पात्रपूजायां न स्याद्वै तादृशं फलम्॥ यथा गंगाजलस्नान पूजने विधिना फलम्

guṇavatpātrapūjāyāṁ na syādvai tādṛśaṁ phalam yathā gaṁgājalasnāna pūjane vidhinā phalam

'Even worship offered to a most worthy and virtuous recipient does not yield such fruit as comes from bathing in the water of Ganga and worshipping her according to rite.'

Verse 31 (skanda.4.27.31)

ममतेजोग्निगर्भेयं ममवीर्यातिसंवृता॥ दाहिका सर्वदोषाणां सर्वपापविनाशिनी

mamatejognigarbheyaṁ mamavīryātisaṁvṛtā dāhikā sarvadoṣāṇāṁ sarvapāpavināśinī

'She bears within her the fire of my own splendor, utterly filled with my own vigor; she burns away every fault, and destroys every sin.'

Verse 32 (skanda.4.27.32)

स्मरणादेव गंगायाः पापसंघातपंजरम्॥ शतधा भेदमायाति गिरिर्वज्रहतो यथा

smaraṇādeva gaṁgāyāḥ pāpasaṁghātapaṁjaram śatadhā bhedamāyāti girirvajrahato yathā

'By the mere remembrance of Ganga, the whole cage of accumulated sin shatters into a hundred pieces, just as a mountain struck by a thunderbolt.'

Verse 33 (skanda.4.27.33)

गंगां गच्छति यस्त्वेको यस्तु भक्त्यानुमोदयेत्॥ तयोस्तुल्यफलं प्राहुर्भक्तिरेवात्र कारणम्

gaṁgāṁ gacchati yastveko yastu bhaktyānumodayet tayostulyaphalaṁ prāhurbhaktirevātra kāraṇam

'Whoever goes alone to Ganga, and whoever merely rejoices in it with devotion — of the two, they say the fruit is equal; for devotion alone is the true cause here.'

Verse 34 (skanda.4.27.34)

गच्छंस्तिष्ठञ्जपन्ध्यान्भुंजञ्जाग्रत्स्वपन्वदन्॥ यः स्मरेत्सततं गंगां स हि मुच्येत बंधनात्

gacchaṁstiṣṭhañjapandhyānbhuṁjañjāgratsvapanvadan yaḥ smaretsatataṁ gaṁgāṁ sa hi mucyeta baṁdhanāt

'Whoever remembers Ganga constantly — whether walking, sitting, reciting japa, meditating, eating, waking, sleeping, or speaking — he indeed is freed from bondage.'

Verse 35 (skanda.4.27.35)

पितॄनुद्दिश्य योभक्त्या पायसं मधुसंयुतम्॥ गुडसर्पिस्तिलैःसार्धं गंगांभसि विनिक्षिपेत्

pitṝnuddiśya yobhaktyā pāyasaṁ madhusaṁyutam guḍasarpistilaiḥsārdhaṁ gaṁgāṁbhasi vinikṣipet

'Whoever, with devotion, offers to his ancestors honey-sweetened rice pudding, together with jaggery, ghee, and sesame, and casts it into the waters of Ganga...'

Verse 36 (skanda.4.27.36)

तृप्ता भवंति पितरस्तस्य वर्षशतं हरे॥ यच्छंति विविधान्कामान्परितुष्टाः पितामहाः

tṛptā bhavaṁti pitarastasya varṣaśataṁ hare yacchaṁti vividhānkāmānparituṣṭāḥ pitāmahāḥ

'...O Hari, his ancestors remain satisfied for a hundred years, and those pleased forefathers grant him his various desires.'

Verse 37 (skanda.4.27.37)

लिंगे संपूजिते सर्वमर्चितं स्याज्जगद्यथा॥ गंगास्नानेन लभते सर्वतीर्थफलं तथा॥ गंगायां तु नरः स्नात्वा यो लिंगं नित्यमर्चति॥ एकेन जन्मना मुक्तिं परां प्राप्नोति स ध्रुवम्

liṁge saṁpūjite sarvamarcitaṁ syājjagadyathā gaṁgāsnānena labhate sarvatīrthaphalaṁ tathā gaṁgāyāṁ tu naraḥ snātvā yo liṁgaṁ nityamarcati ekena janmanā muktiṁ parāṁ prāpnoti sa dhruvam

'Just as, when the Linga is worshipped, the whole universe is worshipped through it, so by bathing in Ganga one obtains the fruit of every tirtha. And the man who, having bathed in Ganga, worships the Linga daily, attains supreme liberation, without doubt, in that single lifetime.'

Verse 38 (skanda.4.27.38)

अग्निहोत्रं च यज्ञाश्च व्रतदानतपांसि च॥ गंगायां लिंगपूजायाः कोट्यंशेनापि नो समाः

agnihotraṁ ca yajñāśca vratadānatapāṁsi ca gaṁgāyāṁ liṁgapūjāyāḥ koṭyaṁśenāpi no samāḥ

'The fire-sacrifice, other sacrifices, vows, gifts, and austerities — none of them equal even a ten-millionth part of worshipping the Linga in Ganga.'

Verse 39 (skanda.4.27.39)

गंगां गंतुं विनिश्चित्य कृत्वा श्राद्धादिकं गृहे॥ स्थितस्य सम्यक्संकल्पात्तस्य नंदंति पूर्वजाः

gaṁgāṁ gaṁtuṁ viniścitya kṛtvā śrāddhādikaṁ gṛhe sthitasya samyaksaṁkalpāttasya naṁdaṁti pūrvajāḥ

'For one who firmly resolves to go to Ganga, and, having performed the shraddha and other rites at home, stands ready — by the very firmness of that resolve, his forefathers rejoice.'

Verse 40 (skanda.4.27.40)

पापानि च रुदंत्याशु हा क्व यास्याम इत्यलम्॥ लोभमोहादिभिः सार्धं मंत्रयंति पुनःपुनः

pāpāni ca rudaṁtyāśu hā kva yāsyāma ityalam lobhamohādibhiḥ sārdhaṁ maṁtrayaṁti punaḥpunaḥ

'And his sins at once begin to weep, crying, "Alas, where shall we go now!" — and, joining with greed, delusion and the rest, they take counsel with one another again and again.'

Verse 41 (skanda.4.27.41)

यथा न गंगां यात्येष तथा विघ्नं प्रकुर्महे॥ गंगां गतो यथा चैष न उच्छित्तिं विधास्यति

yathā na gaṁgāṁ yātyeṣa tathā vighnaṁ prakurmahe gaṁgāṁ gato yathā caiṣa na ucchittiṁ vidhāsyati

'They resolve: "Let us raise such an obstacle that this man cannot reach Ganga — for once he has gone to Ganga, he will surely bring about our destruction."'

Verse 42 (skanda.4.27.42)

गृहाद्गंगावगाहार्थं गच्छतस्तु पदेपदे॥ निराशानि व्रजंत्येव पापान्यस्य शरीरतः

gṛhādgaṁgāvagāhārthaṁ gacchatastu padepade nirāśāni vrajaṁtyeva pāpānyasya śarīrataḥ

'Yet, as he journeys from home step by step to bathe in Ganga, his sins, at every single step, grow only more hopeless and depart from his body.'

Verse 43 (skanda.4.27.43)

पूर्वजन्मकृतैः पुण्यैस्त्यक्त्वा लोभादिकं हरे॥ व्युदस्य सर्वविघ्नौघान्गंगां प्राप्नोति पुण्यवान्

pūrvajanmakṛtaiḥ puṇyaistyaktvā lobhādikaṁ hare vyudasya sarvavighnaughāngaṁgāṁ prāpnoti puṇyavān

'O Hari, through merit earned in a former life, the fortunate man casts off greed and the rest, sweeps aside every flood of obstacles, and reaches Ganga at last.'

Verse 44 (skanda.4.27.44)

अनुषंगेण मौल्येन वाणिज्येनापि सेवया॥ कामासक्तोपि वा मर्त्यो गंगास्नातो दिवं व्रजेत्

anuṣaṁgeṇa maulyena vāṇijyenāpi sevayā kāmāsaktopi vā martyo gaṁgāsnāto divaṁ vrajet

'Whether by mere chance, for the sake of trade, through service, or even a mortal driven by desire — whoever bathes in Ganga goes on to heaven.'

Verse 45 (skanda.4.27.45)

अनिच्छयापि संस्पृष्टो दहनो हि यथा दहेत्॥ अनिच्छयापि संस्नाता गंगा पापं तथा दहेत्

anicchayāpi saṁspṛṣṭo dahano hi yathā dahet anicchayāpi saṁsnātā gaṁgā pāpaṁ tathā dahet

'Just as fire burns whoever touches it, even unintentionally, so Ganga burns away sin, even for one who bathes in her without meaning to.'

Verse 46 (skanda.4.27.46)

तावद्धमति संसारे यावद्गंगां न सेवते॥ संसेव्य गंगां नो जंतुर्भवक्लेशं प्रपश्यति॥ यो गंगांभसि निस्नातो भक्त्या संत्यक्तसंशयः॥ मनुष्यचर्मणा नद्धः स देवो नात्र संशयः

tāvaddhamati saṁsāre yāvadgaṁgāṁ na sevate saṁsevya gaṁgāṁ no jaṁturbhavakleśaṁ prapaśyati yo gaṁgāṁbhasi nisnāto bhaktyā saṁtyaktasaṁśayaḥ manuṣyacarmaṇā naddhaḥ sa devo nātra saṁśayaḥ

'A being wanders in the cycle of rebirth only so long as he has not resorted to Ganga; once he has resorted to Ganga, that creature beholds the misery of worldly existence no more. Whoever has bathed thoroughly in the waters of Ganga, with devotion and every doubt cast aside, is verily a god merely clothed in human skin — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 47 (skanda.4.27.47)

गंगास्नानार्थमुद्युक्तो मध्येमार्गं मृतो यदि॥ गंगास्नानफलं सोपि तदाप्नोति न संशयः

gaṁgāsnānārthamudyukto madhyemārgaṁ mṛto yadi gaṁgāsnānaphalaṁ sopi tadāpnoti na saṁśayaḥ

'If one who has set out intending to bathe in Ganga should die midway on the road, even he obtains the fruit of bathing in Ganga — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 48 (skanda.4.27.48)

माहात्म्यं ये च गंगायाः शृण्वंति च पठंति च॥ तेप्यशेषैर्महापापैर्मुच्यंते नात्र संशयः

māhātmyaṁ ye ca gaṁgāyāḥ śṛṇvaṁti ca paṭhaṁti ca tepyaśeṣairmahāpāpairmucyaṁte nātra saṁśayaḥ

'And those who hear and recite the greatness of Ganga are themselves freed from every great sin without exception — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 49 (skanda.4.27.49)

दुर्बुद्धयो दुराचारा हैतुका बहुसंशयाः॥ पश्यंति मोहिता विष्णो गंगामन्य नदीमिव

durbuddhayo durācārā haitukā bahusaṁśayāḥ paśyaṁti mohitā viṣṇo gaṁgāmanya nadīmiva

'The evil-minded, the ill-behaved, the mere logic-choppers, those full of endless doubt — O Vishnu, they, in their delusion, look upon Ganga as though she were just another ordinary river.'

Verse 50 (skanda.4.27.50)

जन्मांतरकृतैर्दानैस्तपोभिर्नियमैर्व्रतैः॥ इह जन्मनि गंगायां नृणां भक्तिः प्रजायते

janmāṁtarakṛtairdānaistapobhirniyamairvrataiḥ iha janmani gaṁgāyāṁ nṛṇāṁ bhaktiḥ prajāyate

'Only through gifts, austerities, restraints, and vows performed in former lives does devotion to Ganga arise in people in this present life.'

Verse 51 (skanda.4.27.51)

गंगाभक्तिमतामर्थे महेंद्रादि पुरेषु च॥ हर्म्याणि रम्यभोगानि निर्मितानि स्वयंभुवा

gaṁgābhaktimatāmarthe maheṁdrādi pureṣu ca harmyāṇi ramyabhogāni nirmitāni svayaṁbhuvā

'For the sake of Ganga's devotees, in the cities of Mahendra and the rest, Svayambhu has fashioned mansions filled with delightful pleasures.'

Verse 52 (skanda.4.27.52)

सिद्धयः सिद्धिलिंगानि स्पर्शलिंगान्यनेकशः॥ प्रासादा रत्नरचिताश्चिंतामणिगणा अपि

siddhayaḥ siddhiliṁgāni sparśaliṁgānyanekaśaḥ prāsādā ratnaracitāściṁtāmaṇigaṇā api

'Various siddhis, siddhi-lingas, and countless spasha-lingas granting attainment by mere touch; palaces built of jewels, and hosts of wish-fulfilling gems...'

Verse 53 (skanda.4.27.53)

गंगाजलांतस्तिष्ठंति कलिकल्मषभीतितः॥ अतएव हि संसेव्या कलौ गंगेष्टसिद्धिदा

gaṁgājalāṁtastiṣṭhaṁti kalikalmaṣabhītitaḥ ataeva hi saṁsevyā kalau gaṁgeṣṭasiddhidā

'...dwell within the waters of Ganga, out of fear of the taint of the Kali age; therefore, in the Kali age, Ganga, granter of desired attainments, is to be served above all.'

Verse 54 (skanda.4.27.54)

सूर्योदये तमांसीव वज्रपातभयान्नगाः॥ तार्क्ष्येक्षणाद्यथासर्पा मेघा वाताहता इव

sūryodaye tamāṁsīva vajrapātabhayānnagāḥ tārkṣyekṣaṇādyathāsarpā meghā vātāhatā iva

'As darkness flees at sunrise, as mountains flee in fear of the thunderbolt's fall, as serpents flee at the glance of Garuda, as clouds scatter, struck by the wind...'

Verse 55 (skanda.4.27.55)

तत्त्वज्ञानाद्यथा मोहः सिंहं दृष्ट्वा यथा मृगाः॥ तथा सर्वाणि पापानि यांति गंगेक्षणात्क्षयम्॥ दिव्यौषधैर्यथा रोगा लोभेन च यथा गुणाः॥ यथा ग्रीष्मोष्मसंपत्तिरगाधह्रद मज्जनात्

tattvajñānādyathā mohaḥ siṁhaṁ dṛṣṭvā yathā mṛgāḥ tathā sarvāṇi pāpāni yāṁti gaṁgekṣaṇātkṣayam divyauṣadhairyathā rogā lobhena ca yathā guṇāḥ yathā grīṣmoṣmasaṁpattiragādhahrada majjanāt

'...as delusion flees before the knowledge of truth, as deer before the sight of a lion — so do all sins go to their destruction at the mere sight of Ganga. As diseases flee before divine medicines, as virtues vanish through greed, as the oppressive heat of summer vanishes on plunging into a bottomless pool...'

Verse 56 (skanda.4.27.56)

तूलशैलः स्फुलिंगेन यथा नश्यति तत्क्षणात्॥ तथा दोषाः प्रणश्यंति गंगांभः स्पर्शनाद्ध्रुवम्

tūlaśailaḥ sphuliṁgena yathā naśyati tatkṣaṇāt tathā doṣāḥ praṇaśyaṁti gaṁgāṁbhaḥ sparśanāddhruvam

'...just as a mountain of cotton is destroyed in an instant by a single spark — so surely do all faults vanish at the mere touch of Ganga's waters.'

Verse 57 (skanda.4.27.57)

क्रोधेन च तपो यद्वत्कामेन च यथा मतिः॥ अनयेन यथा लक्ष्मीर्विद्या मानेन वै यथा

krodhena ca tapo yadvatkāmena ca yathā matiḥ anayena yathā lakṣmīrvidyā mānena vai yathā

'Just as austerity is destroyed by anger, wisdom by desire, fortune by dishonesty, and learning indeed by pride...'

Verse 58 (skanda.4.27.58)

दंभ कौटिल्य मायाभिर्यथाधर्मो विनश्यति॥ तथा नश्यंति पापानि गंगाया दर्शनेन तु

daṁbha kauṭilya māyābhiryathādharmo vinaśyati tathā naśyaṁti pāpāni gaṁgāyā darśanena tu

'...just as Dharma is destroyed by hypocrisy, deceit, and illusion — so are sins destroyed by the mere sight of Ganga.'

Verse 59 (skanda.4.27.59)

मानुष्यं दुर्लभं प्राप्य विद्युत्संपातचंचलम्॥ गंगां यः सेवते सोत्र बुद्धेः पारं परं गतः

mānuṣyaṁ durlabhaṁ prāpya vidyutsaṁpātacaṁcalam gaṁgāṁ yaḥ sevate sotra buddheḥ pāraṁ paraṁ gataḥ

'Having obtained the rare gift of a human birth, fleeting as a flash of lightning, whoever resorts to Ganga has thereby gone beyond the very furthest shore of wisdom.'

Verse 60 (skanda.4.27.60)

विधूतपापा ये मर्त्याः परं ज्योतिःस्वरूपिणीम्॥ सहस्रसूर्यप्रतिमां गंगां पश्यंति ते भुवि

vidhūtapāpā ye martyāḥ paraṁ jyotiḥsvarūpiṇīm sahasrasūryapratimāṁ gaṁgāṁ paśyaṁti te bhuvi

'Mortals whose sins have been shaken off behold Ganga on this earth as the very form of the Supreme Light, resembling a thousand suns.'

Verse 61 (skanda.4.27.61)

साधारणांभसा पूर्णां साधारण नदीमिव॥ पश्यंति नास्तिका गंगां पापोपहतलोचनाः

sādhāraṇāṁbhasā pūrṇāṁ sādhāraṇa nadīmiva paśyaṁti nāstikā gaṁgāṁ pāpopahatalocanāḥ

'But unbelievers, their eyes clouded by sin, see Ganga merely as an ordinary river, full of ordinary water, like any other stream.'

Verse 62 (skanda.4.27.62)

संसारमोचकश्चाहं जनानामनुकंपया॥ गंगातरंगरूपेण सोपानं निर्ममे दिवः

saṁsāramocakaścāhaṁ janānāmanukaṁpayā gaṁgātaraṁgarūpeṇa sopānaṁ nirmame divaḥ

'And I myself, out of compassion for people, the liberator from worldly bondage, fashioned, in the form of Ganga's waves, a stairway to heaven.'

Verse 63 (skanda.4.27.63)

सर्व एव शुभः कालः सर्वो देशस्तथा शुभः॥ सर्वो जनो दानपात्रं श्रीमती जाह्नवी तटे

sarva eva śubhaḥ kālaḥ sarvo deśastathā śubhaḥ sarvo jano dānapātraṁ śrīmatī jāhnavī taṭe

'Every time is auspicious, every place likewise auspicious, and every person a worthy recipient of gifts, on the bank of the glorious Jahnavi.'

Verse 64 (skanda.4.27.64)

यथाश्वमेधो यज्ञानां नगानां हिमवान्यथा॥ व्रतानां च यथा सत्यं दानानामभयं यथा॥ प्राणायामश्च तपसां मंत्राणां प्रणवो यथा॥ धर्माणामप्यहिंसा च काम्यानां श्रीर्यथा वरा

yathāśvamedho yajñānāṁ nagānāṁ himavānyathā vratānāṁ ca yathā satyaṁ dānānāmabhayaṁ yathā prāṇāyāmaśca tapasāṁ maṁtrāṇāṁ praṇavo yathā dharmāṇāmapyahiṁsā ca kāmyānāṁ śrīryathā varā

'As the Ashvamedha is among sacrifices, as the Himalaya among mountains, as truth among vows, as fearlessness among gifts, as pranayama among austerities, as the Pranava among mantras, as non-violence among the forms of Dharma, as prosperity is the finest of desired things...'

Verse 65 (skanda.4.27.65)

यथात्मविद्या विद्यानां स्त्रीणां गौरी यथोत्तमा॥ सर्वर्दवेगणानां च यथा त्वं पुरुषोत्तम

yathātmavidyā vidyānāṁ strīṇāṁ gaurī yathottamā sarvardavegaṇānāṁ ca yathā tvaṁ puruṣottama

'...as Atma-vidya, self-knowledge, is supreme among the sciences, as Gauri is supreme among women, as you, O Purushottama, are supreme among all the hosts of gods...'

Verse 66 (skanda.4.27.66)

सर्वषामेव पात्राणां शिवभक्तो यथा वरः॥ तथा सर्वेषु तीर्थेषु गंगातीर्थं विशिष्यते

sarvaṣāmeva pātrāṇāṁ śivabhakto yathā varaḥ tathā sarveṣu tīrtheṣu gaṁgātīrthaṁ viśiṣyate

'...as, among all worthy recipients, the devotee of Shiva is the very best — so among all the tirthas, the tirtha of Ganga is supreme.'

Verse 67 (skanda.4.27.67)

हरेयश्चावयोर्भेदं न करोति महामतिः॥ शिवभक्तः स विज्ञेयो महापाशुपतश्च सः

hareyaścāvayorbhedaṁ na karoti mahāmatiḥ śivabhaktaḥ sa vijñeyo mahāpāśupataśca saḥ

'Whoever, of great wisdom, makes no distinction between Hari and myself — he is to be known as a true devotee of Shiva, and a great Pashupata.'

Verse 68 (skanda.4.27.68)

पापपांसुमहावात्या पापद्रुमकुठारिका॥ पापेंधनदवाग्निश्च गंगेयं पुण्यवाहिनी

pāpapāṁsumahāvātyā pāpadrumakuṭhārikā pāpeṁdhanadavāgniśca gaṁgeyaṁ puṇyavāhinī

'This Ganga, bearer of merit, is the mighty whirlwind that scatters the dust of sin, the axe that fells the tree of sin, and the forest-fire that consumes the fuel of sin.'

Verse 69 (skanda.4.27.69)

नानारूपाश्च पितरो गाथा गायंति सर्वदा॥ अपि कश्चित्कुलेस्माकं गंगास्नायी भविष्यति

nānārūpāśca pitaro gāthā gāyaṁti sarvadā api kaścitkulesmākaṁ gaṁgāsnāyī bhaviṣyati

'The forefathers, in their many forms, forever sing this refrain: "Will there indeed be someone in our own lineage who shall bathe in Ganga?"'

Verse 70 (skanda.4.27.70)

देवर्षीन्परिसंतर्प्य दीनानाथांश्च दुःखितान्॥ श्रद्धया विधिना स्नात्वा दास्यते सलिलांजलिम्

devarṣīnparisaṁtarpya dīnānāthāṁśca duḥkhitān śraddhayā vidhinā snātvā dāsyate salilāṁjalim

'"Who, having duly satisfied the gods and sages, and the poor, the helpless, and the suffering, will bathe with faith according to rite, and offer us the handful of water?"'

Verse 71 (skanda.4.27.71)

अपि नः स कुले भूयाच्छिवे विष्णौ च साम्यदृक्॥ तदालयकरो भक्त्या तस्य संमार्जनादिकृत्

api naḥ sa kule bhūyācchive viṣṇau ca sāmyadṛk tadālayakaro bhaktyā tasya saṁmārjanādikṛt

'"May there be someone in our own lineage who sees Shiva and Vishnu as equal, who devotedly builds a temple for them, and himself sweeps and tends it."'

Verse 72 (skanda.4.27.72)

अकामो वा सकामो वा तिर्यग्योनिगतोपि वा॥ गंगायां यो मृतो मर्त्यो नरकं स न पश्यति

akāmo vā sakāmo vā tiryagyonigatopi vā gaṁgāyāṁ yo mṛto martyo narakaṁ sa na paśyati

'Whether desireless or full of desire, or even one born in an animal form — whatever mortal dies in Ganga does not behold hell.'

Verse 73 (skanda.4.27.73)

तीर्थमन्यत्प्रशंसंति गंगातीरे स्थिताश्च ये॥ गंगां न बहु मन्यंते ते स्युर्निरयगामिनः॥ मां च त्वां चैव यो द्वेष्टि गंगां च पुरुषाधमः॥ स्वकीयैः पुरुषैः सार्धं स घोरं नरकं व्रजेत्

tīrthamanyatpraśaṁsaṁti gaṁgātīre sthitāśca ye gaṁgāṁ na bahu manyaṁte te syurnirayagāminaḥ māṁ ca tvāṁ caiva yo dveṣṭi gaṁgāṁ ca puruṣādhamaḥ svakīyaiḥ puruṣaiḥ sārdhaṁ sa ghoraṁ narakaṁ vrajet

'Those who, while dwelling on the bank of Ganga, praise some other tirtha, and do not hold Ganga in high regard, go to hell. And the vile man who hates both me and you, and Ganga as well, goes to a terrible hell together with his own kinsmen.'

Verse 74 (skanda.4.27.74)

षष्टिर्गणसहस्राणि गंगां रक्षंति सर्वदा॥ अभक्तानां च पापानां वासे विघ्नं प्रकुर्वते

ṣaṣṭirgaṇasahasrāṇi gaṁgāṁ rakṣaṁti sarvadā abhaktānāṁ ca pāpānāṁ vāse vighnaṁ prakurvate

'Sixty thousand hosts of gana ever guard Ganga, and they raise obstacles against the dwelling there of the faithless and the sinful.'

Verse 75 (skanda.4.27.75)

कामक्रोधमहामोहलोभादि निशितैः शरैः॥ घ्नंति तेषां मनस्तत्र स्थितिं चापनयंति च

kāmakrodhamahāmohalobhādi niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ghnaṁti teṣāṁ manastatra sthitiṁ cāpanayaṁti ca

'With sharpened arrows in the form of desire, anger, great delusion, greed and the like, they strike at their minds, and drive away their stay there.'

Verse 76 (skanda.4.27.76)

गंगां समाश्रयेद्यस्तु स मुनिः स च पंडितः॥ कृतकृत्यः स विज्ञेयः पुरुषार्थचतुष्टये

gaṁgāṁ samāśrayedyastu sa muniḥ sa ca paṁḍitaḥ kṛtakṛtyaḥ sa vijñeyaḥ puruṣārthacatuṣṭaye

'Whoever takes refuge in Ganga is a sage, and he is a scholar; he is to be known as one who has accomplished his purpose in all four aims of human life.'

Verse 77 (skanda.4.27.77)

गंगायां च सकृत्स्नातो हयमेधफलं लभेत्॥ तर्पयंश्च पितॄंस्तत्र तारयेन्नरकार्णवात्

gaṁgāyāṁ ca sakṛtsnāto hayamedhaphalaṁ labhet tarpayaṁśca pitṝṁstatra tārayennarakārṇavāt

'One who has bathed in Ganga even once obtains the fruit of the horse-sacrifice; and by offering tarpana to his ancestors there, he ferries them across the ocean of hell.'

Verse 78 (skanda.4.27.78)

नैरंतर्येण गंगायां मासं यः स्नाति पुण्यवान्॥ शक्रलोके स वसति यावच्छक्रः सपूर्वजः

nairaṁtaryeṇa gaṁgāyāṁ māsaṁ yaḥ snāti puṇyavān śakraloke sa vasati yāvacchakraḥ sapūrvajaḥ

'The fortunate one who bathes in Ganga continuously for a month dwells in the world of Indra, together with his forefathers, for as long as Indra himself endures.'

Verse 79 (skanda.4.27.79)

अब्दं यः स्नाति गंगायां नैरंतर्येण पुण्यभाक्॥ विष्णोर्लोकं समासाद्य स सुखं संवसेन्नरः

abdaṁ yaḥ snāti gaṁgāyāṁ nairaṁtaryeṇa puṇyabhāk viṣṇorlokaṁ samāsādya sa sukhaṁ saṁvasennaraḥ

'The blessed man who bathes in Ganga continuously for a year attains the world of Vishnu, and dwells there happily.'

Verse 80 (skanda.4.27.80)

गंगायां स्नाति यो मर्त्यो यावज्जीवं दिनेदिने॥ जीवन्मुक्तः स विज्ञेयो देहांते मुक्त एव सः

gaṁgāyāṁ snāti yo martyo yāvajjīvaṁ dinedine jīvanmuktaḥ sa vijñeyo dehāṁte mukta eva saḥ

'The mortal who bathes in Ganga day after day for his whole life is to be known as liberated while living; at the end of the body, he is liberated indeed.'

Verse 81 (skanda.4.27.81)

तिथिनक्षत्रपर्वादि नापेक्ष्यं जाह्नवी जले॥ स्नानमात्रेण गंगायां संचिताघं विनश्यति

tithinakṣatraparvādi nāpekṣyaṁ jāhnavī jale snānamātreṇa gaṁgāyāṁ saṁcitāghaṁ vinaśyati

'In the waters of the Jahnavi, there is no need to consider the lunar day, the constellation, festival days, or the like; by the mere act of bathing in Ganga, accumulated sin is destroyed.'

Verse 82 (skanda.4.27.82)

पंडितोपि स मूर्खः स्याच्छक्तियुक्तोप्यशक्तिकः॥ यस्तु भागीरथीतीरं सुखसेव्यं न संश्रयेत्॥ किंवायुपाप्यरोगेण विकासिन्याथ किं श्रिया॥ किं वा बुद्ध्या विमलया यदि गंगां न सेवते

paṁḍitopi sa mūrkhaḥ syācchaktiyuktopyaśaktikaḥ yastu bhāgīrathītīraṁ sukhasevyaṁ na saṁśrayet kiṁvāyupāpyarogeṇa vikāsinyātha kiṁ śriyā kiṁ vā buddhyā vimalayā yadi gaṁgāṁ na sevate

'Even a scholar, if he does not resort to the bank of the Bhagirathi, so easily accessible, is a fool; even one endowed with power is powerless. What use is a long life free of disease? What use flourishing wealth? What use even a spotless intellect, if one does not serve Ganga?'

Verse 83 (skanda.4.27.83)

यः कारयेदायतनं गंगाप्रतिकृतेर्नरः॥ भुक्त्वा स भोगान्प्रेत्यापि याति गंगा सलोकताम्

yaḥ kārayedāyatanaṁ gaṁgāpratikṛternaraḥ bhuktvā sa bhogānpretyāpi yāti gaṁgā salokatām

'The man who builds a temple for an image of Ganga, after enjoying worldly pleasures, attains, even after death, the same world as Ganga.'

Verse 84 (skanda.4.27.84)

शृण्वंति महिमानं ये गंगाया नित्यमादरात्॥ गंगास्नानफलं तेषां वाचकप्रीणनाद्धनैः

śṛṇvaṁti mahimānaṁ ye gaṁgāyā nityamādarāt gaṁgāsnānaphalaṁ teṣāṁ vācakaprīṇanāddhanaiḥ

'Those who daily and with respect listen to the greatness of Ganga obtain the fruit of bathing in Ganga, through the wealth given to please the narrator.'

Verse 85 (skanda.4.27.85)

पितॄनुद्दिश्य यो लिंगं स्नपयेद्गांग वारिणा॥ तृप्ताः स्युस्तस्य पितरो महानिरयगा अपि

pitṝnuddiśya yo liṁgaṁ snapayedgāṁga vāriṇā tṛptāḥ syustasya pitaro mahānirayagā api

'Whoever, for the sake of his ancestors, bathes the Linga with the water of Ganga — his forefathers become satisfied, even those who have gone to the great hells.'

Verse 86 (skanda.4.27.86)

अष्टकृत्वो मंत्रजप्तैर्वस्त्रपूतैः सुगंधिभिः॥ प्रोचुर्गांगजलैः स्नानं घृतस्नानाधिकं बुधाः

aṣṭakṛtvo maṁtrajaptairvastrapūtaiḥ sugaṁdhibhiḥ procurgāṁgajalaiḥ snānaṁ ghṛtasnānādhikaṁ budhāḥ

'The wise declare that bathing eight times in Ganga's waters — sanctified with mantra, purified through cloth, and fragrant — surpasses even a bath of ghee.'

Verse 87 (skanda.4.27.87)

अष्टद्रव्यविमिश्रेण गंगातोयेन यः सकृत्॥ मागधप्रस्थमात्रेण ताम्रपात्रस्थितेन च

aṣṭadravyavimiśreṇa gaṁgātoyena yaḥ sakṛt māgadhaprasthamātreṇa tāmrapātrasthitena ca

'Whoever, even once, with Ganga water mixed with the eight substances, held in a copper vessel to the measure of a Magadha-prastha...'

Verse 88 (skanda.4.27.88)

भानवेऽर्घं प्रदद्याच्च स्वकीय पितृभिः सह॥ सोतितेजो विमानेन सूर्यलोके महीयते

bhānave'rghaṁ pradadyācca svakīya pitṛbhiḥ saha sotitejo vimānena sūryaloke mahīyate

'...offers arghya to the Sun, together with his own ancestors — he, of surpassing splendor, is honored in the world of the Sun, borne in a celestial car.'

Verse 89 (skanda.4.27.89)

आपः क्षीरं कुशाग्राणि घृतं मधुगवांदधि॥ रक्तानि करवीराणि रक्तचंदनमित्यपि

āpaḥ kṣīraṁ kuśāgrāṇi ghṛtaṁ madhugavāṁdadhi raktāni karavīrāṇi raktacaṁdanamityapi

'Water, milk, kusha-tips, ghee, honey, cow's curd, red oleander flowers, and red sandalwood as well —'

Verse 90 (skanda.4.27.90)

अष्टांगार्घो यमुद्दिष्टस्त्वतीव रवितोषणः॥ गांगैर्वार्भिः कोटिगुणो ज्ञेयो विष्णोऽन्यवारितः

aṣṭāṁgārgho yamuddiṣṭastvatīva ravitoṣaṇaḥ gāṁgairvārbhiḥ koṭiguṇo jñeyo viṣṇo'nyavāritaḥ

'—this is declared as the eightfold arghya, most pleasing to the Sun; and, O Vishnu, this made with the waters of Ganga is to be known as ten-million-fold more potent than with any other water.'

Verse 91 (skanda.4.27.91)

गंगातीरे स्वशक्त्या यः कुर्याद्देवालयं सुधीः॥ अन्यतीर्थप्रतिष्ठातो भवेत्कोटिगुणं फलं॥ अश्वत्थवटचूतादि वृक्षारोपेण यत्फलम्॥ कूपवापीतडागादि प्रपा सत्रादिभिस्तथा

gaṁgātīre svaśaktyā yaḥ kuryāddevālayaṁ sudhīḥ anyatīrthapratiṣṭhāto bhavetkoṭiguṇaṁ phalaṁ aśvatthavaṭacūtādi vṛkṣāropeṇa yatphalam kūpavāpītaḍāgādi prapā satrādibhistathā

'The wise man who, according to his ability, builds a temple on the bank of Ganga gains a fruit ten million times greater than establishing one at any other tirtha. Whatever fruit comes from planting a peepal, banyan, mango and other such trees, or from a well, step-well, pond and the like, or from a water-shed, alms-hall and such...'

Verse 92 (skanda.4.27.92)

अन्यत्र यद्भवेत्पुण्यं तद्गंगादर्शनाद्भवेत्॥ पुष्पवाट्यादिभिश्चापि गंगास्पर्शं ततोऽधिकम्

anyatra yadbhavetpuṇyaṁ tadgaṁgādarśanādbhavet puṣpavāṭyādibhiścāpi gaṁgāsparśaṁ tato'dhikam

'...whatever merit comes from doing them elsewhere, comes here merely from the sight of Ganga; and the touch of Ganga's waters is even more meritorious than establishing flower-gardens and the like.'

Verse 93 (skanda.4.27.93)

कन्यादानेन यत्पुण्यं यत्पुण्यं गोऽन्नदानतः॥ तत्पुण्यं स्याच्छतगुणं गंगागंडूषपानतः

kanyādānena yatpuṇyaṁ yatpuṇyaṁ go'nnadānataḥ tatpuṇyaṁ syācchataguṇaṁ gaṁgāgaṁḍūṣapānataḥ

'Whatever merit comes from the gift of a maiden in marriage, whatever merit from the gift of cattle and food — that merit becomes a hundredfold merely by sipping a mouthful of Ganga water.'

Verse 94 (skanda.4.27.94)

चांद्रायणसहस्रेण यत्पुण्यं स्याज्जनार्दन॥ ततोऽधिकफलं गंगाऽमृतपानादवाप्नुयात्

cāṁdrāyaṇasahasreṇa yatpuṇyaṁ syājjanārdana tato'dhikaphalaṁ gaṁgā'mṛtapānādavāpnuyāt

'O Janardana, whatever merit comes from a thousand Chandrayana penances, one obtains a greater fruit than that merely by drinking the nectar of Ganga.'

Verse 95 (skanda.4.27.95)

भक्त्या गंगावगाहस्य किमन्यत्फलमुच्यते॥ अक्षयः स्वर्गवासोपि निर्वाणमथवा हरे

bhaktyā gaṁgāvagāhasya kimanyatphalamucyate akṣayaḥ svargavāsopi nirvāṇamathavā hare

'What other fruit need be spoken of for immersing oneself in Ganga with devotion, O Hari, except imperishable dwelling in heaven, or else liberation itself?'

Verse 96 (skanda.4.27.96)

गंगायाः पादुकायुग्मं नित्यमर्चति यो नरः॥ आयुः पुण्यं धनं पुत्रान्स्वर्गमोक्षौ च विंदति

gaṁgāyāḥ pādukāyugmaṁ nityamarcati yo naraḥ āyuḥ puṇyaṁ dhanaṁ putrānsvargamokṣau ca viṁdati

'The man who daily worships the pair of Ganga's sandals obtains long life, merit, wealth, sons, and both heaven and liberation.'

Verse 97 (skanda.4.27.97)

नास्ति गंगासमं तीर्थं कलिकल्मषनाशनम्॥ नास्ति मुक्तिप्रदं क्षेत्रमविमुक्तसमं हरे

nāsti gaṁgāsamaṁ tīrthaṁ kalikalmaṣanāśanam nāsti muktipradaṁ kṣetramavimuktasamaṁ hare

'There is no tirtha equal to Ganga for destroying the taint of the Kali age; and, O Hari, there is no field granting liberation equal to Avimukta.'

Verse 98 (skanda.4.27.98)

गंगास्नानरतं मर्त्यं दृष्ट्वैव यमकिकराः॥ दिशो दश पलायंते सिंहं दृष्ट्वा यथा मृगाः

gaṁgāsnānarataṁ martyaṁ dṛṣṭvaiva yamakikarāḥ diśo daśa palāyaṁte siṁhaṁ dṛṣṭvā yathā mṛgāḥ

'The mere sight of a mortal devoted to bathing in Ganga is enough for the servants of Yama to flee in all ten directions, just as deer flee at the sight of a lion.'

Verse 99 (skanda.4.27.99)

गंगाभजनशीलस्य गंगातटनिवासिनः॥ अर्चां कृत्वा यथान्यायमश्वमेधफलं लभेत्

gaṁgābhajanaśīlasya gaṁgātaṭanivāsinaḥ arcāṁ kṛtvā yathānyāyamaśvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

'One devoted to worshipping Ganga, dwelling on Ganga's bank, obtains the fruit of the horse-sacrifice by worshipping her duly, according to rule.'

Verse 100 (skanda.4.27.100)

गोभूहिरण्यदानेन भक्त्या गंगातटे शुभे॥ नरो न जायते भूयः संसारे दुःखकंटके॥ दीर्घायुष्यं च वासोभिर्ज्ञानं पुस्तकदानतः॥ अन्नदानेन संपत्तिं कीर्तिं कन्याप्रदानतः

gobhūhiraṇyadānena bhaktyā gaṁgātaṭe śubhe naro na jāyate bhūyaḥ saṁsāre duḥkhakaṁṭake dīrghāyuṣyaṁ ca vāsobhirjñānaṁ pustakadānataḥ annadānena saṁpattiṁ kīrtiṁ kanyāpradānataḥ

'Through the devoted gift of cows, land, and gold on the auspicious bank of Ganga, a man is not born again into this thorny, sorrowful worldly existence. Through the gift of garments he obtains long life, through the gift of books, knowledge; through the gift of food, prosperity; through the gift of a maiden in marriage, fame.'

Verse 101 (skanda.4.27.101)

अन्यत्र यत्कृतं कर्म व्रतं दानं जपस्तपः॥ गंगातटे तु तत्सर्वं हरे कोटिगुणं भवेत्

anyatra yatkṛtaṁ karma vrataṁ dānaṁ japastapaḥ gaṁgātaṭe tu tatsarvaṁ hare koṭiguṇaṁ bhavet

'Whatever action, vow, gift, japa, or austerity is performed elsewhere, O Hari, all of that becomes ten-million-fold on the bank of Ganga.'

Verse 102 (skanda.4.27.102)

धेनुं सवत्सा यो दद्याद् गंगातीरे विधानतः॥ गोरोमसंख्यया विष्णो युगान्सर्वसमृद्धिमान्

dhenuṁ savatsā yo dadyād gaṁgātīre vidhānataḥ goromasaṁkhyayā viṣṇo yugānsarvasamṛddhimān

'Whoever duly gives a milk-cow with her calf on the bank of Ganga, O Vishnu, dwells, replete with every prosperity, for as many world-ages as there are hairs on the cow's body.'

Verse 103 (skanda.4.27.103)

गोलोके मम लोके वा कामधेनुप्रदानतः॥ भुंजानः सर्वकामांस्तु दिव्यान्नानाविधान्बहून्

goloke mama loke vā kāmadhenupradānataḥ bhuṁjānaḥ sarvakāmāṁstu divyānnānāvidhānbahūn

'Through the gift of a wish-fulfilling cow, he dwells in Goloka or in my own world, enjoying all his desires — many kinds of varied divine pleasures.'

Verse 104 (skanda.4.27.104)

देवानामप्यलभ्यांश्च भुक्त्वा तु सह बांधवैः॥ पितृभिश्च सुहृद्भिश्च सर्वरत्नविभूषितः

devānāmapyalabhyāṁśca bhuktvā tu saha bāṁdhavaiḥ pitṛbhiśca suhṛdbhiśca sarvaratnavibhūṣitaḥ

'...enjoying even those pleasures unattainable by the gods, together with his kinsmen, his ancestors, and his friends, and remaining adorned with every jewel.'

Verse 105 (skanda.4.27.105)

जायते सत्कुले पश्चाद्धनधान्यसमाकुले॥ रत्नकांचनसंपन्ने शीलविद्यासमन्विते

jāyate satkule paścāddhanadhānyasamākule ratnakāṁcanasaṁpanne śīlavidyāsamanvite

'Afterward he is born into a noble family, abounding in wealth and grain, rich in jewels and gold, endowed with good character and learning.'

Verse 106 (skanda.4.27.106)

भुक्त्वा स विपुलान्भोगान्पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः॥ पुनर्गंगां समासाद्य काश्यामुत्तरवाहिनीम्

bhuktvā sa vipulānbhogānputrapautrasamanvitaḥ punargaṁgāṁ samāsādya kāśyāmuttaravāhinīm

'Having enjoyed abundant pleasures, together with sons and grandsons, he then reaches Ganga once again, in her northward-flowing course at Kashi.'

Verse 107 (skanda.4.27.107)

विश्वेश्वरं समाराध्य प्राग्जनुर्वासनावशात्॥ कालाद्देहांतमासाद्य ब्रह्म संपद्यते ततः

viśveśvaraṁ samārādhya prāgjanurvāsanāvaśāt kālāddehāṁtamāsādya brahma saṁpadyate tataḥ

'Worshipping Vishveshvara there, through the impulse of impressions carried from that former life, when in time his body ends, he thereupon attains Brahman.'

Verse 108 (skanda.4.27.108)

विवर्तनद्वयमपि भूमेर्भागीरथीतटे॥ नरो ददाति यो भक्त्या तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

vivartanadvayamapi bhūmerbhāgīrathītaṭe naro dadāti yo bhaktyā tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

'Hear the fruit of merit for the man who, with devotion, gives even a plot of land no larger than two turns of a plough on the bank of the Bhagirathi.'

Verse 109 (skanda.4.27.109)

तद्भूमित्रसरेणूनां संख्यया युगमानया॥ महेंद्र चंद्रलोकेषु भुक्त्वा भोगान्मनःप्रियान्॥ सप्तद्वीपपतिर्भूत्वा महाधर्मपरायणः॥ नरकस्थान्पितॄन्सर्वान्प्रापयेत्त्रिदिवं हरे

tadbhūmitrasareṇūnāṁ saṁkhyayā yugamānayā maheṁdra caṁdralokeṣu bhuktvā bhogānmanaḥpriyān saptadvīpapatirbhūtvā mahādharmaparāyaṇaḥ narakasthānpitṝnsarvānprāpayettridivaṁ hare

'For as many world-ages as there are dust-motes in that land, he enjoys pleasures dear to the heart in the worlds of Mahendra and the Moon; then, becoming lord of the seven continents, devoted to the great Dharma, O Hari, he brings all his ancestors who dwell in hell up to heaven.'

Verse 110 (skanda.4.27.110)

स्वर्गस्थांश्च पितॄन्सर्वान्मोचयित्वा महाद्युतिः॥ अंते ज्ञानासिना छित्त्वा ह्यविद्यां पांचभौतिकीम्

svargasthāṁśca pitṝnsarvānmocayitvā mahādyutiḥ aṁte jñānāsinā chittvā hyavidyāṁ pāṁcabhautikīm

'That being of great splendor, having also freed all his ancestors who dwell in heaven, at last cuts away, with the sword of knowledge, the ignorance made of the five elements.'

Verse 111 (skanda.4.27.111)

परवैंराग्यमापन्नो युंजानो योगमुत्तमम्॥ प्राप्याथवा विमुक्तं च परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति

paravaiṁrāgyamāpanno yuṁjāno yogamuttamam prāpyāthavā vimuktaṁ ca paraṁ brahmādhigacchati

'Attaining supreme dispassion, and practicing the highest Yoga, he reaches Avimukta once more, and attains the Supreme Brahman.'

Verse 112 (skanda.4.27.112)

सुवर्णमात्रमपि यः सुवर्णं संप्रयच्छति॥ सुवर्णाय सुवर्णं च हरे भागीरथीतटे

suvarṇamātramapi yaḥ suvarṇaṁ saṁprayacchati suvarṇāya suvarṇaṁ ca hare bhāgīrathītaṭe

'O Hari, whoever gives even a single suvarna of gold to a worthy recipient, on the bank of the Bhagirathi...'

Verse 113 (skanda.4.27.113)

स हेमरत्नखचिते विमाने सर्वगे शुभे॥ सर्वैश्वर्यसमायुक्तः सर्वलोकेषु पूजितः

sa hemaratnakhacite vimāne sarvage śubhe sarvaiśvaryasamāyuktaḥ sarvalokeṣu pūjitaḥ

'...he, seated in an auspicious, all-going celestial car studded with gold and jewels, endowed with every sovereign power, is honored in every world.'

Verse 114 (skanda.4.27.114)

ब्रह्मांडांतरसंस्थेषु भुंजन्भोगान्मनोरमान्॥ सर्वैः संपूजितो विष्णो यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

brahmāṁḍāṁtarasaṁstheṣu bhuṁjanbhogānmanoramān sarvaiḥ saṁpūjito viṣṇo yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

'Enjoying delightful pleasures in the various regions within the universe, honored by all, O Vishnu, until the dissolution of all created beings.'

Verse 115 (skanda.4.27.115)

एकराट्च ततो भूत्वा जंबूद्वीपे प्रतापवान्॥ ततोऽविमुक्तमासाद्य पदं निर्वाणमृच्छति

ekarāṭca tato bhūtvā jaṁbūdvīpe pratāpavān tato'vimuktamāsādya padaṁ nirvāṇamṛcchati

'Then, becoming a mighty sole sovereign in Jambudvipa, he thereafter attains Avimukta and reaches the state of liberation.'

Verse 116 (skanda.4.27.116)

जन्मर्क्षे तु कृते स्नाने गंगायां भक्तिपूर्वकम्॥ जन्मप्रभृतिपापौघात्संचितान्मुच्यते क्षणात्

janmarkṣe tu kṛte snāne gaṁgāyāṁ bhaktipūrvakam janmaprabhṛtipāpaughātsaṁcitānmucyate kṣaṇāt

'When one bathes in Ganga with devotion on the day of one's birth-star, one is instantly freed from the whole flood of sins accumulated since birth.'

Verse 117 (skanda.4.27.117)

वैशाखे कार्तिके माघे गंगास्नानं सुदुर्लभम्॥ दर्शे शतगुणं पुण्यं संक्रातौ च सहस्रकम्

vaiśākhe kārtike māghe gaṁgāsnānaṁ sudurlabham darśe śataguṇaṁ puṇyaṁ saṁkrātau ca sahasrakam

'Bathing in Ganga in the months of Vaishakha, Kartika, and Magha is exceedingly rare in merit; on the new-moon day the merit is a hundredfold, and on a solar transit day, a thousandfold.'

Verse 118 (skanda.4.27.118)

चंद्रसूर्यग्रहे लक्षं व्यतीपातेत्वनंतकम्॥ अयुतं विषुवे चैव नियुतं त्वयनद्वये॥ सोमग्रहः सोमदिने रविवाररवग्रहः॥ तच्चूडामणिपर्वाख्यं तत्रस्नानमसंख्यकम्

caṁdrasūryagrahe lakṣaṁ vyatīpātetvanaṁtakam ayutaṁ viṣuve caiva niyutaṁ tvayanadvaye somagrahaḥ somadine ravivāraravagrahaḥ taccūḍāmaṇiparvākhyaṁ tatrasnānamasaṁkhyakam

'At a lunar or solar eclipse, a hundred-thousandfold; at a Vyatipata, infinite; ten-thousandfold at the equinox; a million-fold at either solstice. A lunar eclipse falling on a Monday, or a solar eclipse on a Sunday — this is called the Chudamani, the crest-jewel conjunction, and the merit of bathing there then is beyond all counting.'

Verse 119 (skanda.4.27.119)

स्नानं दानं जपो होमो यद्यच्चूडामणौ कृतम्॥ तदक्षयं सर्वमिह विष्णो भागीरथीतटे

snānaṁ dānaṁ japo homo yadyaccūḍāmaṇau kṛtam tadakṣayaṁ sarvamiha viṣṇo bhāgīrathītaṭe

'Whatever bathing, giving, japa, or fire-offering is performed at the Chudamani conjunction, all of it becomes imperishable here, O Vishnu, on the bank of the Bhagirathi.'

Verse 120 (skanda.4.27.120)

श्रद्धया भक्तियुक्तस्तु गंगां स्नात्वा विधानतः॥ ब्रह्महापि विशुद्ध्येत किंपुनस्त्वन्य पातकी

śraddhayā bhaktiyuktastu gaṁgāṁ snātvā vidhānataḥ brahmahāpi viśuddhyeta kiṁpunastvanya pātakī

'Even the slayer of a brahmin, bathing in Ganga according to rite, with faith and devotion, becomes purified — how much more, then, any other sinner!'

Verse 121 (skanda.4.27.121)

कृमिकीटपतंगाद्या ये मृता जाह्नवीतटे॥ कूलात्पतंति ये वृक्षास्तेपि यांति परां गतिम्

kṛmikīṭapataṁgādyā ye mṛtā jāhnavītaṭe kūlātpataṁti ye vṛkṣāstepi yāṁti parāṁ gatim

'Worms, insects, moths and the like that die on the bank of the Jahnavi, and even trees that fall from her bank — they too attain the supreme state.'

Verse 122 (skanda.4.27.122)

ज्येष्ठे मासि सिते पक्षे दशम्यां हस्तसंयुते॥ गंगातीरे तु पुरुषो नारी वा भक्तिभावतः ॥. ३५॥ निशायां जागरं कुयाद्गंगां दशविधैर्हरे॥ पुष्पैः सुगंधैर्नैवेद्यैः फलैर्दशदशोन्मितैः

jyeṣṭhe māsi site pakṣe daśamyāṁ hastasaṁyute gaṁgātīre tu puruṣo nārī vā bhaktibhāvataḥ . 35 niśāyāṁ jāgaraṁ kuyādgaṁgāṁ daśavidhairhare puṣpaiḥ sugaṁdhairnaivedyaiḥ phalairdaśadaśonmitaiḥ

'On the tenth day of the bright fortnight of Jyeshtha month, conjoined with the Hasta constellation, a man or woman, O Hari, filled with devotion, should keep vigil through the night on Ganga's bank, and worship Ganga with faith, ten times over, using ten kinds of things — fragrant flowers, offerings, and fruits, each numbering ten...'

Verse 123 (skanda.4.27.123)

प्रदीपैर्दशभिर्धूपैर्दशांगैर्गरुडध्वज॥ पूजयेच्छ्रद्धया धीमान्दशकृत्वो विधानतः

pradīpairdaśabhirdhūpairdaśāṁgairgaruḍadhvaja pūjayecchraddhayā dhīmāndaśakṛtvo vidhānataḥ

'...with ten lamps, and with incense of ten ingredients, O bearer of the Garuda banner — let the wise one worship her with faith, ten times over, according to rite.'

Verse 124 (skanda.4.27.124)

साज्यांस्तिलान्क्षिपेत्तोये गंगायाः प्रसृतीर्दश॥ गुडसक्तुमयान्पिंडान्दद्याच्च दशमंत्रतः

sājyāṁstilānkṣipettoye gaṁgāyāḥ prasṛtīrdaśa guḍasaktumayānpiṁḍāndadyācca daśamaṁtrataḥ

'One should cast into Ganga's water ten handfuls of sesame mixed with ghee, and offer ten balls made of jaggery and roasted-grain flour, each with its own mantra.'

Verse 125 (skanda.4.27.125)

नमः शिवायै प्रथमं नारायण्यै पदं ततः॥ दशहरायै पदमिति गंगायै मंत्र एष वै

namaḥ śivāyai prathamaṁ nārāyaṇyai padaṁ tataḥ daśaharāyai padamiti gaṁgāyai maṁtra eṣa vai

'"Namah Shivayai" first, then the word "Narayanyai," and then the word "Dashaharayai" — this indeed is the mantra for Ganga.'

Verse 126 (skanda.4.27.126)

स्वाहांतः प्रणावादिश्च भवेद्विंशाक्षरो मनुः॥ पूजादानं जपो होमो ऽनेनैव मनुना स्मृतः॥ हेम्ना रूप्येण वा शक्त्या गंगामूर्तिं विधाय च॥ वस्त्राच्छादितवक्त्रस्य पूर्णकुंभस्य चोपरि

svāhāṁtaḥ praṇāvādiśca bhavedviṁśākṣaro manuḥ pūjādānaṁ japo homo 'nenaiva manunā smṛtaḥ hemnā rūpyeṇa vā śaktyā gaṁgāmūrtiṁ vidhāya ca vastrācchāditavaktrasya pūrṇakuṁbhasya copari

'Beginning with the Pranava and ending in "Svaha," it becomes a mantra of twenty syllables; worship, gift-giving, japa and fire-offering are all enjoined with this very mantra. Having fashioned an image of Ganga, according to one's means, of gold or silver, and placed it atop a full vessel whose mouth is covered with cloth...'

Verse 127 (skanda.4.27.127)

प्रतिष्ठाप्यार्चयेद्देवीं पंचामृतविशोधिताम्॥ चतुर्भुजां त्रिनेत्रां च नदीनदनिषेविताम्

pratiṣṭhāpyārcayeddevīṁ paṁcāmṛtaviśodhitām caturbhujāṁ trinetrāṁ ca nadīnadaniṣevitām

'...one should install and worship the Goddess, purified with the five nectars, four-armed, three-eyed, attended by rivers and streams.'

Verse 128 (skanda.4.27.128)

लावण्यामृतनिष्पंद संशीलद्गात्रयष्टिकाम्॥ पूर्णकुंभसितांभोज वरदाभयसत्कराम्

lāvaṇyāmṛtaniṣpaṁda saṁśīladgātrayaṣṭikām pūrṇakuṁbhasitāṁbhoja varadābhayasatkarām

'Her slender form flowing, as it were, with the very nectar of beauty; her gracious hands holding a full vessel and a white lotus, and bestowing the gestures of boon-giving and fearlessness.'

Verse 129 (skanda.4.27.129)

ततो ध्यायेत्सुसौम्या च चंद्रायुतसमप्रभाम्॥ चामरैर्वीज्यमानां च श्वेतच्छत्रोपशोभिताम

tato dhyāyetsusaumyā ca caṁdrāyutasamaprabhām cāmarairvījyamānāṁ ca śvetacchatropaśobhitāma

'Then one should meditate on her, most gentle, radiant as ten thousand moons, fanned with chowries, adorned with a white parasol.'

Verse 130 (skanda.4.27.130)

सुधाप्लावितभूपृष्ठां दिव्यगंधानुलेपनाम्॥ त्रैलौक्यपूजितपदां देवर्षिभिरभिष्टुताम्

sudhāplāvitabhūpṛṣṭhāṁ divyagaṁdhānulepanām trailaukyapūjitapadāṁ devarṣibhirabhiṣṭutām

'Her feet flooding the surface of the earth with nectar, anointed with divine fragrances, her feet worshipped by all three worlds, praised by gods and sages.'

Verse 131 (skanda.4.27.131)

ध्यात्वा समर्च्य मंत्रेण धूपदीपोपहारतः॥ मां च त्वां च विधिं ब्रध्नं हिमवंतं भगीरथम्

dhyātvā samarcya maṁtreṇa dhūpadīpopahārataḥ māṁ ca tvāṁ ca vidhiṁ bradhnaṁ himavaṁtaṁ bhagīratham

'Having meditated on her thus and worshipped her with the mantra, with incense, lamps and offerings, one should also worship me, and you, and Brahma, and the Sun, and the Himalaya, and Bhagiratha...'

Verse 132 (skanda.4.27.132)

प्रतिमाग्रे समभ्यर्च्य चंदनाक्षतनिर्मितान्॥ दशप्रस्थतिलान्दद्याद्दशविप्रेभ्य आदरात्

pratimāgre samabhyarcya caṁdanākṣatanirmitān daśaprasthatilāndadyāddaśaviprebhya ādarāt

'...worshipping them in the form of images made of sandal-paste and unbroken rice, set before the main image, and should respectfully give ten prasthas of sesame to ten brahmins.'

Verse 133 (skanda.4.27.133)

पलं च कुडवः प्रस्थ आढको द्रोण एव च॥ धान्यमानेन बोद्धव्याः क्रमशोमी चतुर्गुणाः

palaṁ ca kuḍavaḥ prastha āḍhako droṇa eva ca dhānyamānena boddhavyāḥ kramaśomī caturguṇāḥ

'A pala, a kudava, a prastha, an adhaka, and a drona — these, in the measure of grain, are to be understood as each successively four times the last.'

Verse 134 (skanda.4.27.134)

मत्स्य कच्छप मंडूक मकरादि जलेचरान्॥ हंसकारंडव बक चक्रटिट्टिभसारसान्

matsya kacchapa maṁḍūka makarādi jalecarān haṁsakāraṁḍava baka cakraṭiṭṭibhasārasān

'Images of fish, tortoise, frog, crocodile and other water-creatures; of swan, karandava-duck, heron, chakravaka, plover, and crane...'

Verse 135 (skanda.4.27.135)

यथाशक्ति स्वर्णरूप्य ताम्रपृष्ठविनिर्मितान्॥ अभ्यर्च्य गंधकुसुमैर्गंगायां प्रक्षिपेद्व्रती॥ एवं कृत्वा विधानेन वित्तशाठ्यं विवर्जितः॥ उपवासी वक्ष्यमाणैर्दशपापैः प्रमुच्यते

yathāśakti svarṇarūpya tāmrapṛṣṭhavinirmitān abhyarcya gaṁdhakusumairgaṁgāyāṁ prakṣipedvratī evaṁ kṛtvā vidhānena vittaśāṭhyaṁ vivarjitaḥ upavāsī vakṣyamāṇairdaśapāpaiḥ pramucyate

'...made, according to one's means, of gold, silver, or copper-backed metal — the votary should worship these with fragrance and flowers and cast them into Ganga. Having thus performed the rite in due order, free of miserliness with wealth, and fasting, one is freed from the ten sins now to be described.'

Verse 136 (skanda.4.27.136)

अदत्तानामुपादानं हिंसाचैवाविधानतः॥ परदारोपसेवा च कायिकं त्रिविधं स्मृतम्

adattānāmupādānaṁ hiṁsācaivāvidhānataḥ paradāropasevā ca kāyikaṁ trividhaṁ smṛtam

'Taking what has not been given, violence done without proper sanction, and consorting with another's wife — these are declared the three bodily sins.'

Verse 137 (skanda.4.27.137)

पारुष्यमनृतं चैव पैशुन्यं चैव सर्वशः॥ असंबद्ध प्रलापश्च वाङ्मयंस्याच्चतुर्विधम्

pāruṣyamanṛtaṁ caiva paiśunyaṁ caiva sarvaśaḥ asaṁbaddha pralāpaśca vāṅmayaṁsyāccaturvidham

'Harsh speech, falsehood, slander in every form, and incoherent chatter — these are the fourfold sin of speech.'

Verse 138 (skanda.4.27.138)

परद्रव्येष्वभिध्यानं मनसानिष्टचिंतनम्॥ वितथाभिनिवेशश्च मानसं त्रिविधं स्मृतम्

paradravyeṣvabhidhyānaṁ manasāniṣṭaciṁtanam vitathābhiniveśaśca mānasaṁ trividhaṁ smṛtam

'Coveting another's wealth, thinking ill of another in one's mind, and clinging to false views — these are declared the threefold sin of the mind.'

Verse 139 (skanda.4.27.139)

एतैर्दशविधैः पापैर्दशजन्मसमुद्भवैः॥ मुच्यते नात्र संदेहः सत्यं सत्यं गदाधर

etairdaśavidhaiḥ pāpairdaśajanmasamudbhavaiḥ mucyate nātra saṁdehaḥ satyaṁ satyaṁ gadādhara

'From these ten kinds of sin, born across ten lifetimes, one is freed — there is no doubt of this; it is true, true indeed, O Gadadhara.'

Verse 140 (skanda.4.27.140)

उत्तरेन्नरकात्पूर्वान्दशघोराद्दशावरान्॥ वक्ष्यमाणमिदं स्तोत्रं गंगाग्रे श्रद्धया जपेत्

uttarennarakātpūrvāndaśaghorāddaśāvarān vakṣyamāṇamidaṁ stotraṁ gaṁgāgre śraddhayā japet

'To be delivered from ten terrible hells and ten lesser ones, brought on by past deeds, one should recite, with faith, before Ganga, this hymn now to be told.'

Verse 141 (skanda.4.27.141)

ॐ नमः शिवायै गंगायै शिवदायै नमोनमः॥ नमस्ते विष्णुरूपिण्यै ब्रह्ममूर्त्त्यै नमोस्तु ते

oṁ namaḥ śivāyai gaṁgāyai śivadāyai namonamaḥ namaste viṣṇurūpiṇyai brahmamūrttyai namostu te

Om, salutation to the auspicious Ganga, giver of blessing, salutation again and again. Salutation to you of the form of Vishnu, of the form of Brahma — salutation be to you.

Verse 142 (skanda.4.27.142)

नमस्ते रुद्ररूपिण्यै शांकर्यै ते नमोनमः॥ सर्वदेवस्वरूपिण्यै नमो भेषजमूर्त्तये

namaste rudrarūpiṇyai śāṁkaryai te namonamaḥ sarvadevasvarūpiṇyai namo bheṣajamūrttaye

Salutation to you of the form of Rudra, O Shankari, salutation again and again to you. Salutation to you of the form of all the gods, salutation to the very embodiment of medicine.

Verse 143 (skanda.4.27.143)

सर्वस्यसर्वव्याधीनां भिषक्श्रेष्ठ्यै नमोस्तु ते॥ स्थास्नुजंगमसंभूत विषहंत्र्यै नमोस्तु ते

sarvasyasarvavyādhīnāṁ bhiṣakśreṣṭhyai namostu te sthāsnujaṁgamasaṁbhūta viṣahaṁtryai namostu te

Salutation be to you, the best of physicians for every disease of all beings. Salutation be to you, destroyer of poison arising from both the stationary and the moving.

Verse 144 (skanda.4.27.144)

संसारविषनाशिन्यै जीवनायै नमोस्तु ते॥ तापत्रितय संहंत्र्यै प्राणेश्यै ते नमोनमः॥ शांति संतानकारिण्यै नमस्ते शुद्धमूर्तये॥ सर्वसंशुद्धिकारिण्यै नमः पापारिमूर्तये

saṁsāraviṣanāśinyai jīvanāyai namostu te tāpatritaya saṁhaṁtryai prāṇeśyai te namonamaḥ śāṁti saṁtānakāriṇyai namaste śuddhamūrtaye sarvasaṁśuddhikāriṇyai namaḥ pāpārimūrtaye

Salutation be to you, destroyer of the poison of worldly existence, giver of life. Salutation again and again to you, destroyer of the threefold affliction, mistress of the life-breath. Salutation to you, giver of unbroken peace, of pure form. Salutation to you, who bring complete purification to all, embodiment of the enemy of sin.

Verse 145 (skanda.4.27.145)

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिन्यै भद्रदायै नमोनमः॥ भोगोपभोगदायिन्यै भोगवत्यै नमोस्तु ते

bhuktimuktipradāyinyai bhadradāyai namonamaḥ bhogopabhogadāyinyai bhogavatyai namostu te

Salutation again and again to you, giver of both enjoyment and liberation, giver of good fortune. Salutation be to you, giver of pleasure and enjoyment, possessed of every delight.

Verse 146 (skanda.4.27.146)

मंदाकिन्यै नमस्तेस्तु स्वर्गदायै नमोनमः॥ नमस्त्रैलोक्यभूषायै त्रिपथायै नमोनमः

maṁdākinyai namastestu svargadāyai namonamaḥ namastrailokyabhūṣāyai tripathāyai namonamaḥ

Salutation be to you, Mandakini, giver of heaven, salutation again and again. Salutation to you, ornament of the three worlds, flowing on the three paths, salutation again and again.

Verse 147 (skanda.4.27.147)

नमस्त्रिशुक्लसंस्थायै क्षमावत्यै नमोनमः॥ त्रिहुताशनसंस्थायै तेजोवत्यै नमोनमः

namastriśuklasaṁsthāyai kṣamāvatyai namonamaḥ trihutāśanasaṁsthāyai tejovatyai namonamaḥ

Salutation to you who abide in the threefold purity, O forbearing one, salutation again and again. Salutation again and again to you who abide in the three sacred fires, full of splendor.

Verse 148 (skanda.4.27.148)

नंदायै लिंगधारिण्यै सुधाधारात्मने नमः॥ नमस्ते विश्वमुख्यायै रेवत्यै ते नमोनमः

naṁdāyai liṁgadhāriṇyai sudhādhārātmane namaḥ namaste viśvamukhyāyai revatyai te namonamaḥ

Salutation to Nanda, bearer of the Linga, of the very nature of a stream of nectar. Salutation to you, foremost of the universe, Revati, salutation again and again to you.

Verse 149 (skanda.4.27.149)

बृहत्यै ते नमस्तेस्तु लोकधात्र्यै नमोस्तु ते॥ नमस्ते विश्वमित्रायै नंदिन्यै ते नमोनमः

bṛhatyai te namastestu lokadhātryai namostu te namaste viśvamitrāyai naṁdinyai te namonamaḥ

Salutation be to you, the vast one; salutation be to you, sustainer of the worlds. Salutation to you, friend of all the universe, the joyous one, salutation again and again to you.

Verse 150 (skanda.4.27.150)

पृथ्व्यै शिवामृतायै च सुवृषायै नमोनमः॥ परापरशताढ्यायै तारायै ते नमोनमः

pṛthvyai śivāmṛtāyai ca suvṛṣāyai namonamaḥ parāparaśatāḍhyāyai tārāyai te namonamaḥ

Salutation again and again to the earth-like one, the auspicious nectar, she of abundant merit. Salutation again and again to you, the deliverer, abounding in a hundred forms both higher and lower.

Verse 151 (skanda.4.27.151)

पाशजालनिकृंतिन्यै अभिन्नायै नमोस्तु ते॥ शांतायै च वरिष्ठायै वरदायै नमोनमः

pāśajālanikṛṁtinyai abhinnāyai namostu te śāṁtāyai ca variṣṭhāyai varadāyai namonamaḥ

Salutation be to you, cutter of the net of fetters, the undivided one. Salutation again and again to you, the tranquil, the most excellent, the giver of boons.

Verse 152 (skanda.4.27.152)

उग्रायै सुखजग्ध्यै च संजीविन्यै नमोस्तु ते॥ ब्रह्मिष्ठायै ब्रह्मदायै दुरितघ्न्यै नमोनमः

ugrāyai sukhajagdhyai ca saṁjīvinyai namostu te brahmiṣṭhāyai brahmadāyai duritaghnyai namonamaḥ

Salutation be to you, the fierce one, who devours sorrow through delight, the reviver of life. Salutation again and again to you, most devoted to Brahman, giver of Brahman, destroyer of misfortune.

Verse 153 (skanda.4.27.153)

प्रणतार्ति प्रभंजिन्यै जगन्मात्रे नमोस्तुते॥ सर्वापत्प्रतिपक्षायै मंगलायै नमोनमः॥ शरणागतदीनार्त परित्राणपरायणे॥ सर्वस्यार्ति हरे देवि नारायणि नमोस्तु ते

praṇatārti prabhaṁjinyai jaganmātre namostute sarvāpatpratipakṣāyai maṁgalāyai namonamaḥ śaraṇāgatadīnārta paritrāṇaparāyaṇe sarvasyārti hare devi nārāyaṇi namostu te

Salutation be to you, breaker of the suffering of those who bow before you, Mother of the world. Salutation again and again to you, opponent of every calamity, the auspicious one. O you devoted to the protection of the humble, the suffering, and those who take refuge in you — O Goddess who removes the suffering of all, O Narayani, salutation be to you.

Verse 154 (skanda.4.27.154)

निर्लेपायै दुर्गहंत्र्यै दक्षायै ते नमोनमः॥ परापरपरायै च गंगे निर्वाणदायिनि

nirlepāyai durgahaṁtryai dakṣāyai te namonamaḥ parāparaparāyai ca gaṁge nirvāṇadāyini

Salutation again and again to you, the stainless one, destroyer of hardship, the capable one. And salutation to you, O Ganga, supreme above both the higher and the lower, giver of liberation.

Verse 155 (skanda.4.27.155)

गंगे ममाग्रतो भूया गंगे मे तिष्ठ पृष्ठतः॥ गंगे मे पार्श्वयोरेधि गंगे त्वय्यस्तु मे स्थितिः

gaṁge mamāgrato bhūyā gaṁge me tiṣṭha pṛṣṭhataḥ gaṁge me pārśvayoredhi gaṁge tvayyastu me sthitiḥ

O Ganga, be before me; O Ganga, stand behind me. O Ganga, be at my two sides; O Ganga, let my abiding be in you.

Verse 156 (skanda.4.27.156)

आदौ त्वमंते मध्ये च सर्वं त्वं गां गते शिवे॥ त्वमेव मूलप्रकृतिस्त्वं पुमान्पर एव हि॥ गंगे त्वं परमात्मा च शिवस्वतुभ्यं नमः शिवे

ādau tvamaṁte madhye ca sarvaṁ tvaṁ gāṁ gate śive tvameva mūlaprakṛtistvaṁ pumānpara eva hi gaṁge tvaṁ paramātmā ca śivasvatubhyaṁ namaḥ śive

You are the beginning, the end, and the middle; you are everything, O Ganga, O auspicious one. You alone are the root Prakriti, you alone indeed are the Supreme Being. O Ganga, you are the Supreme Self, and Shiva's own nature; salutation to you, O auspicious one.

Verse 157 (skanda.4.27.157)

य इदं पठते स्तोत्रं शृणुयाच्छ्रद्धयापि यः॥ दशधा मुच्यते पापैः कायवाक्चित्तसंभवैः

ya idaṁ paṭhate stotraṁ śṛṇuyācchraddhayāpi yaḥ daśadhā mucyate pāpaiḥ kāyavākcittasaṁbhavaiḥ

Whoever recites this hymn, and whoever even hears it with faith, is freed from the tenfold sins arising from body, speech, and mind.

Verse 158 (skanda.4.27.158)

रोगस्थो रोगतो मुच्येद्विपद्भ्यश्च विपद्युतः॥ मुच्यते बंधनाद्बद्धो भीतो भीतः प्रमुच्यते

rogastho rogato mucyedvipadbhyaśca vipadyutaḥ mucyate baṁdhanādbaddho bhīto bhītaḥ pramucyate

One afflicted by disease is freed from disease; one beset by calamities is freed from calamities; one who is bound is freed from bondage; one who is afraid is freed from fear.

Verse 159 (skanda.4.27.159)

सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति प्रेत्य च त्रिदिवं व्रजेत्॥ दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य दिव्यस्त्रीपरिवीजितः

sarvānkāmānavāpnoti pretya ca tridivaṁ vrajet divyaṁ vimānamāruhya divyastrīparivījitaḥ

He obtains all his desires, and after death goes to heaven, mounted on a divine celestial car, fanned by divine women.

Verse 160 (skanda.4.27.160)

गृहेपि लिखितं यस्य सदा तिष्ठति धारितम॥ नाग्निचोरभयं तस्य न सर्पादि भयं क्वचित

gṛhepi likhitaṁ yasya sadā tiṣṭhati dhāritama nāgnicorabhayaṁ tasya na sarpādi bhayaṁ kvacita

For whoever keeps this hymn, written down, ever preserved in his home, there is no fear of fire or thieves for him, nor ever any fear of snakes and the like.

Verse 161 (skanda.4.27.161)

ज्येष्ठे मासे सिते पक्षे दशमी हस्तसंयुता॥ संहरेत्त्रिविधं पापं बुधवारेण संयुता

jyeṣṭhe māse site pakṣe daśamī hastasaṁyutā saṁharettrividhaṁ pāpaṁ budhavāreṇa saṁyutā

The tenth day of the bright fortnight of Jyeshtha, conjoined with the Hasta constellation, when it also falls on a Wednesday, destroys the threefold sin.

Verse 162 (skanda.4.27.162)

तस्यां दशम्यामेतच्च स्तोत्रं गंगाजले स्थितः॥ यः पठेद्दशकृत्वस्तु दरिद्रो वापि चाक्षमः॥ सोपि तत्फलमाप्नोति गंगां संपूज्य यत्नतः॥ पूर्वोक्तेन विधानेन यत्फलं संप्रकीर्तितम

tasyāṁ daśamyāmetacca stotraṁ gaṁgājale sthitaḥ yaḥ paṭheddaśakṛtvastu daridro vāpi cākṣamaḥ sopi tatphalamāpnoti gaṁgāṁ saṁpūjya yatnataḥ pūrvoktena vidhānena yatphalaṁ saṁprakīrtitama

On that tenth day, whoever, standing in the water of Ganga, recites this hymn ten times — even if he is poor, or unable to perform the fuller rite — he too obtains that fruit, by diligently worshipping Ganga; the very fruit declared through the previously described rite.

Verse 163 (skanda.4.27.163)

यथा गौरी तथा गंगा तस्माद्गौर्यास्तु पूजने॥ यो विधिर्विहितः सम्यक्सोपि गंगाप्रपूजने

yathā gaurī tathā gaṁgā tasmādgauryāstu pūjane yo vidhirvihitaḥ samyaksopi gaṁgāprapūjane

As is Gauri, so is Ganga; therefore whatever rite is properly prescribed for the worship of Gauri, that same rite applies also to the worship of Ganga.

Verse 164 (skanda.4.27.164)

यथाऽहं त्वं तथा विष्णो यथा त्वं तु तथाह्युमा॥ उमा यथा तथा गंगा चतूरूपं न भिद्यते

yathā'haṁ tvaṁ tathā viṣṇo yathā tvaṁ tu tathāhyumā umā yathā tathā gaṁgā catūrūpaṁ na bhidyate

As I am, so are you, O Vishnu; and as you are, so indeed is Uma; as Uma is, so is Ganga — this fourfold form is never to be divided.

Verse 165 (skanda.4.27.165)

विष्णुरुद्रां तरं चैव श्रीगौर्योरंतरं तथा॥ गंगागौर्यंतरं चैव यो ब्रूते मूढधीस्तु सः

viṣṇurudrāṁ taraṁ caiva śrīgauryoraṁtaraṁ tathā gaṁgāgauryaṁtaraṁ caiva yo brūte mūḍhadhīstu saḥ

Whoever speaks of a distinction between Vishnu and Rudra, or likewise of a distinction between Shri and Gauri, or of a distinction between Ganga and Gauri — he indeed is a fool.