The Story of Vahika: the Greatness of Ganga

Verse 1 (skanda.4.28.1)

उमोवाच॥ किंचित्प्रष्टुमना नाथ स्वसंदेहापनुत्तये॥ वद खेदो यदि न ते त्रिकालज्ञानकोविद

umovāca kiṁcitpraṣṭumanā nātha svasaṁdehāpanuttaye vada khedo yadi na te trikālajñānakovida

Uma said: 'My mind wishes to ask something, O Lord, to dispel my own doubt. Tell me, if it is no trouble for you, O one skilled in the knowledge of the three times.'

Verse 2 (skanda.4.28.2)

तदा भगीरथो राजा क्व क्व भागीरथी तदा॥ यदा विष्णुस्तपस्तेपे चक्रपुष्करिणी तटे

tadā bhagīratho rājā kva kva bhāgīrathī tadā yadā viṣṇustapastepe cakrapuṣkariṇī taṭe

'At that time when Vishnu performed his austerity on the bank of the Chakra-Pushkarini, where was King Bhagiratha, and where was the Bhagirathi then?'

Verse 3 (skanda.4.28.3)

॥ शिव उवाच॥ संदेहोऽत्र न कर्तव्यो विशालाक्षि सदामले॥ श्रुतौ स्मृतौ पुराणेषु कालत्रयमुदीर्यते

śiva uvāca saṁdeho'tra na kartavyo viśālākṣi sadāmale śrutau smṛtau purāṇeṣu kālatrayamudīryate

Shiva said: 'No doubt need be entertained here, O wide-eyed, ever-pure one; in the Shruti, the Smriti, and the Puranas, the three times — past, future, and present — are spoken of together.

Verse 4 (skanda.4.28.4)

भूतं भावि भवच्चापि संशयं मा वृथा कृथाः॥ इत्युक्त्वा पुनराहेशो गंगामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्

bhūtaṁ bhāvi bhavaccāpi saṁśayaṁ mā vṛthā kṛthāḥ ityuktvā punarāheśo gaṁgāmāhātmyamuttamam

Do not raise a doubt in vain.' Having said this, the Lord again spoke of the supreme greatness of Ganga.

Verse 5 (skanda.4.28.5)

॥ अगस्त्य उवाच॥ पार्वतीनंदन पुनर्द्युनद्याः परितो वद॥ महिमोक्तो हरौ यद्वद्देवदेवेन वै तदा

agastya uvāca pārvatīnaṁdana punardyunadyāḥ parito vada mahimokto harau yadvaddevadevena vai tadā

Agastya said: 'O son of Parvati, tell again, fully, of the celestial river — the greatness that was then declared by the God of Gods to Hari.'

Verse 6 (skanda.4.28.6)

स्कंद उवाच॥ मुनऽत्र मैत्रावरुणे यथा देवेन भाषितम्॥ शुणु त्रिपथगामिन्या माहात्म्यं पातकापहम्

skaṁda uvāca muna'tra maitrāvaruṇe yathā devena bhāṣitam śuṇu tripathagāminyā māhātmyaṁ pātakāpaham

Skanda said: 'O sage, here, just as it was spoken by the God to Agastya, son of Mitra and Varuna, listen to the sin-destroying greatness of the river of the three paths.'

Verse 7 (skanda.4.28.7)

त्रिस्रोतसं समासाद्य सकृत्पिंडान्ददाति यः॥ उद्धृताः पितरस्तेन भवांभोधेस्तिलोदकैः

trisrotasaṁ samāsādya sakṛtpiṁḍāndadāti yaḥ uddhṛtāḥ pitarastena bhavāṁbhodhestilodakaiḥ

'Whoever, having reached the three-streamed river, offers pinda-balls even once, by him his ancestors are delivered from the ocean of worldly existence through the sesame-water offering.'

Verse 8 (skanda.4.28.8)

यावंतश्च तिला मर्त्यैर्गृहीता पितृकर्मणि॥ तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि पितरः स्वर्गवासिनः

yāvaṁtaśca tilā martyairgṛhītā pitṛkarmaṇi tāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi pitaraḥ svargavāsinaḥ

'For as many sesame seeds as mortals take up in the ancestral rite, for that many thousand years the forefathers dwell in heaven.'

Verse 9 (skanda.4.28.9)

देवाः सपितरो यस्माद्गंगायां सर्वदा स्थिताः॥ आवाहनं विसर्गं च तेषां तत्र ततो नहि

devāḥ sapitaro yasmādgaṁgāyāṁ sarvadā sthitāḥ āvāhanaṁ visargaṁ ca teṣāṁ tatra tato nahi

'Since the gods, together with the ancestors, are ever present in Ganga, there is therefore no need of invoking or dismissing them there.'

Verse 10 (skanda.4.28.10)

पितृवंशे मृता ये च मातृवंशे तथैव च॥ गुरु श्वशुर बंधूनां ये चान्ये बांधवा मृताः॥ अजातदंता ये केचिद्ये च गर्भे प्रपीडिताः॥ अग्निविद्युच्चोरहता व्याघ्रदंष्ट्रिभिरेव च

pitṛvaṁśe mṛtā ye ca mātṛvaṁśe tathaiva ca guru śvaśura baṁdhūnāṁ ye cānye bāṁdhavā mṛtāḥ ajātadaṁtā ye kecidye ca garbhe prapīḍitāḥ agnividyuccorahatā vyāghradaṁṣṭribhireva ca

'Those who died in the paternal line, and likewise in the maternal line; those who died among the guru's, the father-in-law's, and other kinsmen's relations; those who died toothless as infants, those afflicted while still in the womb; those slain by fire, lightning, thieves, or by the fangs of tigers...

Verse 11 (skanda.4.28.11)

उद्बंधन मृता ये च पतिता आत्मघातकाः॥ आत्मविक्रयिणश्चोरा ये तथाऽयाज्ययाजकाः

udbaṁdhana mṛtā ye ca patitā ātmaghātakāḥ ātmavikrayiṇaścorā ye tathā'yājyayājakāḥ

...those who died by hanging, those who fell to their death, suicides, those who sold themselves into slavery, thieves, and those who officiated at sacrifices unfit to be performed...

Verse 12 (skanda.4.28.12)

रसविक्रयिणो ये च ये चान्ये पापरोगिणः॥ अग्निदा गरदाश्चैव गोघ्नाश्चैव स्ववंशजाः

rasavikrayiṇo ye ca ye cānye pāparogiṇaḥ agnidā garadāścaiva goghnāścaiva svavaṁśajāḥ

...those who traded in liquor, and other sinful, diseased ones; arsonists, poisoners, killers of cows, and those who killed their own kin...

Verse 13 (skanda.4.28.13)

असिपत्रवने ये च कुंभीपाके च ये गताः॥ रौरवेप्यंधतामिस्रे कालसूत्रे च ये गताः

asipatravane ye ca kuṁbhīpāke ca ye gatāḥ rauravepyaṁdhatāmisre kālasūtre ca ye gatāḥ

...those who have gone to the sword-leaf forest, to Kumbhipaka, to Raurava, to Andhatamisra, and to the hell called Kalasutra...

Verse 14 (skanda.4.28.14)

जात्यंतरसहस्रेषु भ्राम्यंते ये स्वकर्मभिः॥ ये तु पक्षिमृगादीनां कीटवृक्षादि वीरुधाम्

jātyaṁtarasahasreṣu bhrāmyaṁte ye svakarmabhiḥ ye tu pakṣimṛgādīnāṁ kīṭavṛkṣādi vīrudhām

...those who wander through a thousand other births because of their own deeds; and those who have entered the wombs of birds, beasts, insects, trees, and other kinds of plants...

Verse 15 (skanda.4.28.15)

योनिं गतास्त्वसंख्याताः संख्यातानामशोभनाः॥ प्रापिता यमलोकं तु सुघोरैर्यमकिंकरैः

yoniṁ gatāstvasaṁkhyātāḥ saṁkhyātānāmaśobhanāḥ prāpitā yamalokaṁ tu sughorairyamakiṁkaraiḥ

...uncounted wombs have entered — and even those of the countable human kind who are ill-fated, and have been brought to the world of Yama by his most terrible servants...

Verse 16 (skanda.4.28.16)

येऽबांधवा बांधवा वा येऽन्यजन्मनि बांधवाः॥ येपि चाज्ञातनामानो ये चापुत्राः स्वगोत्रजाः

ye'bāṁdhavā bāṁdhavā vā ye'nyajanmani bāṁdhavāḥ yepi cājñātanāmāno ye cāputrāḥ svagotrajāḥ

...whether kinless or kinsmen, whether kinsmen only in another birth; those whose very names are unknown, and those of one's own lineage who died without sons...

Verse 17 (skanda.4.28.17)

विषेण च मृता वै ये ये वै शृंगिभिराहताः॥ कृतघ्नाश्च गुरुघ्नाश्च ये च मित्रद्रुहस्तथा

viṣeṇa ca mṛtā vai ye ye vai śṛṁgibhirāhatāḥ kṛtaghnāśca gurughnāśca ye ca mitradruhastathā

...those who died by poison, those slain by horned beasts, the ungrateful, the killers of gurus, and likewise those who betrayed their friends...

Verse 18 (skanda.4.28.18)

स्त्री बालघातका ये च ये च विश्वासघातकाः॥ असत्यहिंसानिरता सदा पापरताश्च ये

strī bālaghātakā ye ca ye ca viśvāsaghātakāḥ asatyahiṁsāniratā sadā pāparatāśca ye

...killers of women and children, and betrayers of trust; those devoted to falsehood and violence, and those ever engaged in sin...

Verse 19 (skanda.4.28.19)

अश्वविक्रयिणो ये च परद्रव्यहराश्च ये॥ अनाथाः कृपणा दीना मानुष्यं प्राप्तुमक्षमाः॥ तर्पिता जाह्नवीतोयैर्नरेण विधिना सकृत्॥ प्रयांति स्वर्गतिं तेपि स्वर्गिणो मुक्तिमाप्नुयुः

aśvavikrayiṇo ye ca paradravyaharāśca ye anāthāḥ kṛpaṇā dīnā mānuṣyaṁ prāptumakṣamāḥ tarpitā jāhnavītoyairnareṇa vidhinā sakṛt prayāṁti svargatiṁ tepi svargiṇo muktimāpnuyuḥ

...horse-traders, and stealers of others' wealth; the helpless, the wretched, the destitute, unable ever to attain a human birth — all of these, when a man offers them satisfaction with the waters of the Jahnavi even once, according to rite, go to the state of heaven; and, being in heaven, they attain liberation.

Verse 20 (skanda.4.28.20)

एतान्मंत्रान्समुच्चार्य यः कुर्यात्पितृतर्पणम्॥ श्राद्धं पिंडप्रदानं च स विधिज्ञ इहोच्यते

etānmaṁtrānsamuccārya yaḥ kuryātpitṛtarpaṇam śrāddhaṁ piṁḍapradānaṁ ca sa vidhijña ihocyate

'Whoever, reciting these mantras, performs tarpana for the ancestors, the shraddha rite, and the offering of pinda, is here called one who knows the proper rite.'

Verse 21 (skanda.4.28.21)

कामप्रदानि तीर्थानि त्रैलोक्ये यानि कानिचित्॥ तानि सर्वाणि सेवंते काश्यामुत्तरवाहिनीम्

kāmapradāni tīrthāni trailokye yāni kānicit tāni sarvāṇi sevaṁte kāśyāmuttaravāhinīm

'Whatever desire-fulfilling tirthas there are in the three worlds, all of them come to serve the Ganga in her northward course at Kashi.'

Verse 22 (skanda.4.28.22)

स्वःसिंधुः सर्वतः पुण्या ब्रह्महत्यापहारिणी॥ काश्यां विशेषतो विष्णो यत्र चोत्तरवाहिनी

svaḥsiṁdhuḥ sarvataḥ puṇyā brahmahatyāpahāriṇī kāśyāṁ viśeṣato viṣṇo yatra cottaravāhinī

'The river of heaven is meritorious everywhere, O Vishnu, the remover of the sin of killing a brahmin — but especially in Kashi, where she flows northward.'

Verse 23 (skanda.4.28.23)

गायंति गाथामेतां वै दैवर्षिपितरोगणाः॥ अपि दृग्गोचरा नः स्यात्काश्यामुत्तरवाहिनी

gāyaṁti gāthāmetāṁ vai daivarṣipitarogaṇāḥ api dṛggocarā naḥ syātkāśyāmuttaravāhinī

'The divine seers and the hosts of ancestors indeed sing this refrain: "Might that northward-flowing Ganga at Kashi come within the range of our sight?"'

Verse 24 (skanda.4.28.24)

यत्रत्यामृतसंतृप्तास्तापत्रितयवर्जिताः॥ स्याम त्वमृतमेवाद्धा विश्वनाथप्रसादतः

yatratyāmṛtasaṁtṛptāstāpatritayavarjitāḥ syāma tvamṛtamevāddhā viśvanāthaprasādataḥ

'"There, satisfied by the nectar of that place, freed from the threefold affliction, may we truly become nectar itself, through the grace of Vishvanatha."'

Verse 25 (skanda.4.28.25)

गंगैव केवला मुक्त्यै निर्णीता परितो हरे॥ अविमुक्ते विशेषेण ममाधिष्ठानगौरवात्

gaṁgaiva kevalā muktyai nirṇītā parito hare avimukte viśeṣeṇa mamādhiṣṭhānagauravāt

'Ganga alone, O Hari, has been fully established as the cause of liberation everywhere, and especially so in Avimukta, owing to the greatness of my presence there.'

Verse 26 (skanda.4.28.26)

ज्ञात्वा कलियुगं घोरं गंगाभक्तिः सुगोपिता॥ न विंदतिं जना गंगां मुक्तिमागैर्कदायिकाम्

jñātvā kaliyugaṁ ghoraṁ gaṁgābhaktiḥ sugopitā na viṁdatiṁ janā gaṁgāṁ muktimāgairkadāyikām

'Knowing that the terrible Kali age would come, devotion to Ganga has been closely guarded; in the Kali age, people do not easily find Ganga, the giver of liberation.'

Verse 27 (skanda.4.28.27)

अनेकजन्मनियुतं भ्राम्यमाणस्तु योनिषु॥ निर्वृतिं प्राप्नुयात्कोत्र जाह्नवीभजनं विना

anekajanmaniyutaṁ bhrāmyamāṇastu yoniṣu nirvṛtiṁ prāpnuyātkotra jāhnavībhajanaṁ vinā

'Wandering bound through countless births in various wombs, who indeed could attain final release, without devotion to the Jahnavi?'

Verse 28 (skanda.4.28.28)

नराणामल्पबुद्धीनामेनो विक्षिप्तचेतसाम्॥ गंगेव परमं विष्णो भेषजं भवरोगिणाम्॥ खंडस्फुटितसंस्कारं गंगातीरे करोति यः॥ मम लोके चिरं कालं तस्याक्षय सुखं हरे

narāṇāmalpabuddhīnāmeno vikṣiptacetasām gaṁgeva paramaṁ viṣṇo bheṣajaṁ bhavarogiṇām khaṁḍasphuṭitasaṁskāraṁ gaṁgātīre karoti yaḥ mama loke ciraṁ kālaṁ tasyākṣaya sukhaṁ hare

'For men of little wisdom, whose minds are scattered by sin, Ganga alone, O Vishnu, is the supreme medicine for those diseased with worldly existence. Whoever performs even a broken, incomplete rite on the bank of Ganga — for him, O Hari, there is imperishable happiness in my world for a very long time.'

Verse 29 (skanda.4.28.29)

गंतुमुद्दिश्य यो गंगां परार्थस्वार्थमेव वा॥ न गच्छति परं मोहात्स पतेत्पितृभिः सह

gaṁtumuddiśya yo gaṁgāṁ parārthasvārthameva vā na gacchati paraṁ mohātsa patetpitṛbhiḥ saha

'Whoever, intending to go to Ganga — whether for another's sake or his own — does not go, out of sheer delusion, falls into ruin together with his ancestors.'

Verse 30 (skanda.4.28.30)

सर्वाणि येषां गांगेयैस्तोयैः कृत्यानि देहिनाम्॥ भूमिस्था अपि ते मर्त्या अमर्त्या एव वै हरे

sarvāṇi yeṣāṁ gāṁgeyaistoyaiḥ kṛtyāni dehinām bhūmisthā api te martyā amartyā eva vai hare

'Those embodied beings, O Hari, whose every rite is performed with the waters of Ganga — even while they stand upon the earth, they are mortals in name only; they are indeed immortals.'

Verse 31 (skanda.4.28.31)

चरमेपि वयोभागे स्वःसिंधुं यो निषेवते॥ कृत्वाप्येनांसि बहुशः सोपि यायाच्छुभां गतिम्

caramepi vayobhāge svaḥsiṁdhuṁ yo niṣevate kṛtvāpyenāṁsi bahuśaḥ sopi yāyācchubhāṁ gatim

'Even one who resorts to the celestial river only in the final portion of his life — even though he has committed many sins — he too attains an auspicious destiny.'

Verse 32 (skanda.4.28.32)

यावदस्थि मनुष्याणां गंगातोयेषु तिष्ठति॥ तावदब्दसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते

yāvadasthi manuṣyāṇāṁ gaṁgātoyeṣu tiṣṭhati tāvadabdasahasrāṇi svargaloke mahīyate

'For as long as a person's bones remain in the waters of Ganga, for that many thousand years he is honored in the world of heaven.'

Verse 33 (skanda.4.28.33)

विष्णुरुवाच॥ देवदेवजगन्नाथ जगतां हितकृत्प्रभो॥ कीकसं चेत्पतेद्दैवाद्दुर्वृत्तस्य दुरात्मनः

viṣṇuruvāca devadevajagannātha jagatāṁ hitakṛtprabho kīkasaṁ cetpateddaivāddurvṛttasya durātmanaḥ

Vishnu said: 'O God of gods, Lord of the world, O Lord who works the welfare of all beings — if, by chance, a bone of one of evil conduct, an evil soul...

Verse 34 (skanda.4.28.34)

जले द्युनद्या निष्पापे कथं तस्य परा गतिः॥ अपमृत्यु विपन्नस्य तदीश विनिवेद्यताम्

jale dyunadyā niṣpāpe kathaṁ tasya parā gatiḥ apamṛtyu vipannasya tadīśa vinivedyatām

...should fall into the sinless water of the celestial river, how does he attain the supreme destiny — one who died an untimely death? Please, O Lord, explain this to me.'

Verse 35 (skanda.4.28.35)

॥ महेश्वर उवाच॥ अत्रार्थे कथयिष्यामि पुरावृत्तमधोक्षज॥ शृणुष्वैकमना विष्णो वाहीकस्य द्विजन्मनः

maheśvara uvāca atrārthe kathayiṣyāmi purāvṛttamadhokṣaja śṛṇuṣvaikamanā viṣṇo vāhīkasya dvijanmanaḥ

Maheshvara said: 'On this matter, O Adhokshaja, I shall tell an old story; listen with a single mind, O Vishnu, to the story of the twice-born Vahika.'

Verse 36 (skanda.4.28.36)

पुरा कलिंगविषये द्विजो लवणविक्रयी॥ संध्यास्नानविहीनश्च वेदाक्षरविवर्जितः

purā kaliṁgaviṣaye dvijo lavaṇavikrayī saṁdhyāsnānavihīnaśca vedākṣaravivarjitaḥ

'Formerly, in the region of Kalinga, there was a brahmin who traded in salt, who never performed the twilight rites or bathed, and who was devoid of even a syllable of the Veda.'

Verse 37 (skanda.4.28.37)

वाहीको नामतो यज्ञसूत्रमात्रपरिग्रहः॥ परिग्रहश्च तस्यासीत्कौविंदी विधवा नवा॥ दुर्भिक्षपीडितेनाथ वृषलीपतिना विना॥ प्राणाधारं तदा तेन देशाद्देशांतरं ययौ

vāhīko nāmato yajñasūtramātraparigrahaḥ parigrahaśca tasyāsītkauviṁdī vidhavā navā durbhikṣapīḍitenātha vṛṣalīpatinā vinā prāṇādhāraṁ tadā tena deśāddeśāṁtaraṁ yayau

'Named Vahika, a brahmin merely by the possession of the sacred thread; and his wife was Kaubindi, a young widow. Oppressed by famine, this husband of an outcaste woman then wandered with her from land to land, in order to sustain their very lives.'

Verse 38 (skanda.4.28.38)

मध्येऽथ दंडकारण्यं क्षुत्क्षामः संगवर्जितः॥ व्याघ्रेण घातितस्तत्र नरमांसप्रियेण सः

madhye'tha daṁḍakāraṇyaṁ kṣutkṣāmaḥ saṁgavarjitaḥ vyāghreṇa ghātitastatra naramāṁsapriyeṇa saḥ

'In the midst of the Dandaka forest, emaciated with hunger, separated from his companions, he was there slain by a tiger fond of human flesh.'

Verse 39 (skanda.4.28.39)

तस्य वामपदं गृध्रो गृहीत्वोदपतत्ततः॥ मांसाशिनाऽन्य गृध्रेण तस्य युद्धमभूद्दिवि

tasya vāmapadaṁ gṛdhro gṛhītvodapatattataḥ māṁsāśinā'nya gṛdhreṇa tasya yuddhamabhūddivi

'A vulture, seizing his left foot, flew up with it from there; and a battle arose in the sky between it and another flesh-eating vulture over it.'

Verse 40 (skanda.4.28.40)

गृध्रयोरामिषं गृध्न्वोः परस्परजयैषिणोः॥ अवापतत्पादगुल्फं कंकचंचुपुटात्तदा

gṛdhrayorāmiṣaṁ gṛdhnvoḥ parasparajayaiṣiṇoḥ avāpatatpādagulphaṁ kaṁkacaṁcupuṭāttadā

'As the two vultures, each greedy for the flesh and seeking to overpower the other, fought — then the ankle-foot fell from the grip of the beak.'

Verse 41 (skanda.4.28.41)

तस्य वाहीक विप्रस्य व्याघ्रव्यापादितस्य ह॥ मध्ये गंगं दैवयोगादपतद्द्वंद्वकारिणोः

tasya vāhīka viprasya vyāghravyāpāditasya ha madhye gaṁgaṁ daivayogādapataddvaṁdvakāriṇoḥ

'That foot of Vahika, the brahmin slain by the tiger, fell by chance of fate into the middle of the Ganga, dropped by the two combatants.'

Verse 42 (skanda.4.28.42)

यदैव हतवान्द्वीपी तं वाहीकमरण्यगम्॥ तस्मिन्नेव क्षणे बद्धः स पाशैः क्रूरकिंकरैः

yadaiva hatavāndvīpī taṁ vāhīkamaraṇyagam tasminneva kṣaṇe baddhaḥ sa pāśaiḥ krūrakiṁkaraiḥ

'At the very moment the tiger killed that Vahika in the forest, at that same instant he was bound with nooses by Yama's cruel servants.'

Verse 43 (skanda.4.28.43)

कशाभिर्घातितोत्यंतमाराभिः परितोदितः॥ वमन्रुधिरमास्येन नीतस्तैः स यमाग्रतः

kaśābhirghātitotyaṁtamārābhiḥ paritoditaḥ vamanrudhiramāsyena nītastaiḥ sa yamāgrataḥ

'Beaten severely with whips, goaded on every side with pointed goads, vomiting blood from his mouth, he was led by them before Yama.'

Verse 44 (skanda.4.28.44)

आपृच्छि धर्मराजेन चित्रगुप्तोथ मापते॥ धर्माधर्मं विचार्यास्य कथयाशु द्विजन्मनः

āpṛcchi dharmarājena citraguptotha māpate dharmādharmaṁ vicāryāsya kathayāśu dvijanmanaḥ

'Then the King of Dharma questioned Chitragupta: "O keeper of the register, having examined the merit and demerit of this twice-born one, tell me quickly."'

Verse 45 (skanda.4.28.45)

वैवस्वतेन पृष्टोथ चित्रगुप्तो विचित्रधीः॥ सर्वदा सर्वजंतूनां वेदिता सर्वकर्मणाम्

vaivasvatena pṛṣṭotha citragupto vicitradhīḥ sarvadā sarvajaṁtūnāṁ veditā sarvakarmaṇām

'Questioned thus by Vaivasvata, Chitragupta, of many-faceted wisdom — ever the knower of all deeds of all creatures...

Verse 46 (skanda.4.28.46)

जगाद यमुनाबंधुं वाहीकस्य द्विजन्मनः॥ जन्मकर्मदिनारभ्य दुर्वृत्तस्य शुभेतरम्॥ चित्रगुप्त उवाच॥ गर्भाधानादिकं कर्म प्राक्कृतं नास्य केनचित्॥ जातकर्मकृतं नास्य पित्राऽज्ञानवता हरे

jagāda yamunābaṁdhuṁ vāhīkasya dvijanmanaḥ janmakarmadinārabhya durvṛttasya śubhetaram citragupta uvāca garbhādhānādikaṁ karma prākkṛtaṁ nāsya kenacit jātakarmakṛtaṁ nāsya pitrā'jñānavatā hare

...spoke to the brother of Yamuna of the ill fortune of the evil-conducted twice-born Vahika, from the very day of his birth-rite onward. Chitragupta said: 'O Hari, the rite of Garbhadhana and the like was never performed for him by anyone beforehand; the Jatakarma rite was not performed for him either, his father being ignorant of such duties.'

Verse 47 (skanda.4.28.47)

गर्भैनः शमने हेतुः समस्तायुः सुखप्रदम्॥ एकादशेह्नि नामास्य न कृतं विधिपूर्वकम्

garbhainaḥ śamane hetuḥ samastāyuḥ sukhapradam ekādaśehni nāmāsya na kṛtaṁ vidhipūrvakam

'The rite that removes the sin of the womb and grants happiness for a whole lifetime — his naming ceremony, too, was not performed on the eleventh day according to rite.'

Verse 48 (skanda.4.28.48)

ख्यातः स्याद्येन विधिना सर्वत्र विधिपावनम्॥ नाकार्षीन्निर्गमं चास्य चतुर्थे मासि मंदधीः

khyātaḥ syādyena vidhinā sarvatra vidhipāvanam nākārṣīnnirgamaṁ cāsya caturthe māsi maṁdadhīḥ

'By that rite one becomes known everywhere as duly purified — and his dull-witted father did not perform his first outing ceremony in the fourth month either.'

Verse 49 (skanda.4.28.49)

जनकः शुभतिथ्यादौ विदेशगमनापहम्॥ षष्ठेऽन्नप्राशनंमासि न कृतं विधिपूर्वकम्

janakaḥ śubhatithyādau videśagamanāpaham ṣaṣṭhe'nnaprāśanaṁmāsi na kṛtaṁ vidhipūrvakam

'His father did not perform, on an auspicious day, the rite that wards off misfortune in travel to foreign lands; and the Annaprashana rite in the sixth month was not performed according to rite either.'

Verse 50 (skanda.4.28.50)

सर्वदा मिष्टमश्नाति कर्मणा येन भास्करे॥ न चूडाकरणं चास्य कृतमब्दे यथाकुलम्

sarvadā miṣṭamaśnāti karmaṇā yena bhāskare na cūḍākaraṇaṁ cāsya kṛtamabde yathākulam

'The rite by which one always eats sweet food in the sun's presence, and which by family custom should occur in the first year — his tonsure ceremony, too, was never performed.'

Verse 51 (skanda.4.28.51)

कर्मणा येन केशाः स्युः स्निग्धाः कुसुमवर्षिणः॥ नाकारि कर्णवेधोस्य जनित्रा समये शुभे

karmaṇā yena keśāḥ syuḥ snigdhāḥ kusumavarṣiṇaḥ nākāri karṇavedhosya janitrā samaye śubhe

'The rite by which the hair becomes glossy, as if raining flowers — his ear-piercing, too, was not performed by his father at the auspicious time.'

Verse 52 (skanda.4.28.52)

सुवर्णग्राहिणौ येन कर्णौ स्यातां च सुश्रुती॥ मौंजीबंधोप्यभूदस्य व्यतीतेब्देऽष्टमे हरे॥ ब्रह्मचर्याभिवृद्ध्यै यो ब्रह्मग्रहणहेतुकः

suvarṇagrāhiṇau yena karṇau syātāṁ ca suśrutī mauṁjībaṁdhopyabhūdasya vyatītebde'ṣṭame hare brahmacaryābhivṛddhyai yo brahmagrahaṇahetukaḥ

'The rite by which the ears become fit to wear gold and to hear well — O Hari, even his sacred-thread investiture, the very cause of taking up the Veda for the increase of celibacy, happened only after the eighth year had passed.'

Verse 53 (skanda.4.28.53)

मौंजीमोक्षणवार्तापि कृता नास्य जनुःकृता॥ गार्हस्थ्यं प्राप्यते यस्मात्कर्मणोऽनंतरं वरम्

mauṁjīmokṣaṇavārtāpi kṛtā nāsya januḥkṛtā gārhasthyaṁ prāpyate yasmātkarmaṇo'naṁtaraṁ varam

'The rite immediately after which the excellent state of the householder is attained — even the matter of releasing the Munja-girdle was never so much as mentioned for him, from his very birth.'

Verse 54 (skanda.4.28.54)

यथाकथंचिदूढाऽथ पत्नी त्यक्तकुलाध्वगा॥ वृषलीपतिना तेन परदारापहारिणा

yathākathaṁcidūḍhā'tha patnī tyaktakulādhvagā vṛṣalīpatinā tena paradārāpahāriṇā

'Then, somehow, a wife was married by him — one who had abandoned the path of her own family — by that husband of an outcaste woman, an abductor of another's wife.'

Verse 55 (skanda.4.28.55)

आरभ्य पंचमाद्वर्षात्परस्वस्यापहारकः॥ अभूदेष दुराचारो दुरोदरपरायणः॥ रुमायां वसताऽनेन हतागौरेकवार्षिकी॥ एकदा दृढदंडेन लिहंती लवणं मृता

ārabhya paṁcamādvarṣātparasvasyāpahārakaḥ abhūdeṣa durācāro durodaraparāyaṇaḥ rumāyāṁ vasatā'nena hatāgaurekavārṣikī ekadā dṛḍhadaṁḍena lihaṁtī lavaṇaṁ mṛtā

'From his fifth year onward, this ill-conducted one became a thief of others' property, devoted to gambling. While dwelling at Ruma, he killed a one-year-old cow; once, while it was licking salt, it died from a hard blow of his staff.'

Verse 56 (skanda.4.28.56)

जननीं पादपातेन बहुशोऽसावताडयत्॥ कदाचिदपि नो वाक्यं पितुः कृतमनेन वै

jananīṁ pādapātena bahuśo'sāvatāḍayat kadācidapi no vākyaṁ pituḥ kṛtamanena vai

'He struck his own mother with kicks many times; and never even once did he obey the word of his father.'

Verse 57 (skanda.4.28.57)

विषं भक्षितवानेष बहुशः कलहप्रियः॥ जनोपतापशीलोसौ कृतोदरविदारणः

viṣaṁ bhakṣitavāneṣa bahuśaḥ kalahapriyaḥ janopatāpaśīlosau kṛtodaravidāraṇaḥ

'This lover of quarrels ate poison many times; devoted to tormenting people, he practiced cutting open bellies.'

Verse 58 (skanda.4.28.58)

धत्तूरकरवीरादि बहुधोपविषाणि च॥ क्रीडाकलहमात्रेण भक्षयच्चैष दुर्मतिः

dhattūrakaravīrādi bahudhopaviṣāṇi ca krīḍākalahamātreṇa bhakṣayaccaiṣa durmatiḥ

'And this evil-minded one, merely for sport or in quarrels, would consume datura, oleander, and many other minor poisons.'

Verse 59 (skanda.4.28.59)

दग्धोसावग्निना सौरे श्वभिश्च कवलीकृतः॥ शृंगिभिः परितः प्रोतो विषाणाग्रैरसौ बहु

dagdhosāvagninā saure śvabhiśca kavalīkṛtaḥ śṛṁgibhiḥ paritaḥ proto viṣāṇāgrairasau bahu

'He was burnt by fire in the sun's heat, savaged by dogs, and gored on every side, repeatedly, by the horn-tips of horned beasts.'

Verse 60 (skanda.4.28.60)

दंदशूकैर्भृशं दष्टो दुष्टः शिष्टैर्विगर्हितः॥ काष्ठेष्टलोष्टैः पापिष्ठः कृतानिष्टः सदात्मनः

daṁdaśūkairbhṛśaṁ daṣṭo duṣṭaḥ śiṣṭairvigarhitaḥ kāṣṭheṣṭaloṣṭaiḥ pāpiṣṭhaḥ kṛtāniṣṭaḥ sadātmanaḥ

'That wicked one, censured by the virtuous, was severely bitten by venomous snakes; that most sinful one, with wood, bricks, and clods, ever brought harm upon himself.'

Verse 61 (skanda.4.28.61)

आस्फालितं शिरोनेनासकृच्चापि दुरात्मना॥ यदर्च्यते सदा सद्भिरुत्तमांगमनेकधा

āsphālitaṁ śironenāsakṛccāpi durātmanā yadarcyate sadā sadbhiruttamāṁgamanekadhā

'That evil soul repeatedly struck his own head against things — the very head that the virtuous always worship in so many ways as the highest of the limbs.'

Verse 62 (skanda.4.28.62)

असौ हि ब्राह्मणो मंदो गायत्रीमपिवेदन॥ कामतो मत्स्यमांसानि जग्धान्येतेन दुर्धिया

asau hi brāhmaṇo maṁdo gāyatrīmapivedana kāmato matsyamāṁsāni jagdhānyetena durdhiyā

'This dull-witted brahmin, though not even knowing the Gayatri, out of mere desire and with an evil mind, ate fish and flesh.'

Verse 63 (skanda.4.28.63)

आत्मार्थं पायसमसौ पर्यपाक्षीदनेकधा॥ लाक्षालवणमांसानां सपयोदधिसर्पिषाम्

ātmārthaṁ pāyasamasau paryapākṣīdanekadhā lākṣālavaṇamāṁsānāṁ sapayodadhisarpiṣām

'For his own sake, he cooked sweet rice-pudding many times over; and he traded in lac, salt, meat, together with milk, curd, and ghee...'

Verse 64 (skanda.4.28.64)

विषलोहायुधानां च दासीगोवाजिनामपि॥ विक्रेताऽसौ सदा मूढस्तथा वै केशचर्मणाम्॥ शूद्रान्न परिपुष्टांगः पर्वण्यहनि मैथुनी॥ पराङ्मुखो दैवपित्र्यकर्मण्येष दुरात्मवान्

viṣalohāyudhānāṁ ca dāsīgovājināmapi vikretā'sau sadā mūḍhastathā vai keśacarmaṇām śūdrānna paripuṣṭāṁgaḥ parvaṇyahani maithunī parāṅmukho daivapitryakarmaṇyeṣa durātmavān

'...and this ever-foolish one traded in poison, iron weapons, female slaves, cows and horses, and likewise in hair and hides. Nourished in body on food fit only for shudras, indulging in intercourse even on sacred days, this evil soul turned his back on the rites owed to gods and ancestors.'

Verse 65 (skanda.4.28.65)

पक्षिणो घातितानेन मृगाश्चापि परः शतम्॥ अकारण द्रुमच्छेदी सदा निर्दयमानसः

pakṣiṇo ghātitānena mṛgāścāpi paraḥ śatam akāraṇa drumacchedī sadā nirdayamānasaḥ

'By him birds were slain, and deer too, more than a hundred; he cut down trees without cause, ever cruel of mind.'

Verse 66 (skanda.4.28.66)

उद्वेगजनको नित्यं निजबंधुजनेष्वपि॥ असत्यवादी सततं सदा हिंसापरायणः

udvegajanako nityaṁ nijabaṁdhujaneṣvapi asatyavādī satataṁ sadā hiṁsāparāyaṇaḥ

'He was a constant cause of distress even to his own kinsfolk; he was forever a speaker of falsehood, ever devoted to violence.'

Verse 67 (skanda.4.28.67)

अदत्तदानः पिशुनः शिश्नोदरपरायणः॥ किं बहूक्तेन रविज साक्षात्पातक मूर्तिमान्

adattadānaḥ piśunaḥ śiśnodaraparāyaṇaḥ kiṁ bahūktena ravija sākṣātpātaka mūrtimān

'He never gave gifts, was a slanderer, given over to lust and gluttony — what use is much speech, O son of the Sun? He was, in visible form, sin itself embodied.'

Verse 68 (skanda.4.28.68)

रौरवेप्यंधतामिस्रे कुंभीपाकेऽतिरौरवे॥ कालसूत्रे कृमिभुजि पूयशोणितकर्दमे

rauravepyaṁdhatāmisre kuṁbhīpāke'tiraurave kālasūtre kṛmibhuji pūyaśoṇitakardame

'"In Raurava, in Andhatamisra, in Kumbhipaka, in Atiraurava, in Kalasutra, in Krimibhuji, in the mire of pus and blood...

Verse 69 (skanda.4.28.69)

असिपत्रवने घोरे यंत्रपीडे सुदंष्ट्रके॥ अधोमुखे पूतिगंधे विष्ठागर्त्तेष्वभोजने

asipatravane ghore yaṁtrapīḍe sudaṁṣṭrake adhomukhe pūtigaṁdhe viṣṭhāgartteṣvabhojane

...in the terrible sword-leaf forest, in Yantrapida, in Sudamshtraka, in Adhomukha, in the foul-smelling pit of excrement, in the hell of no food...

Verse 70 (skanda.4.28.70)

सूचीभेद्येऽथ संदंशे लालापे क्षुरधारके॥ प्रत्येकं नरके त्वेष पात्यतां कल्पसंख्यया

sūcībhedye'tha saṁdaṁśe lālāpe kṣuradhārake pratyekaṁ narake tveṣa pātyatāṁ kalpasaṁkhyayā

...and in Suchibhedya, Sandamsha, Lalapa, and Kshuradharaka — let him be cast into each of these hells for as many world-ages as are appointed."'

Verse 71 (skanda.4.28.71)

धर्मराजः समाकर्ण्य चित्रगुप्तमुखादिति॥ निर्भर्त्स्य तं दुराचारं किंकरानादिदेश ह

dharmarājaḥ samākarṇya citraguptamukhāditi nirbhartsya taṁ durācāraṁ kiṁkarānādideśa ha

'Hearing this from the mouth of Chitragupta, the King of Dharma, rebuking that ill-conducted one, then commanded his servants.'

Verse 72 (skanda.4.28.72)

भ्रू संज्ञया हृतैर्नीतः स बद्ध्वा निरयालयम्॥ आक्रंदरावो यत्रोच्चैः पापिनां रोमहर्षणः

bhrū saṁjñayā hṛtairnītaḥ sa baddhvā nirayālayam ākraṁdarāvo yatroccaiḥ pāpināṁ romaharṣaṇaḥ

'Seized by servants at a mere sign of the eyebrow, he was bound and led away to the abode of hell, where the loud wailing of sinners makes the hair stand on end.'

Verse 73 (skanda.4.28.73)

॥ ईश्वर उवाच॥ यातनास्वतितीव्रासु वाहीके संस्थिते तदा॥ तत्कालपुण्यफलदे गाङ्गेयांभसि निर्मले॥ पतितं तद्धि गृध्रास्याद्वाहीकस्य द्विजन्मनः॥ हरे विमानं तत्कालमापन्नं सुरसद्मतः

īśvara uvāca yātanāsvatitīvrāsu vāhīke saṁsthite tadā tatkālapuṇyaphalade gāṅgeyāṁbhasi nirmale patitaṁ taddhi gṛdhrāsyādvāhīkasya dvijanmanaḥ hare vimānaṁ tatkālamāpannaṁ surasadmataḥ

Ishvara said: 'While Vahika thus remained amid those most severe torments, that foot of the twice-born Vahika fell, from the vulture's beak, into the pure waters of the Ganga, which grants its fruit at that very instant. O Hari, at that same moment a celestial car arrived from the abode of the gods.'

Verse 74 (skanda.4.28.74)

घंटावलंबितं दिव्यं दिव्यस्त्रीशतसंकुलम्॥ आरुह्य देवयानं स दिव्यवेषधरो द्विजः

ghaṁṭāvalaṁbitaṁ divyaṁ divyastrīśatasaṁkulam āruhya devayānaṁ sa divyaveṣadharo dvijaḥ

'Hung with bells, divine, thronged with a hundred celestial women; mounting that divine chariot, that brahmin, now clad in divine raiment...'

Verse 75 (skanda.4.28.75)

वीज्यमानोऽप्सरोवृंदैर्दिव्यगंधानुलेपनः॥ जगाम स्वर्गभुवनं गंगास्थिपतनाद्धरे

vījyamāno'psarovṛṁdairdivyagaṁdhānulepanaḥ jagāma svargabhuvanaṁ gaṁgāsthipatanāddhare

'...fanned by hosts of Apsarases, anointed with divine fragrance, went to the realm of heaven, O Hari, merely from the falling of his bone into Ganga.'

Verse 76 (skanda.4.28.76)

स्कंद उवाच॥ वस्तुशक्तिविचारोयमद्भुतः कोपि कुंभज॥ द्रवरूपेण काप्येषा शक्तिः सादाशिवी परा

skaṁda uvāca vastuśaktivicāroyamadbhutaḥ kopi kuṁbhaja dravarūpeṇa kāpyeṣā śaktiḥ sādāśivī parā

Skanda said: 'This reflection on the power inherent in a thing is a wondrous one indeed, O jar-born one; this Shakti, of the supreme nature of Sadashiva, exists here in the form of a fluid.'

Verse 77 (skanda.4.28.77)

करुणामृतपूर्णेन देवदेवेन शंभुना॥ एषा प्रवर्तिता गंगा जगदुद्धरणाय वै

karuṇāmṛtapūrṇena devadevena śaṁbhunā eṣā pravartitā gaṁgā jagaduddharaṇāya vai

'This Ganga was set flowing by Shambhu, the God of Gods, full of the nectar of compassion, precisely for the deliverance of the world.'

Verse 78 (skanda.4.28.78)

यथान्याः सरितो लोके वारिपूर्णाः सहस्रशः॥ तथैषानानुमंतव्या सद्भिस्त्रिपथगामिनी

yathānyāḥ sarito loke vāripūrṇāḥ sahasraśaḥ tathaiṣānānumaṁtavyā sadbhistripathagāminī

'Just as there are thousands of other water-filled rivers in the world, this river of the three paths is not to be regarded in the same way by the wise.'

Verse 79 (skanda.4.28.79)

श्रुत्यक्षराणि निश्चित्य कारुण्याच्छंभुना मुने॥ निर्मिता तद्द्रवैरेषा गंगा गंगाधरेण वै

śrutyakṣarāṇi niścitya kāruṇyācchaṁbhunā mune nirmitā taddravaireṣā gaṁgā gaṁgādhareṇa vai

'Having determined the very syllables of the Shruti, O sage, this Ganga was indeed fashioned, out of compassion, by Shambhu, the bearer of Ganga, from their essential fluid.'

Verse 80 (skanda.4.28.80)

योगोपनिषदामेतं सारमाकृष्य शंकरः॥ कृपया सर्वजंतूनां चकार सरितां वराम्

yogopaniṣadāmetaṁ sāramākṛṣya śaṁkaraḥ kṛpayā sarvajaṁtūnāṁ cakāra saritāṁ varām

'Drawing out this very essence of the Yoga-Upanishads, Shankara, out of compassion for all creatures, made her the best of rivers.'

Verse 81 (skanda.4.28.81)

अकलानिधयो रात्र्यो विपुष्पाश्चैव पादपाः॥ यथा तथैव ते देशा यत्र नास्त्यमरापगा

akalānidhayo rātryo vipuṣpāścaiva pādapāḥ yathā tathaiva te deśā yatra nāstyamarāpagā

'As nights without the moon, and trees without flowers — so indeed are those lands where the celestial river does not flow.'

Verse 82 (skanda.4.28.82)

अनयाः संपदो यद्वन्मखा यद्वददक्षिणाः॥ तद्वद्देशा दिशः सर्वा हीना गंगांभसा हरे॥ व्योमांगणमनर्कं च नक्तेऽदीपं यथा गृहम॥ अवेदा ब्राह्मणा यद्वद्गंगाहीनास्तथा दिशः

anayāḥ saṁpado yadvanmakhā yadvadadakṣiṇāḥ tadvaddeśā diśaḥ sarvā hīnā gaṁgāṁbhasā hare vyomāṁgaṇamanarkaṁ ca nakte'dīpaṁ yathā gṛhama avedā brāhmaṇā yadvadgaṁgāhīnāstathā diśaḥ

'As riches gained wrongfully, as a sacrifice without its fee — so, O Hari, are all lands and regions devoid of Ganga's water. As a sky without a sun, and a house without a lamp at night; as brahmins without the Veda — so are the regions without Ganga.'

Verse 83 (skanda.4.28.83)

चांद्रायणसहस्रं तु यः कुर्याद्देहशोधनम्॥ गंगामृतं पिबेद्यस्तु तयोर्गंगाबुपोऽधिकः

cāṁdrāyaṇasahasraṁ tu yaḥ kuryāddehaśodhanam gaṁgāmṛtaṁ pibedyastu tayorgaṁgābupo'dhikaḥ

'Whoever performs a thousand Chandrayana penances for the purification of the body, and whoever drinks the nectar of Ganga — of the two, the drinker of Ganga's water is greater.'

Verse 84 (skanda.4.28.84)

पादेनैकेन यस्तिष्ठेत्सहस्रं शरदां शतम्॥ अब्दं गंगांबुपो यस्तु तयोर्गंगांबुपोऽधिकः

pādenaikena yastiṣṭhetsahasraṁ śaradāṁ śatam abdaṁ gaṁgāṁbupo yastu tayorgaṁgāṁbupo'dhikaḥ

'Whoever stands on one foot for a hundred thousand autumns, and whoever drinks Ganga's water for a single year — of the two, the drinker of Ganga's water is greater.'

Verse 85 (skanda.4.28.85)

अवाक्छिराः प्रलंबेद्यः शतसंवत्सरान्नरः॥ भीष्मसूवालुकातल्पशयस्तस्माद्वरो हरे

avākchirāḥ pralaṁbedyaḥ śatasaṁvatsarānnaraḥ bhīṣmasūvālukātalpaśayastasmādvaro hare

'A man who hangs head-down for a hundred years — better than he, O Hari, is one who lies upon a bed of burning sand by the Ganga.'

Verse 86 (skanda.4.28.86)

पापतापाभितप्तानां भूतानामिह जाह्ववी॥ पापतापहरा यद्वद्गंगा नान्यत्तथा कलौ

pāpatāpābhitaptānāṁ bhūtānāmiha jāhvavī pāpatāpaharā yadvadgaṁgā nānyattathā kalau

'For creatures scorched by the heat of sin, the Jahnavi here removes the heat of sin — in the Kali age, there is nothing else like her.'

Verse 87 (skanda.4.28.87)

तार्क्ष्यवीक्षणमात्रेण फणिनौ निर्विषा यथा॥ निष्प्रभाणि तथेनांसि भागीरथ्यवलोकनात्

tārkṣyavīkṣaṇamātreṇa phaṇinau nirviṣā yathā niṣprabhāṇi tathenāṁsi bhāgīrathyavalokanāt

'Just as, by the mere glance of Garuda, snakes become free of venom, so do sins become powerless merely by the sight of the Bhagirathi.'

Verse 88 (skanda.4.28.88)

गंगातटोद्भवां मृत्स्नां यो मौलौ बिभृयान्नरः॥ बिभर्ति सोऽर्कबिंबं वै तमोनाशाय निश्चितम्

gaṁgātaṭodbhavāṁ mṛtsnāṁ yo maulau bibhṛyānnaraḥ bibharti so'rkabiṁbaṁ vai tamonāśāya niścitam

'The man who bears on his head the clay that comes from Ganga's bank truly bears, as it were, the very orb of the sun, for the certain destruction of darkness.'

Verse 89 (skanda.4.28.89)

व्यसनैरभिभूतस्य धनहीनस्य पापिनः॥ गंगैव केवलं तस्य गतिरुक्ता न चान्यथा

vyasanairabhibhūtasya dhanahīnasya pāpinaḥ gaṁgaiva kevalaṁ tasya gatiruktā na cānyathā

'For one overcome by misfortunes, destitute of wealth, sinful — Ganga alone is declared to be his refuge, and none other.'

Verse 90 (skanda.4.28.90)

श्रुताभिलषिता दृष्टा स्पृष्टा पीताऽवगाहिता॥ पुंसां वंशद्वयं गंगा तारयेन्नात्र संशयः

śrutābhilaṣitā dṛṣṭā spṛṣṭā pītā'vagāhitā puṁsāṁ vaṁśadvayaṁ gaṁgā tārayennātra saṁśayaḥ

'Merely heard of, longed for, seen, touched, drunk, or bathed in — Ganga ferries across two lineages of a man; there is no doubt of this.'

Verse 91 (skanda.4.28.91)

कीर्तनाद्दर्शनात्स्पर्शाद्गंगापानावगाहनात्॥ दशोत्तरगुणा ज्ञेया पुण्यापुण्यर्द्धिनाशयोः॥ न सुतैर्न च वा वित्तैर्नान्येनापि सुकर्मणा॥ तत्फलं प्राप्यते मर्त्ये गंगामाप्य यदाप्यते

kīrtanāddarśanātsparśādgaṁgāpānāvagāhanāt daśottaraguṇā jñeyā puṇyāpuṇyarddhināśayoḥ na sutairna ca vā vittairnānyenāpi sukarmaṇā tatphalaṁ prāpyate martye gaṁgāmāpya yadāpyate

'From praising her, from beholding, touching, drinking, and bathing in Ganga, the merit and the destruction of demerit is to be known as tenfold greater at each successive stage. Not through sons, nor through wealth, nor through any other good deed does a mortal obtain, in this world, the fruit that is obtained by attaining Ganga.'

Verse 92 (skanda.4.28.92)

जात्यंधाः पंगवस्ते वै जीवंतोप्यथ ते मृताः॥ समर्था अपि ये गंगां न स्नायुर्मोक्षगर्भिणीम्

jātyaṁdhāḥ paṁgavaste vai jīvaṁtopyatha te mṛtāḥ samarthā api ye gaṁgāṁ na snāyurmokṣagarbhiṇīm

'Those who, though capable, do not bathe in Ganga, who bears liberation within her — they are truly born blind, they are cripples; though living, they are as good as dead.'

Verse 93 (skanda.4.28.93)

श्रुतिं निशामय हरे गंगामाहात्म्यभाषिणीम्॥ विनिश्चितार्थां यां श्रुत्वा श्रयेद्गंगां नरोत्तमः

śrutiṁ niśāmaya hare gaṁgāmāhātmyabhāṣiṇīm viniścitārthāṁ yāṁ śrutvā śrayedgaṁgāṁ narottamaḥ

'Listen, O Hari, to the Vedic text that declares the greatness of Ganga, of firmly settled meaning — hearing which, the best of men takes refuge in Ganga.'

Verse 94 (skanda.4.28.94)

इरावतीं मधुमतीं पयस्विनीममृतरूपामूर्जस्वतीम्॥ त्रिदिवप्रसूतां गंगां श्रितासस्त्रिदिवं व्रजंति

irāvatīṁ madhumatīṁ payasvinīmamṛtarūpāmūrjasvatīm tridivaprasūtāṁ gaṁgāṁ śritāsastridivaṁ vrajaṁti

'"Those who take refuge in Ganga — full of nourishment, sweet as honey, abounding in milk, of the very form of nectar, full of vigor, born of the third heaven — go on to that third heaven."'

Verse 95 (skanda.4.28.95)

ऋषिजुष्टां विष्णुपदीं पुराणां सुपुण्यधारां मनसा हि लोके॥ सर्वात्मना जाह्नवीं ये प्रपन्नास्ते ब्रह्मणः सदनं संप्रयांति

ṛṣijuṣṭāṁ viṣṇupadīṁ purāṇāṁ supuṇyadhārāṁ manasā hi loke sarvātmanā jāhnavīṁ ye prapannāste brahmaṇaḥ sadanaṁ saṁprayāṁti

'"Those who, with their whole soul, take refuge with all their mind in the Jahnavi — cherished by sages, the very footstep of Vishnu, the ancient one, the stream of purest merit — they go straight to the abode of Brahman."'

Verse 96 (skanda.4.28.96)

लोकानिमान्नयति या जननीव पुत्रान्स्वर्गं सदा सर्वगुणोपपन्ना॥ स्थानमिष्टं ब्राह्ममभीप्समानैर्गंगा सदैवात्मवशैरुपास्या

lokānimānnayati yā jananīva putrānsvargaṁ sadā sarvaguṇopapannā sthānamiṣṭaṁ brāhmamabhīpsamānairgaṁgā sadaivātmavaśairupāsyā

'"She who, like a mother her sons, ever leads these worlds to heaven, endowed with every virtue — Ganga is to be ever worshipped by the self-controlled, who desire the cherished abode of Brahman."'

Verse 97 (skanda.4.28.97)

उस्रैर्जुष्टामिषतीं विश्वरूपामिरावतीं जनयित्रीं गुहस्य॥ शिष्टैः सेव्याममृतां ब्रह्मकांतां गंगां श्रयेदात्मविशुद्धिकामः

usrairjuṣṭāmiṣatīṁ viśvarūpāmirāvatīṁ janayitrīṁ guhasya śiṣṭaiḥ sevyāmamṛtāṁ brahmakāṁtāṁ gaṁgāṁ śrayedātmaviśuddhikāmaḥ

'"One who desires the purification of the self should take refuge in Ganga — beloved of the rays of light, radiant, of universal form, full of nourishment, the mother of Guha, served by the virtuous, of the nature of nectar, beloved of Brahma."'

Verse 98 (skanda.4.28.98)

गंगायां तु नरः स्नात्वा ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः॥ विधूतपापो भवति वाजपेयं च विंदति

gaṁgāyāṁ tu naraḥ snātvā brahmacārī samāhitaḥ vidhūtapāpo bhavati vājapeyaṁ ca viṁdati

'A man, having bathed in Ganga, observing celibacy, with a composed mind, becomes cleansed of sin, and obtains the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice.'

Verse 99 (skanda.4.28.99)

अशुभैः कर्मभिर्ग्रस्तान्मज्जमानान्महार्णवे॥ पततो निरये गंगा संश्रितानुद्धरेत्सदा

aśubhaiḥ karmabhirgrastānmajjamānānmahārṇave patato niraye gaṁgā saṁśritānuddharetsadā

'Ganga ever raises up those who take refuge in her — those seized by inauspicious deeds, sinking in the great ocean, falling into hell.'

Verse 100 (skanda.4.28.100)

ब्रह्मलोकस्तु लोकानां सर्वेषामुत्तमो यथा॥ सरितां सरसां वापि वरिष्ठा जाह्नवी तथा॥ अन्यत्र सम्यक्संकल्प्य तपः कृत्वा समा त्रयम्॥ यत्फलं तद्भवेद्भक्त्या गंगायां घटिकाऽर्धतः

brahmalokastu lokānāṁ sarveṣāmuttamo yathā saritāṁ sarasāṁ vāpi variṣṭhā jāhnavī tathā anyatra samyaksaṁkalpya tapaḥ kṛtvā samā trayam yatphalaṁ tadbhavedbhaktyā gaṁgāyāṁ ghaṭikā'rdhataḥ

'Just as the world of Brahma is the supreme among all the worlds, so is the Jahnavi the best of rivers and of lakes as well. Whatever fruit is obtained by resolving well and performing austerity elsewhere for three years, the same fruit comes about, with devotion, from half a ghatika in Ganga.'

Verse 101 (skanda.4.28.101)

स्वर्गस्थस्य न सा प्रीतिर्भुंजतः सुखमक्षयम्॥ या स्याद्गंगातटे पुंसां रात्रौ चंद्रोदये सति

svargasthasya na sā prītirbhuṁjataḥ sukhamakṣayam yā syādgaṁgātaṭe puṁsāṁ rātrau caṁdrodaye sati

'That delight which comes to men on Ganga's bank at night, when the moon rises, is not equalled even by the joy of one dwelling in heaven, enjoying imperishable happiness.'

Verse 102 (skanda.4.28.102)

जरारोगाभिपन्नं तु कुणपं जाह्नवी जले॥ धैर्येण तृणवत्त्यक्त्वा प्रविशेदमरावतीम्

jarārogābhipannaṁ tu kuṇapaṁ jāhnavī jale dhairyeṇa tṛṇavattyaktvā praviśedamarāvatīm

'One should, with fortitude, cast off this corpse-like body afflicted by old age and disease, like a blade of straw, into the water of the Jahnavi, and enter the city of the immortals.'

Verse 103 (skanda.4.28.103)

वार्योघैः सततं यस्याः प्लाव्यते शशिमंडलम्॥ भूयोधिकतरां शोभां बिभर्ति तदहः क्षये

vāryoghaiḥ satataṁ yasyāḥ plāvyate śaśimaṁḍalam bhūyodhikatarāṁ śobhāṁ bibharti tadahaḥ kṣaye

'The orb of the moon, ceaselessly bathed by the floods of her waters, bears an ever greater beauty at the ending of that day.'

Verse 104 (skanda.4.28.104)

आहुतस्य जले यस्याः सद्यो नश्यंति पातकम्॥ महतः श्रेयसः प्राप्तिस्तत्क्षणादेव जायते

āhutasya jale yasyāḥ sadyo naśyaṁti pātakam mahataḥ śreyasaḥ prāptistatkṣaṇādeva jāyate

'Sin is instantly destroyed once offered into her water, and the attainment of the highest good arises in that very instant.'

Verse 105 (skanda.4.28.105)

पितृभ्यः श्रद्धया यत्र दत्तास्त्वापः स्ववंशजैः॥ प्रयच्छंति परां तृप्तिं शरदां त्रयमच्युत

pitṛbhyaḥ śraddhayā yatra dattāstvāpaḥ svavaṁśajaiḥ prayacchaṁti parāṁ tṛptiṁ śaradāṁ trayamacyuta

'O Achyuta, waters offered there with faith to the ancestors by their own descendants grant supreme satisfaction for three years.'

Verse 106 (skanda.4.28.106)

तारयेत्क्षितियान्मर्त्यानधःस्थांश्च सरीसृपान्॥ स्वर्गे स्वर्गसदो विष्णोर्गंगा त्रिपथगा ततः

tārayetkṣitiyānmartyānadhaḥsthāṁśca sarīsṛpān svarge svargasado viṣṇorgaṁgā tripathagā tataḥ

'The Ganga of the three paths ferries across the mortals dwelling on earth, the creeping things below, and, O Vishnu, those who dwell in heaven above.'

Verse 107 (skanda.4.28.107)

तीर्थानामुत्तमं तीर्थं सरितामुत्तमा सरित्॥ स्वर्गदा सर्वजंतूनां महापातकिनामपि

tīrthānāmuttamaṁ tīrthaṁ saritāmuttamā sarit svargadā sarvajaṁtūnāṁ mahāpātakināmapi

'The best of tirthas, the best of rivers — she gives heaven to all creatures, even to the greatest of sinners.'

Verse 108 (skanda.4.28.108)

अध्युष्टाः कोटयो विष्णो संति तीर्थानि सर्वतः॥ दिवि भुव्यंतरिक्षे च जाह्नव्यां तानि कृत्स्नशः

adhyuṣṭāḥ koṭayo viṣṇo saṁti tīrthāni sarvataḥ divi bhuvyaṁtarikṣe ca jāhnavyāṁ tāni kṛtsnaśaḥ

'O Vishnu, three and a half crore tirthas exist everywhere — in heaven, on earth, and in the sky — and all of them, in their entirety, exist within the Jahnavi.'

Verse 109 (skanda.4.28.109)

ज्ञात्वाज्ञात्वा च गंगायां यः पंचत्वमवाप्नुयात्॥ अनात्मघाती स्वर्गी स्यान्नरकान्स न पश्यति॥ गंगैव सर्वतीर्थानि गंगैव च तपोवनम्॥ गंगैव सिद्धिक्षेत्रं हि नात्र कार्या विचारणा

jñātvājñātvā ca gaṁgāyāṁ yaḥ paṁcatvamavāpnuyāt anātmaghātī svargī syānnarakānsa na paśyati gaṁgaiva sarvatīrthāni gaṁgaiva ca tapovanam gaṁgaiva siddhikṣetraṁ hi nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

'Whoever, knowingly or unknowingly, meets death in Ganga — not being one who has killed himself — attains heaven, and does not behold hell. Ganga alone is every tirtha; Ganga alone is the forest of austerity; Ganga alone is the field of attainment — of this there is no need for further deliberation.'

Verse 110 (skanda.4.28.110)

यत्र कामफला वृक्षा मही यत्र हिरण्मयी॥ जाह्नवी स्नायिनस्तत्र निवसंति घटोद्भव

yatra kāmaphalā vṛkṣā mahī yatra hiraṇmayī jāhnavī snāyinastatra nivasaṁti ghaṭodbhava

'Where the trees bear the fruit of every desire, where the earth itself is made of gold — there, O jar-born one, dwell those who bathe in the Jahnavi.'

Verse 111 (skanda.4.28.111)

धेनुं भागीरथी तीरे सुशीलां च पयस्विनीम्॥ वासोरत्नैरलंकृत्वा ब्राह्मणाय ददाति यः

dhenuṁ bhāgīrathī tīre suśīlāṁ ca payasvinīm vāsoratnairalaṁkṛtvā brāhmaṇāya dadāti yaḥ

'Whoever, on the bank of the Bhagirathi, adorns a well-natured, milk-yielding cow with garments and jewels, and gives her to a brahmin...'

Verse 112 (skanda.4.28.112)

यावंति तस्या लोमानि मुने तत्संततेरपि॥ तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि स स्वर्गसुखभुग्भवेत्

yāvaṁti tasyā lomāni mune tatsaṁtaterapi tāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi sa svargasukhabhugbhavet

'...for as many hairs as are on her body, O sage, and on her descendants as well, for that many thousand years he becomes an enjoyer of the bliss of heaven.'