The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā

Verse 1

वसुरुवाच । श्रृणु मोहिनी वक्ष्यामि तीर्थानां लक्षणं पृथक् । येन विज्ञातमात्रेण पापिनां गतिरुत्तमा ॥ २ ॥

Vasu said: “Listen, O Mohinī. I shall explain, one by one, the distinguishing characteristics of the tīrthas, the sacred places of pilgrimage—by merely understanding which, even sinners attain the highest destination.”

Verse 2

सर्वेषामपि तीर्थानां श्रेष्ठा गंगा धरातले । न तस्या सदृशं किंचिद्विद्यते पापनाशनम् ॥ ३ ॥

Among all sacred pilgrimage places on earth, the Gaṅgā is the foremost; nothing comparable to her is found for the destruction of sins.

Verse 3

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य वसोः स्वस्य पुरोधसः । प्रणता मोहिनी प्राह गंगास्नानकृतादरा ॥ ४ ॥

Hearing those words from Vasu’s own household priest, Mohinī bowed down and replied, her reverence heightened by the merit and sanctity of bathing in the Gaṅgā.

Verse 4

मोहिन्युवाच । भगवन्वाडवश्रेष्ठ गंगामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । सर्वेषां च पुराणानां संमतं वद सांप्रतम् ॥ ५ ॥

Mohinī said: “O Blessed one, O best among the Vāḍavas, please tell me now the supreme greatness of the Gaṅgā—an account approved and affirmed by all the Purāṇas.”

Verse 5

श्रुत्वा माहात्म्यमतुलं गंगायाः पापनाशनम् । पश्चात्पापविनाशिन्यां स्नातुं यास्ये त्वया सह ॥ ६ ॥

Having heard the incomparable greatness of the Gaṅgā, the destroyer of sins, I shall afterwards go with you to bathe in that sin-dispelling river.

Verse 6

तच्छ्रुत्वा मोहिनीवाक्यं वसुः सर्वपुराणवित् । माहात्म्यं कथयामास गंगायाः पापनाशनम् ॥ ७ ॥

Hearing those enchanting words, Vasu—knower of all the Purāṇas—began to narrate the greatness of the Gaṅgā, the destroyer of sins.

Verse 7

वसुरुवाच । ते देशास्ते जनपदास्ते शैला स्तेऽपि चाश्रमाः । येषां भागीरथी पुण्या समीपे वर्तते सदा ॥ ८ ॥

Vasu said: Those regions, those provinces, those mountains, and those hermitages are truly blessed—near which the holy Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā) ever flows.

Verse 8

तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण यज्ञैस्त्यागेन वा पुनः । तां गतिं न लभेज्जंतुर्गंगां संसेव्य यां लभेत् ॥ ९ ॥

By austerity, by celibate discipline, by sacrifices, or again by renunciation, a being does not attain that supreme state which one attains by devotedly resorting to the Gaṅgā.

Verse 9

पूर्वे वयसि पापानि कृत्वा कर्माणि ये नराः । शेषे गंगां निषेवंते तेऽपि यांति परां गतिम् ॥ १० ॥

Even those men who committed sinful deeds in their earlier years—if, in the later part of life, they devotedly resort to the river Gaṅgā—those too attain the supreme state.

Verse 10

तिष्ठेद्युगसहस्रं तु पादेनैकेन यः पुमान् । मासमेकं तु गंगायां स्नातस्तुल्यफलावुभौ ॥ ११ ॥

A man who stands on a single foot for a thousand yugas and one who bathes in the holy Gaṅgā for a single month—both attain an equal fruit of merit.

Verse 11

तिष्ठेतार्वाक्छिरा यस्तु युगानामयुतं पुमान् । तिष्ठेद्यथेष्टं यश्चापि गंगायां स विशिष्यते ॥ १२ ॥

Even if a man were to stand with his head bent downward for ten thousand yugas, and even if another were to remain in the Gaṅgā in whatever way he wishes, the one who abides in the Gaṅgā is deemed superior.

Verse 12

भूतानामिह सर्वेषां दुःखोपहतचेतसाम् । गतिमन्वेषमाणानां न गंगासदृशी गतिः ॥ १३ ॥

For all beings here, whose hearts are crushed by sorrow and who seek a true refuge, there is no sanctuary comparable to the Gaṅgā.

Verse 13

प्रकृष्टैः पातकै र्घोरैः पापिनः पुरुषाधमान् । प्रसह्य तारयेद्गुंगा गच्छतो निरयेऽशुचौ ॥ १४ ॥

Even the most sinful—base among men—burdened with dreadful, grievous sins and bound for the impure hell, are forcibly carried across to deliverance by the Gaṅgā.

Verse 14

ते समानास्तु मुनिभिर्नूनं देवैः सवासवैः । येऽभिगच्छंति सततं गंगामभिमतां सुरैः ॥ १५ ॥

Surely, those who constantly go to the Gaṅgā—so beloved of the gods—are indeed equal to the sages and to the deities, even Indra and his celestial host.

Verse 15

अंधाञ्जडान्द्रव्यहीनांश्च गंगा संपावयेद्बृहती विश्वरूपा । देवैः सेंद्रैर्मुनिभिर्मानवैश्च निषेविता सर्वकालं समृद्ध्ये ॥ १६ ॥

The mighty Gaṅgā—vast and of universal form—thoroughly purifies even the blind, the dull-witted, and the poor who lack resources. Ever resorted to by the gods with Indra, by sages, and by human beings, she remains perpetually a source of prosperity.

Verse 16

पक्षादौ कृष्णपक्षे तु भूमौ संनिहिता भवेत् । यावत्पुण्या ह्यमावास्या दिनानि दश मोहिनि ॥ १७ ॥

At the beginning of the dark fortnight (Kṛṣṇa-pakṣa), she remains present upon the earth, O enchantress, for as long as the sacred new-moon day (Amāvāsyā) lasts—ten days in all.

Verse 17

शुक्लप्रतिपदादेश्च दिनानि दश संख्यया । पाताले सन्निधानं तु कुरुते स्वयमेव हि ॥ १८ ॥

Beginning from the bright fortnight’s first lunar day (Śukla Pratipadā), for a count of ten days, it indeed establishes its presence in Pātāla (the nether regions) of its own accord.

Verse 18

आरभ्य शुक्लैकादश्या दिनानि दश यानि तु । पंचम्यं तानि सा स्वर्गे भवेत्सन्निहिता सदा ॥ १९ ॥

Beginning from the bright-fortnight Ekādaśī, for the ten days that follow—up to (the bright) Pañcamī—she remains in heaven, ever present there.

Verse 19

कृते तु सर्वतीर्थानि त्रेतायां पुष्करं परम् । द्वापरे तु कुरुक्षेत्रं कलौ गंगा विशिष्यते ॥ २० ॥

In the Kṛta Yuga, all sacred fords (tīrthas) are pre-eminent; in the Tretā Yuga, Puṣkara is supreme; in the Dvāpara Yuga, Kurukṣetra is supreme; but in the Kali Yuga, the Gaṅgā is especially distinguished.

Verse 20

कलौ तु सर्वतीर्थानि स्वं स्वं वीर्यं स्वभावतः । गंगायां प्रतिमुंचंति सा तु देवी न कुत्रचित् ॥ २१ ॥

In the age of Kali, all sacred tīrthas, by their very nature, pour their own spiritual potency into the Gaṅgā; yet the Goddess Gaṅgā never transfers her power to any other place.

Verse 21

गंगांभः कणदिग्धस्य वायोः संस्पर्शनादपि । पापशीला अपि नराः परां गतिमवाप्नुयुः ॥ २२ ॥

Even by merely touching the wind moistened by droplets of Gaṅgā-water, people of sinful conduct too may attain the supreme destination.

Verse 22

योऽसौ सर्वगतो विष्णुश्चित्स्वरूपी जनार्दनः । स एव द्रवरूपेण गंगांभो नात्र संशयः ॥ २३ ॥

That all-pervading Viṣṇu—Janārdana, whose very nature is pure consciousness—is Himself present in liquid form as the waters of the Gaṅgā; of this there is no doubt.

Verse 23

ब्रह्महा गुरुडा गोघ्नः स्तेयी च गुरुतल्पगः । गंगांभसा च पूयंते नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ २४ ॥

Even a slayer of a brāhmaṇa, a slayer of one’s teacher, a killer of a cow, a thief, and one who violates the guru’s bed—these too are purified by the waters of the Gaṅgā; here there is no need for doubt or deliberation.

Verse 24

क्षेत्रस्थमृद्धृतं वापि शीतमुष्णमथापि वा । गांगेयं तु हरेत्तोयं पापमामरणांतिकम् ॥ २५ ॥

Whether the water is drawn at the sacred place or carried from there, whether it is cold or even warm—Gaṅgā-water indeed removes sin, right up to the end of life (until death).

Verse 25

वर्ज्यं पर्युषितं तोयं वर्ज्यं पुर्युषितं दलम् । न वर्ज्यं जाह्नवीतोयं न वर्ज्यं तुलसीदलम् ॥ २६ ॥

Stale water should be avoided, and stale leaves should be avoided. Yet the water of Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) is not to be rejected, nor are Tulasī leaves to be rejected, even if kept over.

Verse 26

मेरोः सुवर्णस्य च सर्वरत्नैः संख्योपलानामुदकस्य वापि । गंगाजलानां न तु शक्तिरस्ति वक्तुं गुणाख्यापरिमाणमत्र ॥ २७ ॥

Even were one to draw upon Mount Meru’s gold, all precious gems, countless pebbles, and even water itself, there is still no power to fully declare the measure and vast extent of the Gaṅgā’s waters’ virtues.

Verse 27

तीर्थयात्राविधिं कृत्स्नमकुर्वाणोऽपि यो नरः । गंगातोयस्य माहात्म्यात्सोऽप्यत्र फलभाग्भवेत् ॥ २८ ॥

Even one who does not carry out the pilgrimage-rites in their entirety still becomes a sharer of the spiritual fruits here—by the greatness of the Gaṅgā’s waters.

Verse 28

चिंतामणिगुणाच्चापि गंगायास्तोयबिंदवः । विशिष्टा यत्प्रयच्छंति भक्तेभ्यो वांछितं फलम् ॥ २९ ॥

Surpassing even the famed wish-fulfilling gem, cintāmaṇi, the very drops of Gaṅgā-water are most excellent—because they grant devotees the fruit they seek.

Verse 29

गंडूषमात्रतो भक्त्या सकूद्गंगांभसा नरः । कामधेनु स्तनोद्भूतान्भुंक्ते दिव्यरसान्दिवि ॥ ३० ॥

A person who, with devotion, even once merely takes a mouthful of Gaṅgā-water to rinse the mouth, enjoys in heaven divine nectarean tastes that arise from the udders of Kāmadhenū.

Verse 30

शालग्रामशिलायां यस्तु गंगाजलं क्षिपेत् । अपहत्य तमस्तीव्रं भाति सूर्यो यथोदये ॥ ३१ ॥

Whoever pours Gaṅgā-water upon the Śālagrāma stone—having dispelled intense darkness—shines forth like the sun at sunrise.

Verse 31

मनोवाक्कायजैर्ग्रस्तः पापैर्बहुविधैरपि । वीक्ष्य गंगां भवेत्पूतः पुरुषो नात्र संशयः ॥ ३२ ॥

Even one afflicted by many sins born of mind, speech, and body becomes purified simply by beholding the Gaṅgā—of this there is no doubt.

Verse 32

गंगातोयाभिषिक्तां तु भिक्षामश्नाति यः सदा । सर्पवत्कंचुकं मुक्त्वा पापहीनो भवेत्स वै ॥ ३३ ॥

Whoever always eats alms-food sanctified by being sprinkled with the waters of the Gaṅgā—casting off sin like a serpent sheds its slough—indeed becomes free from wrongdoing.

Verse 33

हिमवद्विंध्यसदृशा राशयः पापकर्मणाम् । गंगांभसा विनश्यंति विष्णुभक्त्या यथापदः ॥ ३४ ॥

Heaps of sinful deeds—vast like the Himalayas and the Vindhya ranges—are destroyed by the waters of the Gaṅgā; likewise, by devotion to Viṣṇu they are destroyed as though they were mere footprints.

Verse 34

प्रवेशमात्रे गंगायां स्नानार्थं भक्तितो नृणाम् । ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि हाहेत्युक्त्वा प्रयांत्यलम् ॥ ३५ ॥

The moment people enter the Gaṅgā with devotion, intending to bathe, sins such as brahmahatyā (the killing of a brāhmaṇa) cry out “Alas!” and depart completely.

Verse 35

गंगातीरे वसेन्नित्यं गंगातोयं पिबेत्सदा । यः पुमान्स विमुच्येत पातकैः पूर्वसंचितैः ॥ ३६ ॥

That man who ever dwells upon the bank of the Gaṅgā and always drinks the waters of the Gaṅgā is released from sins amassed in former times.

Verse 36

यो वै गंगां समाश्रित्य नित्यं तिष्ठति निर्भयः । स एव देवैर्मर्त्यैश्च पूजनीयो महर्षिभिः ॥ ३७ ॥

Whoever takes refuge in the Gaṅgā and abides each day steadfast and fearless—he alone is worthy of worship by the gods, by mortals, and by the great ṛṣis.

Verse 37

किमष्टांगेन योगेन किं तपोभिः किमध्वरैः । वास एव हि गंगायां सर्वतोऽपि विशिष्यते ॥ ३८ ॥

What need is there for the eight-limbed yoga, for austerities, or for sacrificial rites? Mere residence upon the Gaṅgā is indeed superior to all.

Verse 38

किं यज्ञैर्बहुभिर्जाप्यैः किं तपोभिर्धनार्पणैः । स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदा गंगा सुखसेव्या यतः स्थिता ॥ ३९ ॥

What need is there for many sacrifices and repeated japa? What need for austerities and offerings of wealth? For the Gaṅgā is present here, easy to approach and serve, and she bestows both heaven and liberation.

Verse 39

यज्ञैर्यमैश्च नियमैर्दानैः संन्यासतोऽपि वा । न तत्फलमवाप्रोति गंगां सेव्य यदाप्नुयात् ॥ ४० ॥

By sacrifices, by yamas and niyamas, by gifts, or even by renunciation—one does not attain that very fruit which is gained by serving the River Gaṅgā.

Verse 40

प्रभासे गोसहस्त्रेण राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे । यत्फलं लभते मर्त्यो गंगायां तद्दिनेन वै ॥ ४१ ॥

Whatever merit a mortal gains at Prabhāsa by gifting a thousand cows when Rāhu eclipses the sun, that very merit is gained at the Gaṅgā in a single day.

Verse 41

अन्योपायांश्च यस्त्यक्त्वा मीक्षकामः सुनिश्चितः । गंगातीरे सुखं तिष्ठेत्स वै मोक्षस्य भाजनम् ॥ ४२ ॥

One who abandons other means, firmly resolved and intent on liberation, and dwells peacefully on the bank of the Gaṅgā—he indeed becomes a worthy recipient of mokṣa.

Verse 42

वाराणस्यां विशेषण गंगा सद्यस्तु मोक्षदा । प्रतिमासं चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां चैव सर्वदा ॥ ४३ ॥

O distinguished one, in Vārāṇasī the Gaṅgā is indeed an immediate bestower of liberation—always so, and especially each month on the fourteenth lunar day and on the eighth lunar day.

Verse 43

गंगातीरे निवासश्च यावज्जीवं च सिद्धिदः । कृच्छ्राणि सर्वदा कृत्वा यत्फलं सुखमश्नुते ॥ ४४ ॥

Living on the bank of the Gaṅgā for one’s whole life bestows spiritual success. The blissful fruit gained by continually performing severe kṛcchra austerities is attained there with ease.

Verse 44

सदा चांद्रायणं चैव तल्लभेज्जाह्नवीतटे । गंगासेवापरस्येह दिवसार्द्धेन यत्फलम् ॥ ४५ ॥

On the bank of the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā), one gains the fruit of continually performing the Cāndrāyaṇa vow; for one devoted to serving the Gaṅgā here, that same merit is obtained in just half a day.

Verse 45

न तच्छक्यं ब्रह्मसुते प्राप्तुं क्रतुशतैरपि । सर्वयज्ञतपोदानयोगस्वाध्यायकर्मभिः ॥ ४६ ॥

O son of Brahmā, that supreme attainment cannot be reached even by hundreds of Vedic sacrifices—nor by all sacrifices, austerities, gifts, yogic disciplines, Vedic self-study, or ritual actions.

Verse 46

यत्फलं तल्लभेद्भक्त्या गंगातीरनिवासतः । यत्पुण्यं सत्यवचनैर्नैष्ठिकब्रह्मचारिणाम् ॥ ४७ ॥

That very fruit is attained through devotion by residing on the bank of the Gaṅgā; and that same merit (puṇya) of steadfast lifelong celibates is gained through truthful speech.

Verse 47

यदग्निहोत्रिणां पुण्यं तत्तु गंगानिवासतः । समातृपितृदाराणां कुलकोटिमनंतकम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Whatever merit belongs to those who maintain the Agnihotra, that very merit is attained simply by residing on the banks of the Gaṅgā—an inexhaustible benefit extending to countless crores of one’s lineage, together with one’s mother, father, and spouse.

Verse 48

गंगाभक्तिस्तारयते संसारार्णवतो ध्रुवम् । संतोषः परमैश्वर्यं तत्त्वज्ञानं सुखात्मनाम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Devotion to the Gaṅgā surely ferries one across the ocean of worldly existence. Contentment is the highest wealth, and true knowledge of reality (tattva-jñāna) is the joy of those whose nature is happiness.

Verse 49

विनयाचारसंपत्तिर्गंगाभक्तस्य जायते । कृतकृत्यो भवेन्मर्त्यो गंगां प्राप्यैव केवलम् ॥ ५० ॥

In the devotee of the Gaṅgā, the wealth of humility and right conduct naturally arises. A mortal becomes one who has fulfilled life’s purpose merely by attaining the Gaṅgā alone.

Verse 50

तद्भक्तस्तत्परश्च स्यान्मृतो वापि न संशयः । भक्त्या तज्जलसंस्पर्शी तज्जलं पिबते च यः ॥ ५१ ॥

Whether living or even departed—without doubt—one becomes His devotee, wholly devoted to Him: the person who, with bhakti, touches that sacred water and also drinks that water.

Verse 51

अनायासेन हि नरो मोक्षोपायं स विंदति । दीक्षितः सर्वयज्ञेषु सोमपानं दिने दिने ॥ ५२ ॥

Indeed, without strenuous effort a man attains the means to liberation; he becomes as though initiated (dīkṣā) into all sacrifices, and gains the merit of Soma-drinking day after day.

Verse 52

सर्वाणि येषां गंगायास्तोयैः कृत्यानि सर्वदा । देहं त्यक्त्वा नरास्ते तु मोदंते शिवसन्निधौ ॥ ५३ ॥

Those people for whom all sacred duties are always performed with the waters of the Gaṅgā—after giving up the body, they rejoice in the very presence of Śiva.

Verse 53

देवाः सोमार्कसंस्थानि यथा शक्रादयो मुखैः । अमृतान्युपभुंजंति तथा गंगाजलं नराः ॥ ५४ ॥

Just as Indra (Śakra) and the other gods partake of nectars in the abodes of the Moon and the Sun, so too do human beings partake of the water of the Gaṅgā.

Verse 54

कन्यादानैश्च विधिवद्भूमिदानैश्च भक्तितः । अन्नदानैश्च गोदानैः स्वर्णदानादिभिस्तथा ॥ ५५ ॥

By giving a maiden in marriage according to proper rite (kanyādāna), by gifting land with devotion, and likewise by gifts of food, cows, gold, and other such offerings—one accrues religious merit through these acts of dāna (charitable giving).

Verse 55

रथाश्वगजदानैश्च यत्पुण्यं परिकीर्तितम् । ततः शतगुणं पुण्यं गंगांभश्चुलुकाशनात् ॥ ५६ ॥

Whatever merit is proclaimed to arise from gifting chariots, horses, and elephants—one hundred times greater than that is the merit gained by sipping even a palmful of sacred Gaṅgā water.

Verse 56

चांद्रायणसहस्राणां यत्फलं परिकीर्तितम् । ततोऽधिकफलं गंगातोयपानादवाप्यते ॥ ५७ ॥

Whatever merit is declared to arise from a thousand Cāndrāyaṇa observances—an even greater fruit is obtained by drinking the waters of the Gaṅgā.

Verse 57

गंडूषमात्रपाने तु अश्वमेधफलं लभेत् । स्वच्छंदं यः पिबेदंभस्तस्य मुक्तिः करे स्थिता ॥ ५८ ॥

By merely drinking a ritual mouthful (gandūṣa), one gains the fruit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice. But for the one who drinks the water freely, with faith and reverence, liberation itself stands—as it were—in the palm of his hand.

Verse 58

त्रिभिः सारस्वतं तोयं सप्तभिस्त्वथ यामुनम् । नार्मदं दशभिर्मासैर्गांगं वर्षेण जीर्यति ॥ ५९ ॥

The water of the Sarasvatī becomes stale in three days; that of the Yamunā in seven. The water of the Narmadā becomes stale in ten months, while the water of the Gaṅgā only becomes stale after a year.

Verse 59

शास्त्रेणाकृततोयानां मृतानां क्वापि देहिनाम् । तदुत्तरफलावाप्तिर्गंगायामस्थियोगतः ॥ ६० ॥

For embodied beings who have died somewhere without the prescribed water-rites being performed according to scripture, the subsequent (post-death) benefit is obtained by the connection of their bones with the Gaṅgā.

Verse 60

चांद्रायणसहस्रं तु यश्चरेत्कायशोधनम् । यः पिबेत्तु यथेष्ठं हि गंगाम्भः स विशिष्यते ॥ ६१ ॥

Even if one performs a thousand Cāndrāyaṇa observances to purify the body—greater still is the one who drinks, as he wishes, the waters of the Gaṅgā; such a person is deemed exceptional.

Verse 61

गंगां पश्यति यः स्तौति स्नाति भक्त्या पिबेज्जलम् । स स्वर्गं ज्ञानममलं योगं मोक्षं च विंदति ॥ ६२ ॥

Whoever beholds the Gaṅgā, praises her, bathes in her with devotion, and drinks her water—such a person attains heaven, stainless knowledge, yogic attainment, and liberation as well.

Verse 62

यस्तु सूर्य्यांशुनिष्टप्तं गांगेयं पिबते जलम् । गोमूत्रयावकाहाराद्गांगपानं विशिष्यते ॥ ६३ ॥

But whoever drinks Gaṅgā-water warmed by the sun’s rays—such drinking of the Gaṅgā is regarded as superior to the observance of living on cow’s urine and barley-gruel.

Verse 63

इति श्रीबृहन्नारदीयपुराणोत्तरभागे मोहिनीवसुसंवादे गंगामाहात्म्यवर्णनं नामाष्टत्रिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः ॥ ३८ ॥

Thus ends the thirty-eighth chapter, called “The Description of the Greatness of the Gaṅgā,” in the Uttarabhāga of the Śrī Bṛhannāradīya Purāṇa, within the dialogue between Mohinī and the Vasu.