The Glory of Gangeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.113.1)

श्रीहर उवाच। द्वाचत्वारिंशतं देवं गंगेश्वरमथो शृणु। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वतीर्थफलं लभेत्। ध्रुवाधारं जगद्योनेः पदं नारायणस्य तु॥

śrīhara uvāca| dvācatvāriṁśataṁ devaṁ gaṁgeśvaramatho śṛṇu| yasya darśanamātreṇa sarvatīrthaphalaṁ labhet| dhruvādhāraṁ jagadyoneḥ padaṁ nārāyaṇasya tu||

Shri Hara said: Now hear of the God Gangeshvara, the forty-second, by the mere sight of whom one obtains the fruit of all sacred fords — the fixed foundation of the world's womb, the seat of Narayana.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.113.2)

पदात्प्रवृत्ता या देवी गंगा त्रिपथगा नदी। सा प्रविश्य सुधायोनिं सोममाधारमंभसाम्॥

padātpravṛttā yā devī gaṁgā tripathagā nadī| sā praviśya sudhāyoniṁ somamādhāramaṁbhasām||

The goddess river Ganga, the three-path-going one, who issued from that foot, entered the source of nectar, the moon being the support of the waters.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.113.3)

ततः संवर्द्धमानार्करश्मिसंगतिपावनी। पपात मेरुपृष्ठे च सा चतुर्धा ततो ययौ॥

tataḥ saṁvarddhamānārkaraśmisaṁgatipāvanī| papāta merupṛṣṭhe ca sā caturdhā tato yayau||

Then, ever increasing, purified by contact with the sun's rays, she fell upon the summit of Meru, and from there went in four directions.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.113.4)

मेरुकूटतटान्तेभ्यो निपतन्ती यशस्विनी। विकीर्यमाणसलिला निरालंबा पपात सा॥

merukūṭataṭāntebhyo nipatantī yaśasvinī| vikīryamāṇasalilā nirālaṁbā papāta sā||

Falling from the edges of Meru's peaks, that glorious one, her waters scattering, fell without support.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.113.5)

मन्दरादिषु शैलेषु प्रविभक्तोदका समम्। तत्र सीतेति विख्याता ययौ चैत्ररथं वनम्॥

mandarādiṣu śaileṣu pravibhaktodakā samam| tatra sīteti vikhyātā yayau caitrarathaṁ vanam||

Among the Mandara and other mountains, her waters were divided equally; there, known as Sita, she went to the Chaitraratha forest.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.113.6)

तत्प्लायित्वा च ययावरुणोदं सरिद्वरा॥

tatplāyitvā ca yayāvaruṇodaṁ saridvarā||

Flooding that, that best of rivers went to Arunoda.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.113.7)

तथैवालकनन्दाख्या दक्षिणे गन्धमादने। मेरुपादवनं गत्वा नन्दने देवनन्दने॥

tathaivālakanandākhyā dakṣiṇe gandhamādane| merupādavanaṁ gatvā nandane devanandane||

Likewise, known as Alakananda, in the south, on Gandhamadana, having gone to the forest at the foot of Meru, in Nandana, the pleasure-grove of the gods,

Verse 8 (skanda.5.113.8)

मानसं च महावेगात्प्लावयित्वा सरोवरम्। तस्माच्च शैलराजानं रम्यं त्रिशिखरं गता॥

mānasaṁ ca mahāvegātplāvayitvā sarovaram| tasmācca śailarājānaṁ ramyaṁ triśikharaṁ gatā||

having flooded, with great force, Lake Manasa, from there she went to the lord of mountains, the lovely three-peaked one.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.113.9)

तस्माच्च पर्वताः सर्वे प्लावितास्तत्क्षणात्प्रिये। तान्प्लावयित्वा संप्राप्ता हिमवन्तं महागिरिम्॥

tasmācca parvatāḥ sarve plāvitāstatkṣaṇātpriye| tānplāvayitvā saṁprāptā himavantaṁ mahāgirim||

From there, all the mountains were flooded at that very instant, O beloved; having flooded them, she reached the great mountain Himavat.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.113.10)

मया धृता च तत्रैव जटाजूटेन पार्वति। न मुक्ता च यदा गंगा तदा क्रुद्धा ममोपरि॥

mayā dhṛtā ca tatraiva jaṭājūṭena pārvati| na muktā ca yadā gaṁgā tadā kruddhā mamopari||

She was held there by me, O Parvati, in the mass of my matted locks; and when Ganga was not released, she then became angry at me,

Verse 11 (skanda.5.113.11)

गात्राणि प्लावयामास मदीयानि वरानने। मया च रुद्धा क्रोधेन जटामध्ये यशस्विनि॥

gātrāṇi plāvayāmāsa madīyāni varānane| mayā ca ruddhā krodhena jaṭāmadhye yaśasvini||

and flooded my limbs, O fair-faced one; and I, in anger, confined her, O glorious one, within my matted locks.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.113.12)

तत्रैव सा तपश्चक्रे बहुकल्पशतानि च। भगीरथेनोपवासैः स्तुत्या चाराधितो ह्यहम्॥

tatraiva sā tapaścakre bahukalpaśatāni ca| bhagīrathenopavāsaiḥ stutyā cārādhito hyaham||

There she performed austerity for many hundreds of kalpas; through Bhagiratha's fasting and praise, I was worshipped —

Verse 13 (skanda.5.113.13)

तदा मुक्ता मया देवि गंगा त्रिपथगामिनी। महाकालमनुप्राप्ता प्लावयित्वोत्तरान्कुरून्॥

tadā muktā mayā devi gaṁgā tripathagāminī| mahākālamanuprāptā plāvayitvottarānkurūn||

then, O Devi, Ganga, the three-path-goer, was released by me, and reached Mahakala, having flooded the Uttara Kurus.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.113.14)

समुद्रमहिषी जाता प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी। नदीनामुत्तमा गंगा समुद्रेण कृता तदा। स तया सहितो रेमे समुद्रः सरितांपतिः॥

samudramahiṣī jātā prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasī| nadīnāmuttamā gaṁgā samudreṇa kṛtā tadā| sa tayā sahito reme samudraḥ saritāṁpatiḥ||

She became the chief queen of the ocean, dearer to him than his very life; Ganga, the foremost of rivers, was then made so by the ocean, and, together with her, the ocean, the lord of rivers, sported in delight.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.113.15)

ततः कदाचिद्ब्रह्माणमुपासांचक्रिरे सुराः। तथार्णवो जगामाथ ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम्। गंगया सहितो देवि दर्शनार्थं महोत्सवे॥

tataḥ kadācidbrahmāṇamupāsāṁcakrire surāḥ| tathārṇavo jagāmātha brahmalokaṁ sanātanam| gaṁgayā sahito devi darśanārthaṁ mahotsave||

Then once the gods went to attend upon Brahma; and the ocean too went to the eternal world of Brahma, together with Ganga, O Devi, for the sake of the vision, at the great festival.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.113.16)

अथ गंगा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा समुपायात्पितामहम्। तस्या वासः समुद्धूतं मारुतेन शशिप्रभम्॥

atha gaṁgā saricchreṣṭhā samupāyātpitāmaham| tasyā vāsaḥ samuddhūtaṁ mārutena śaśiprabham||

Then Ganga, foremost of rivers, approached the grandsire; her garment, moon-bright, was blown up by the wind.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.113.17)

ततोऽभवन्सुरगणाः सहसाऽवाङ्मुखास्तदा। महाभिषस्तु राजर्षिर्निःशंको दृष्टवान्नदीम्॥

tato'bhavansuragaṇāḥ sahasā'vāṅmukhāstadā| mahābhiṣastu rājarṣirniḥśaṁko dṛṣṭavānnadīm||

Then at once the hosts of gods lowered their faces; but the royal sage Mahabhisha, without any shame, gazed upon the river.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.113.18)

तस्य भावं विदित्वाऽथ ब्रह्मणा स तिरस्कृतः। उक्तस्तु जातो मर्त्येषु पुनर्लोकानवाप्स्यसि॥

tasya bhāvaṁ viditvā'tha brahmaṇā sa tiraskṛtaḥ| uktastu jāto martyeṣu punarlokānavāpsyasi||

Knowing his disposition, he was rebuked by Brahma, and told: "You shall be born among mortals; then you shall regain the worlds."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.113.19)

गंगा शप्ताथ क्रुद्धेन समुद्रेण यशस्विनि। मां विहायान्यसक्तासि तस्माद्यास्यसि मानुषम्॥

gaṁgā śaptātha kruddhena samudreṇa yaśasvini| māṁ vihāyānyasaktāsi tasmādyāsyasi mānuṣam||

Then Ganga, the glorious one, was cursed by the enraged ocean: "Having abandoned me, you are attached to another; therefore you shall go to the world of men,"

Verse 20 (skanda.5.113.20)

लोकमल्पायुषं दीना तत्र दुःखमवाप्स्यसि। तं शापं दारुणं श्रुत्वा गंगा वचनमब्रवीत्॥

lokamalpāyuṣaṁ dīnā tatra duḥkhamavāpsyasi| taṁ śāpaṁ dāruṇaṁ śrutvā gaṁgā vacanamabravīt||

"a wretched world of short life; there you shall obtain sorrow." Hearing that terrible curse, Ganga spoke these words:

Verse 21 (skanda.5.113.21)

विनापराधाच्छप्ताहं कस्माद्वै देवसंसदि। पतिव्रता पतिप्राणा पतिना परमार्थतः॥

vināparādhācchaptāhaṁ kasmādvai devasaṁsadi| pativratā patiprāṇā patinā paramārthataḥ||

"Why have I been cursed without any fault, in this assembly of the gods? I am devoted to my husband, my very life is my husband, and truly, in reality, faithful to him;"

Verse 22 (skanda.5.113.22)

प्रमादाद्वस्त्रमुद्धूतं वायुना व्यापकेन तु। प्रत्युवाच ततो ब्रह्मा तां नदीं लोकपावनीम्॥

pramādādvastramuddhūtaṁ vāyunā vyāpakena tu| pratyuvāca tato brahmā tāṁ nadīṁ lokapāvanīm||

"by accident my garment was blown up by the all-pervading wind." Then Brahma replied to that world-purifying river:

Verse 23 (skanda.5.113.23)

वसूनां कारणाद्देवि शप्ता यस्मान्महानदि। भाव्यर्थे तोयनिधिना तस्माच्छीघ्रं व्रजाधुना॥

vasūnāṁ kāraṇāddevi śaptā yasmānmahānadi| bhāvyarthe toyanidhinā tasmācchīghraṁ vrajādhunā||

"O Devi, great river, since you have been cursed by the ocean on account of the Vasus' matter that is to come, therefore go now quickly —"

Verse 24 (skanda.5.113.24)

महाकालवने रम्ये सिद्धगंधर्वसेविते। शिप्राया दक्षिणे भागे विद्यते लिंगमुत्तमम्॥

mahākālavane ramye siddhagaṁdharvasevite| śiprāyā dakṣiṇe bhāge vidyate liṁgamuttamam||

"to the delightful Mahakala forest, served by siddhas and gandharvas; on the southern side of the Shipra there is an excellent linga,"

Verse 25 (skanda.5.113.25)

सर्वसिद्धिकरं पुण्यं सर्वपातकनाशनम्। तमाराधय यत्नेन स ते दास्यति वांछितम्॥

sarvasiddhikaraṁ puṇyaṁ sarvapātakanāśanam| tamārādhaya yatnena sa te dāsyati vāṁchitam||

"the giver of all accomplishment, holy, destroyer of all sins; worship it with effort, and it will grant you your desire."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.113.26)

पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा तुष्टा त्रिपथगामिनी। गमनं तत्र मेऽभीष्टं विद्यते यत्सखी मम। शिप्रापि मे प्रिया पुण्या महापातकनाशिनी॥

pitāmahavacaḥ śrutvā tuṣṭā tripathagāminī| gamanaṁ tatra me'bhīṣṭaṁ vidyate yatsakhī mama| śiprāpi me priyā puṇyā mahāpātakanāśinī||

Hearing the grandsire's words, the three-path-goer was pleased: "Going there is desirable to me, since my friend dwells there — the holy Shipra too, destroyer of great sins, is dear to me."

Verse 27 (skanda.5.113.27)

इति संचिंत्य मनसा दिव्या देवनदी तदा। आजगाम महाकाले ह्यपश्यल्लिंगमुत्तमम्॥

iti saṁciṁtya manasā divyā devanadī tadā| ājagāma mahākāle hyapaśyalliṁgamuttamam||

Reflecting thus in her mind, that divine, celestial river then came to Mahakala and beheld the peerless linga.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.113.28)

पूजयामास पयसा दिव्येन विधिना तदा। दृष्ट्वा शिप्रां सखीं तत्र संश्लेषं चाभवत्तयोः॥

pūjayāmāsa payasā divyena vidhinā tadā| dṛṣṭvā śiprāṁ sakhīṁ tatra saṁśleṣaṁ cābhavattayoḥ||

She worshipped it then, with divine water and due rite; seeing her friend Shipra there, an embrace took place between the two.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.113.29)

ततः प्रभृति संजाता सा शिप्रा पूर्ववाहिनी। त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातो देवो गंगेश्वरः स्वयम्। गंगयाराधितो यस्मात्समीहितफलप्रदः॥

tataḥ prabhṛti saṁjātā sā śiprā pūrvavāhinī| triṣu lokeṣu vikhyāto devo gaṁgeśvaraḥ svayam| gaṁgayārādhito yasmātsamīhitaphalapradaḥ||

From then on that Shipra came to flow eastward; renowned in the three worlds is the God Gangeshvara himself, since, worshipped by Ganga, he grants the fruit of every wish.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.113.30)

संस्तुता देवगंधर्वैर्गंगा देवनदी तदा। ऋषिभिर्वालखिल्याद्यैस्तथान्यैर्मुनिभिर्मुदा॥

saṁstutā devagaṁdharvairgaṁgā devanadī tadā| ṛṣibhirvālakhilyādyaistathānyairmunibhirmudā||

Then Ganga, the celestial river, was praised joyfully by the gods and gandharvas, and by the sages headed by the Valakhilyas, and by other munis.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.113.31)

समुद्रस्तत्र संप्राप्तो मानिता सा महानदी। लिंगेनोक्ता तदा गंगा कलया स्थीयतामिति॥

samudrastatra saṁprāpto mānitā sā mahānadī| liṁgenoktā tadā gaṁgā kalayā sthīyatāmiti||

The ocean then arrived there and honoured that great river; then Ganga was told by the linga: "Remain here with a portion of yourself,"

Verse 32 (skanda.5.113.32)

तत्समीपे महापुण्ये यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी। अंगीकृतं समुद्रेण यथोक्तं च तथा स्त्विति॥

tatsamīpe mahāpuṇye yāvattiṣṭhati medinī| aṁgīkṛtaṁ samudreṇa yathoktaṁ ca tathā stviti||

"near this most holy place, as long as the earth endures." "So be it, as you have said" — the ocean accepted this.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.113.33)

एवमुक्त्वा गता गंगा कलया तत्र संस्थिता। गंगेश्वरं तु यः पश्येत्स्नात्वा शिप्रांभसि प्रिये॥

evamuktvā gatā gaṁgā kalayā tatra saṁsthitā| gaṁgeśvaraṁ tu yaḥ paśyetsnātvā śiprāṁbhasi priye||

Having said this, Ganga went on, yet remained there with a portion of herself. Whoever, O beloved, having bathed in the waters of the Shipra, beholds Gangeshvara,

Verse 34 (skanda.5.113.34)

गोसहस्रफलं तस्य जायते नात्र संशयः। सर्वतीर्थफलं तस्य सर्वधर्मफलं तथा॥

gosahasraphalaṁ tasya jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ| sarvatīrthaphalaṁ tasya sarvadharmaphalaṁ tathā||

for him is born, without doubt, the fruit of a thousand cows; for him is the fruit of every sacred ford, and likewise the fruit of every dharma,

Verse 35 (skanda.5.113.35)

सर्वयज्ञफलं सम्यक्सर्वदानफलं तथा। सर्वयोगफलं देवि प्राप्नोत्येव निरन्तरम्॥

sarvayajñaphalaṁ samyaksarvadānaphalaṁ tathā| sarvayogaphalaṁ devi prāpnotyeva nirantaram||

the fruit of every sacrifice fully, and likewise the fruit of every gift; O Devi, he ever obtains without interruption the fruit of every yoga.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.113.36)

तत्र तीर्थानि सुभगे पृथिव्यां यानि कानिचित्। धर्मारण्यं फल्गुतीर्थं पुष्करं नैमिषं गया॥

tatra tīrthāni subhage pṛthivyāṁ yāni kānicit| dharmāraṇyaṁ phalgutīrthaṁ puṣkaraṁ naimiṣaṁ gayā||

There, O fortunate one, whatever sacred fords exist on earth — Dharmaranya, Phalgu-tirtha, Pushkara, Naimisha, Gaya,

Verse 37 (skanda.5.113.37)

प्रयागं च कुरुक्षेत्रं केदारममरेश्वरम्। चंद्रभागा विपाशा च सरयूर्देविका कुहू॥

prayāgaṁ ca kurukṣetraṁ kedāramamareśvaram| caṁdrabhāgā vipāśā ca sarayūrdevikā kuhū||

Prayaga, and Kurukshetra, Kedara, Amareshvara, the Chandrabhaga, the Vipasha, the Sarayu, the Devika, the Kuhu,

Verse 38 (skanda.5.113.38)

गोदावरी शतद्रुश्च बाहुदा वेत्रवत्यपि। सर्वा एवात्र सरितः संगताः संति गंगया॥

godāvarī śatadruśca bāhudā vetravatyapi| sarvā evātra saritaḥ saṁgatāḥ saṁti gaṁgayā||

the Godavari, the Shatadru, the Bahuda, and also the Vetravati — all these very rivers are gathered here together with Ganga.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.113.39)

गुप्तानि पुण्यतीर्थानि सिद्धक्षेत्राणि चैव हि। तत्र सर्वाणि तिष्ठंति कलामात्रेण पार्वति॥

guptāni puṇyatīrthāni siddhakṣetrāṇi caiva hi| tatra sarvāṇi tiṣṭhaṁti kalāmātreṇa pārvati||

Hidden holy fords and siddha-fields as well, O Parvati — all of them exist there, in a mere fraction of their presence.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.113.40)

एतेषां फलमाप्नोति यः पश्यति समाहितः। स्नात्वा गंगेश्वरं देवं सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्। अतः पुण्यतमं स्थानं गीयते गणवंदिते॥

eteṣāṁ phalamāpnoti yaḥ paśyati samāhitaḥ| snātvā gaṁgeśvaraṁ devaṁ satyametanmayoditam| ataḥ puṇyatamaṁ sthānaṁ gīyate gaṇavaṁdite||

Whoever beholds with a composed mind, having bathed, the God Gangeshvara, obtains the fruit of all these — this is truth, spoken by me; therefore, O you worshipped by the ganas, this is proclaimed the most meritorious place.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.113.41)

एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः। गंगेश्वरस्य देवस्य शृण्वंगारेश्वरं परम्॥

eṣa te kathito devi prabhāvaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ| gaṁgeśvarasya devasya śṛṇvaṁgāreśvaraṁ param||

O Devi, this sin-destroying power of the God Gangeshvara has been told to you; now hear next of Angareshvara.