The Descent of Ganga (continued)

Verse 1 (skanda.8.128.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्मिन् सब्रह्मका देवाः स्थाणोः स्थाने मनोरमे । लिङ्गं संस्थाप्य तीर्थानि सर्वे चक्रुः पृथक् पृथक्

sanatkumāra uvāca | tasmin sabrahmakā devāḥ sthāṇoḥ sthāne manorame | liṅgaṁ saṁsthāpya tīrthāni sarve cakruḥ pṛthak pṛthak

Sanatkumara said: There, together with Brahma, the gods, at Sthanu's delightful place, having established a linga, each made separate sacred fords.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.128.2)

दित्यतीर्थञ्च विख्यातं चाश्वमेधिकम्

dityatīrthañca vikhyātaṁ cāśvamedhikam

[The first line of this verse is lost in the source.] ...and the renowned [A]ditya-tirtha, and the Ashvamedhika tirtha.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.128.3)

रुद्रतीर्थं स्थाणुतीर्थं ब्रह्मणस्तीर्थमेव च । इन्द्रतीर्थं वसूनाञ्च अश्विनोरपरं स्मृतम्

rudratīrthaṁ sthāṇutīrthaṁ brahmaṇastīrthameva ca | indratīrthaṁ vasūnāñca aśvinoraparaṁ smṛtam

The Rudra-tirtha, the Sthanu-tirtha, and the Brahma-tirtha; the Indra-tirtha, that of the Vasus, and another remembered as belonging to the Ashvins.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.128.4)

यमस्य चापरं तीर्थं वायोस्तीर्थमथापरम् । विष्णोश्चाप्यपरं तीर्थं विख्यातं सुरपूजितम्

yamasya cāparaṁ tīrthaṁ vāyostīrthamathāparam | viṣṇoścāpyaparaṁ tīrthaṁ vikhyātaṁ surapūjitam

And another tirtha of Yama, and another of Vayu; and another tirtha of Vishnu too, renowned, worshipped by the gods.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.128.5)

स्नात एतेषु विप्रर्षे चरुं कृत्वा निवेद्य च । एषु स्थानेषु दिव्येषु चरते ह्यकुतोभयः

snāta eteṣu viprarṣe caruṁ kṛtvā nivedya ca | eṣu sthāneṣu divyeṣu carate hyakutobhayaḥ

Having bathed at these, O sage among brahmins, and having prepared and offered the oblation, one moves about these divine places free of fear.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.128.6)

अद्यापि तत्र ब्रह्मर्षे श्रूयते मधुरः स्वनः । मेखलावलयोन्मिश्रो वंशवीणारवोत्कटः

adyāpi tatra brahmarṣe śrūyate madhuraḥ svanaḥ | mekhalāvalayonmiśro vaṁśavīṇāravotkaṭaḥ

Even today, O brahmin-sage, a sweet sound is heard there, mingled with the jingling of girdle-rings, loud with the notes of flute and vina.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.128.7)

गायन्तीनां वराङ्गीनां नृत्यन्तीनां तथैव च । नित्यमप्सरसां व्यास स्तुवन्तीनां त्रिलोचनम्

gāyantīnāṁ varāṅgīnāṁ nṛtyantīnāṁ tathaiva ca | nityamapsarasāṁ vyāsa stuvantīnāṁ trilocanam

O Vyasa, of lovely Apsaras who are ever singing, dancing, and likewise praising the three-eyed god.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.128.8)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततस्ते सहिता देवा ब्रह्मणा देवसत्तमम् । ऊचुः पश्येम भगवन्नस्या धारणमुत्तमम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataste sahitā devā brahmaṇā devasattamam | ūcuḥ paśyema bhagavannasyā dhāraṇamuttamam

Sanatkumara said: Then those gods, joined with Brahma, said to that best of gods: 'O Lord, let us see her supreme bearing.'

Verse 9 (skanda.8.128.9)

देवदेव उवाच । यथेष्टं श्वः प्रभाते मां पश्यध्वं विबुधेश्वराः । धारयन्तं त्रिपथगां नदीं स्वगुणगर्विताम्

devadeva uvāca | yatheṣṭaṁ śvaḥ prabhāte māṁ paśyadhvaṁ vibudheśvarāḥ | dhārayantaṁ tripathagāṁ nadīṁ svaguṇagarvitām

The God of gods said: 'Tomorrow, at dawn, behold me as you wish, O lords of gods, bearing the river of three paths, proud of her own qualities.'

Verse 10 (skanda.8.128.10)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ते तथोक्ताः प्रणम्येशं जग्मुर्गङ्गान्तिकं तदा । उवाच तां ततो ब्रह्मा देवीं लोकसुखावहाम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | te tathoktāḥ praṇamyeśaṁ jagmurgaṅgāntikaṁ tadā | uvāca tāṁ tato brahmā devīṁ lokasukhāvahām

Sanatkumara said: Thus instructed, they bowed to the Lord and then went to Ganga's presence; Brahma then spoke to that goddess, bringer of happiness to the world.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.128.11)

मा गर्व त्वं कृथा गङ्गे मा विनाशमवाप्नुहि । ऋजुभावं समास्थाय पतेथास्त्वं सरिद्वरे

mā garva tvaṁ kṛthā gaṅge mā vināśamavāpnuhi | ṛjubhāvaṁ samāsthāya patethāstvaṁ saridvare

'Do not be proud, O Ganga; do not incur destruction. Being straightforward in manner, fall down, O best of rivers.'

Verse 12 (skanda.8.128.12)

स्तुवती त्र्यम्बकं सोमं भक्त्या परमया युता । तवाकूतं विदित्वासौ विनाशायोद्यतः प्रभुः

stuvatī tryambakaṁ somaṁ bhaktyā paramayā yutā | tavākūtaṁ viditvāsau vināśāyodyataḥ prabhuḥ

'Praising Tryambaka-Soma, joined with supreme devotion — for, knowing your intent, that Lord has become intent on your destruction.'

Verse 13 (skanda.8.128.13)

कृच्छ्रेण तोषितः शम्भुस्तवैव हितकाम्यया । मापराधं कृथा भूयो लोकानां हितकाम्यया

kṛcchreṇa toṣitaḥ śambhustavaiva hitakāmyayā | māparādhaṁ kṛthā bhūyo lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā

'With difficulty was Shambhu pleased, out of desire for your own welfare; do not offend again, for the welfare of the worlds.'

Verse 14 (skanda.8.128.14)

नाशात्तव सरिच्छ्रेष्ठे ध्रुवं लोकक्षयो भवेत् । एवं ते तां समाधाय देवाः सब्रह्मकास्तदा

nāśāttava saricchreṣṭhe dhruvaṁ lokakṣayo bhavet | evaṁ te tāṁ samādhāya devāḥ sabrahmakāstadā

'From your destruction, O best of rivers, the world's ruin would surely follow.' Thus having reassured her, the gods, together with Brahma, then—

Verse 15 (skanda.8.128.15)

द्वितीयेहनि लोकेशाः समाजग्मुर्दिदृक्षवः । हिमवच्छिखरं दिव्यं नाम्ना वज्रोपलं महत्

dvitīyehani lokeśāḥ samājagmurdidṛkṣavaḥ | himavacchikharaṁ divyaṁ nāmnā vajropalaṁ mahat

— on the second day, those lords of the worlds, desiring to see, gathered on the great, divine Himalayan peak named Vajropala.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.128.16)

ब्रह्मा विष्णुरथानन्तो नरा ऋषय एव च । आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा अश्विनौ समरुद्गणाः

brahmā viṣṇurathānanto narā ṛṣaya eva ca | ādityā vasavo rudrā aśvinau samarudgaṇāḥ

Brahma, Vishnu, and Ananta; men and sages too; the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, the two Ashvins together with the Marut hosts.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.128.17)

साध्या देवास्सपितरो यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः । पिशाचाश्चासुराश्चैव शृङ्गिणः पृश्नयस्तथा

sādhyā devāssapitaro yakṣarākṣasapannagāḥ | piśācāścāsurāścaiva śṛṅgiṇaḥ pṛśnayastathā

The Sadhya gods, together with the ancestors, Yakshas, Rakshasas, and serpents; Pishachas and Asuras too, the horned ones and the Prishnis.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.128.18)

ऋषिरत्रिर्वसिष्ठश्च मरीचिः पुलहस्तथा । पुलस्त्यश्चाङ्गिराश्चैव भृगुः कश्यप एव च

ṛṣiratrirvasiṣṭhaśca marīciḥ pulahastathā | pulastyaścāṅgirāścaiva bhṛguḥ kaśyapa eva ca

The sage Atri, and Vasishtha, Marichi, and Pulaha; Pulastya, and Angiras, and Bhrigu, and Kashyapa too.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.128.19)

औशिजो वामदेवश्च गौतमश्च महतपाः । च्यवनोथ भरद्वाज इन्द्रप्रमतिरेव च

auśijo vāmadevaśca gautamaśca mahatapāḥ | cyavanotha bharadvāja indrapramatireva ca

Aushija, and Vamadeva, and Gautama of great austerity; Chyavana, and Bharadvaja, and Indrapramati too.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.128.20)

रैभ्यश्च जमदग्निश्च कुणिबाहुश्च वीर्यवान् । अथर्वा श्वेतकेतुश्च दत्तात्रेयश्च विश्रुतः

raibhyaśca jamadagniśca kuṇibāhuśca vīryavān | atharvā śvetaketuśca dattātreyaśca viśrutaḥ

Raibhya, and Jamadagni, and mighty Kunibahu; Atharva, Shvetaketu, and the renowned Dattatreya.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.128.21)

रुचिर्धर्मश्च दक्षश्च सावर्णी मुनयश्च ये । अग्निश्च वेदबाहुश्च शङ्खपान्नामतश्च यः

rucirdharmaśca dakṣaśca sāvarṇī munayaśca ye | agniśca vedabāhuśca śaṅkhapānnāmataśca yaḥ

Ruchi, and Dharma, and Daksha, and the Savarni sages; Agni, and Vedabahu, and one named Shankhapa.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.128.22)

अम्बरीवाँश्च विख्यातः केतुमानपि चापरः । एते चान्ये च बहव ऋषयो देवतास्तथा

ambarīvā~śca vikhyātaḥ ketumānapi cāparaḥ | ete cānye ca bahava ṛṣayo devatāstathā

And the renowned Ambarisha, and another named Ketuman — these and many other sages and gods too.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.128.23)

विमानानि च सर्वाणि गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणाः । जम्भका ऋतवश्चैव निकायाश्चैव सर्वशः

vimānāni ca sarvāṇi gandharvāpsarasāṁ gaṇāḥ | jambhakā ṛtavaścaiva nikāyāścaiva sarvaśaḥ

And all the celestial cars, the hosts of Gandharvas and Apsaras; the Jambhakas, the Seasons, and companies of every kind.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.128.24)

तत्राजग्मुर्मुदा युक्ताः सर्वे परमवर्चसः । तेषां गगनसंस्थानां देवानां प्रेक्षतां तदा

tatrājagmurmudā yuktāḥ sarve paramavarcasaḥ | teṣāṁ gaganasaṁsthānāṁ devānāṁ prekṣatāṁ tadā

All of them, filled with joy, of supreme splendor, came there; and as those gods, positioned in the sky, watched—

Verse 25 (skanda.8.128.25)

मेरुमन्दरसंकाशे तस्मिञ्छिखरसत्तमे । उमासहायो देवेशः सहसैवान्वदृश्यत

merumandarasaṁkāśe tasmiñchikharasattame | umāsahāyo deveśaḥ sahasaivānvadṛśyata

—on that best of peaks, resembling Meru and Mandara, the Lord of gods, accompanied by Uma, suddenly appeared.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.128.26)

तडिज्ज्वलनपिङ्गेन जटाभारेण राजता । ऊर्ध्वस्थितेन महता भगीरथमुवाच सः

taḍijjvalanapiṅgena jaṭābhāreṇa rājatā | ūrdhvasthitena mahatā bhagīrathamuvāca saḥ

Radiant with a great mass of matted locks, tawny like blazing lightning, standing erect, he spoke to Bhagiratha.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.128.27)

देवदेव उवाच । भगीरथ क्व सा गङ्गा पितॄणां तव तारणी । समाह्वय महाबाहो धारयिष्ये न संशयः

devadeva uvāca | bhagīratha kva sā gaṅgā pitṝṇāṁ tava tāraṇī | samāhvaya mahābāho dhārayiṣye na saṁśayaḥ

The God of gods said: 'O Bhagiratha, where is that Ganga, the deliverer of your ancestors? Summon her, O mighty-armed one; I shall bear her, without doubt.'

Verse 28 (skanda.8.128.28)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः स राजशार्दूलः स्मृत्वा तद् ब्रह्मणो वचः । सस्मार सरितं व्यास शिरसा प्राञ्जलिर्नतः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataḥ sa rājaśārdūlaḥ smṛtvā tad brahmaṇo vacaḥ | sasmāra saritaṁ vyāsa śirasā prāñjalirnataḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then that tiger among kings, recalling Brahma's words, O Vyasa, called the river to mind, his head bowed with joined palms.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.128.29)

सा तेन मनसाहूता स्वर्लोकनिलया नदी । क्षणेनाभ्याययौ देवी भुवर्लोकं शुभावहा

sā tena manasāhūtā svarlokanilayā nadī | kṣaṇenābhyāyayau devī bhuvarlokaṁ śubhāvahā

She, that river dwelling in the heavenly world, summoned by his mind, that auspicious goddess, came in an instant to the middle world.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.128.30)

तं लोकं सा समासाद्य मनोनिलजवा नदी । अलंचक्रे महावेगा सर्वं शुभशतारणिः

taṁ lokaṁ sā samāsādya manonilajavā nadī | alaṁcakre mahāvegā sarvaṁ śubhaśatāraṇiḥ

Having reached that world, that river, swift as mind and wind, of great force, adorned everything with her hundredfold auspicious eddies.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.128.31)

ततः सा तिर्यगागम्य आकाशस्था महानदी । आकाशगङ्गा संजज्ञे नाम्ना ओघवतीति वै

tataḥ sā tiryagāgamya ākāśasthā mahānadī | ākāśagaṅgā saṁjajñe nāmnā oghavatīti vai

Then, coming aslant, that great river, situated in the sky, became known as Akashaganga, by the name Oghavati.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.128.32)

आकाशगङ्गा सा भूयो महावेगा महानदी । शिवमस्तु ममेत्येवं पापातार्धपथात्तु सा । शिवगङ्गा ततः प्रोक्ता नाम्ना शिवतरा हि सा

ākāśagaṅgā sā bhūyo mahāvegā mahānadī | śivamastu mametyevaṁ pāpātārdhapathāttu sā | śivagaṅgā tataḥ proktā nāmnā śivatarā hi sā

That great, exceedingly swift Akashaganga, praying 'may it be well with me', from her sinful midcourse was then called Shivaganga, being known by that more auspicious name.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.128.33)

कुर्वती विपुलं शब्दं नदी वज्राशनिस्वनम् । यतो देवैः समं दृष्टा देवगङ्गा ततः स्मृता

kurvatī vipulaṁ śabdaṁ nadī vajrāśanisvanam | yato devaiḥ samaṁ dṛṣṭā devagaṅgā tataḥ smṛtā

Making a vast sound like thunder and lightning, that river, since she was seen together with the gods, was then remembered as Devaganga.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.128.34)

तां दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे देवलोकाश्च सर्वशः । जेपुस्ते सहसा शान्तिं संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहा

tāṁ dṛṣṭvā munayaḥ sarve devalokāśca sarvaśaḥ | jepuste sahasā śāntiṁ saṁprahṛṣṭatanūruhā

Seeing her, all the sages and the entire world of gods, their hair standing on end with joy, at once recited prayers of peace.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.128.35)

तेषां सा जपतां व्यास नदी लोकसुखावहा । स्तुवंती भीतभीतेव त्रिधा भूत्वापतद् भुवि

teṣāṁ sā japatāṁ vyāsa nadī lokasukhāvahā | stuvaṁtī bhītabhīteva tridhā bhūtvāpatad bhuvi

O Vyasa, as they recited, that river, bringer of happiness to the world, as if utterly fearful, praising, became threefold and fell to the earth.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.128.36)

तां पतन्तीं महादेवस्त्रिभिर्वेगैर्महाजवाम् । जटाभारेण जग्राह देवानामेव सन्निधौ

tāṁ patantīṁ mahādevastribhirvegairmahājavām | jaṭābhāreṇa jagrāha devānāmeva sannidhau

As she fell, of great force, with her threefold current, Mahadeva caught her with the mass of his matted locks, right in the presence of the gods.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.128.37)

तं जटाभारमासाद्य सा त्रिस्रोता निरुल्वणा । न तस्यान्तं समासेदे निरुद्धा योगमायया

taṁ jaṭābhāramāsādya sā trisrotā nirulvaṇā | na tasyāntaṁ samāsede niruddhā yogamāyayā

Having reached that mass of matted locks, she, three-streamed, now subdued, restrained by his yogic power, could not find its end.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.128.38)

यस्मात्सा भीतभीता तु स्तुवंती पतिता तदा । तस्मात्सा भीतगङ्गेति स्तोत्रगङ्गेति चोच्यते

yasmātsā bhītabhītā tu stuvaṁtī patitā tadā | tasmātsā bhītagaṅgeti stotragaṅgeti cocyate

Since she, utterly fearful, praising him, fell then, she is therefore called Bhitaganga ('frightened Ganga') and also Stotraganga ('hymn Ganga').

Verse 39 (skanda.8.128.39)

त्रिभिर्वेगैश्च पतिता यस्मात्सा सरिदुत्तमा । त्रिस्रोतेति ततः सा वै प्रोच्यते ब्रह्मवादिभिः

tribhirvegaiśca patitā yasmātsā sariduttamā | trisroteti tataḥ sā vai procyate brahmavādibhiḥ

And since that best of rivers fell with three currents, she is therefore called Tristrota by the expounders of the Veda.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.128.40)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । सा तु तस्मिन्निपतिता धृता देवेन मायया । जटारन्ध्रं विचिन्वाना उवास बहुलाः समाः

sanatkumāra uvāca | sā tu tasminnipatitā dhṛtā devena māyayā | jaṭārandhraṁ vicinvānā uvāsa bahulāḥ samāḥ

Sanatkumara said: Fallen there, held by the god through his power, seeking an opening in the crevices of his matted locks, she dwelt there for many years.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.128.41)

पूर्णं सहस्रं वर्षाणां संस्थितां तां जटागृहे । देवास्तां ददृशुस्सर्वे कोटरान्तर्गतामिव

pūrṇaṁ sahasraṁ varṣāṇāṁ saṁsthitāṁ tāṁ jaṭāgṛhe | devāstāṁ dadṛśussarve koṭarāntargatāmiva

For a full thousand years, as she remained within the abode of his matted locks, all the gods saw her as if enclosed within a hollow.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.128.42)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततस्ते सहसा देवाः प्रणिपत्य वृषध्वजम् । ऊचुर्विमनसो व्यास सरितं मा विनाशय

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataste sahasā devāḥ praṇipatya vṛṣadhvajam | ūcurvimanaso vyāsa saritaṁ mā vināśaya

Sanatkumara said: Then those gods, O Vyasa, suddenly bowing down to the bull-bannered one, said, disheartened: 'Do not destroy the river.'

Verse 43 (skanda.8.128.43)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दृष्टवा राजानमेव च । विधुधाव जटाभारं देवदेवो दयामय

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā dṛṣṭavā rājānameva ca | vidhudhāva jaṭābhāraṁ devadevo dayāmaya

Hearing their words, and seeing the king too, the merciful God of gods shook the mass of his matted locks.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.128.44)

विधुन्वतो जटाभारं पेतुर्वै तत्र बिन्दवः । ते मुक्ताफलसंकाशाः पूर्णचन्द्रांशुनिर्मलाः

vidhunvato jaṭābhāraṁ peturvai tatra bindavaḥ | te muktāphalasaṁkāśāḥ pūrṇacandrāṁśunirmalāḥ

As he shook the mass of matted locks, drops indeed fell there; they, resembling pearls, spotless as the rays of the full moon,

Verse 45 (skanda.8.128.45)

चक्रुर्बिन्दुसरो दिव्यं सागराकारवर्चसम् । तस्माच्छ्रोतांसि सप्तैव निःसृतानि महान्ति च

cakrurbindusaro divyaṁ sāgarākāravarcasam | tasmācchrotāṁsi saptaiva niḥsṛtāni mahānti ca

formed the divine Bindusaras, of the splendor and shape of an ocean; from it seven great streams issued forth.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.128.46)

नलिनी ह्लादिनी चैव प्लावनी चैव पूर्वगा । सीता चक्षुश्च सिन्धुश्च तिस्रस्ता वै प्रतीचिगाः

nalinī hlādinī caiva plāvanī caiva pūrvagā | sītā cakṣuśca sindhuśca tisrastā vai pratīcigāḥ

Nalini, and Hladini, and Plavani going eastward; Sita, and Chakshu, and Sindhu — those three going westward.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.128.47)

मध्यमं त्वन्वगात्स्रोतो राजा येन भगीरथः । भागीरथीति सा गङ्गा प्रोच्यते ब्रह्मवादिभिः

madhyamaṁ tvanvagātsroto rājā yena bhagīrathaḥ | bhāgīrathīti sā gaṅgā procyate brahmavādibhiḥ

The middle stream, however, king Bhagiratha followed; that Ganga is called Bhagirathi by the expounders of the Veda.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.128.48)

दारयन्ती जगामाथ हिमवन्तं सरिद्वरा । निरुद्धा हिमवत्पादे रत्नशृंगे शिलोच्चये

dārayantī jagāmātha himavantaṁ saridvarā | niruddhā himavatpāde ratnaśṛṁge śiloccaye

Then that best of rivers, cleaving her way, went toward the Himalaya, but was blocked at the foot of the Himalaya, at the jeweled peak, the rocky height.

Verse 49 (skanda.8.128.49)

तां निरुद्धां ततो वीक्ष्य विषण्णवदनस्तदा । राजा भगीरथो व्यास ब्रह्माणं मनसास्मरत्

tāṁ niruddhāṁ tato vīkṣya viṣaṇṇavadanastadā | rājā bhagīratho vyāsa brahmāṇaṁ manasāsmarat

Seeing her thus blocked, O Vyasa, his face downcast, King Bhagiratha then called Brahma to mind.

Verse 50 (skanda.8.128.50)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततस्स भगवान् ब्रह्मा सुप्रतीकं महागजम् । उवाच दन्तवज्राभ्यां दारयैनं शिलोच्चयम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | tatassa bhagavān brahmā supratīkaṁ mahāgajam | uvāca dantavajrābhyāṁ dārayainaṁ śiloccayam

Sanatkumara said: Then the Blessed Brahma said to the great elephant Supratika: 'Cleave this rocky height with your two thunderbolt-like tusks.'

Verse 51 (skanda.8.128.51)

स यत्र गिरिराड् भिन्नः सुप्रतीकेन हस्तिना । गङ्गाद्वारं तु तत् प्रोक्तं सुपुण्यं चैव तत् स्मृतम्

sa yatra girirāḍ bhinnaḥ supratīkena hastinā | gaṅgādvāraṁ tu tat proktaṁ supuṇyaṁ caiva tat smṛtam

Where the king of mountains was split by the elephant Supratika, that is called Gangadwara, and is remembered as most sacred.

Verse 52 (skanda.8.128.52)

गजश्चाभिमुखो यावन्नातिष्ठत महायशाः । स्रोतसा तावदध्वानमूढो द्वादशयोजनम्

gajaścābhimukho yāvannātiṣṭhata mahāyaśāḥ | srotasā tāvadadhvānamūḍho dvādaśayojanam

As far as that most glorious elephant, facing the flow, continued to stand, so far the stream, confused, ran a course of twelve yojanas.

Verse 53 (skanda.8.128.53)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतत् पुण्यतमं व्यास गङ्गावतरणं स्मृतम् । स्थानं भस्त्रापदं नाम मया यत् परिकीर्तितम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | etat puṇyatamaṁ vyāsa gaṅgāvataraṇaṁ smṛtam | sthānaṁ bhastrāpadaṁ nāma mayā yat parikīrtitam

Sanatkumara said: O Vyasa, this most sacred descent of Ganga is thus remembered, along with the place named Bhastrapada that I have described.

Verse 54 (skanda.8.128.54)

य इदं शृणुयान्मर्त्यः सदा पर्वसु पर्वसु । स देवलोकं संप्राप्य देवैः सह चरिष्यति

ya idaṁ śṛṇuyānmartyaḥ sadā parvasu parvasu | sa devalokaṁ saṁprāpya devaiḥ saha cariṣyati

Whatever mortal always hears this at every sacred period attains the world of the gods and moves about together with them.

Verse 55 (skanda.8.128.55)

इदं महत्पापविमोचनं शुभं विमानयानाप्सरसां विलम्भनम् । शृणोति यो नित्यमदीनमानसः स याति लोकान्विदितान्दिवौकसाम्

idaṁ mahatpāpavimocanaṁ śubhaṁ vimānayānāpsarasāṁ vilambhanam | śṛṇoti yo nityamadīnamānasaḥ sa yāti lokānviditāndivaukasām

Whoever, ever unafflicted in mind, hears this great, auspicious account, liberator from sin, the means to a celestial car and Apsaras, attains the renowned worlds of the gods.