The Greatness of Bathing in the Ganges (Gaṅgā-snānā-mahātmya)

Verse 1

वसुरुवाच । श्रृणु मोहिनि वक्ष्यामि गंगाया दर्शने फलम् । यदुक्तं हि पुराणेषु मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः ॥ १ ॥

Vasu said: “Listen, O Mohinī. I shall declare the fruit of beholding the Gaṅgā, as it has indeed been stated in the Purāṇas by sages who are seers of truth.”

Verse 2

भवंति निर्विषाः सर्पा यथा तार्क्ष्यस्य दशनात् । गंगासंदर्शनात्तद्वत्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ २ ॥

Just as snakes are rendered free of poison by the bite of Tārkṣya (Garuḍa), so too, by merely beholding the Gaṅgā one is released from all sins.

Verse 3

सप्तावरान् सप्तपरान् पितृंस्तेभ्यश्च ये परे । पुमांस्तारयते गंगां वीक्ष्य स्पृष्ट्वावगाह्य च ॥ ३ ॥

By merely beholding the Gaṅgā, touching her, and bathing in her, a man delivers his forefathers—seven generations above and seven generations below—and even those ancestors beyond them.

Verse 4

दर्शनात्स्पर्शनात्पानात्तथा गंगेति कीर्तनात् । पुमान्पुनाति पुरुषाञ्छतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥ ४ ॥

By merely seeing her, touching her, drinking her waters, and likewise by chanting the name “Ganga,” a person becomes purified—and he purifies hundreds, indeed thousands, of other people.

Verse 5

ज्ञानमैश्वर्यमतुलं प्रतिष्ठायुर्यशस्तथा । शुभानामाश्रमाणां च गंगादर्शनजं फलम् ॥ ५ ॥

From merely beholding the Gaṅgā arise these rewards: spiritual knowledge, incomparable prosperity, reputation, longevity, and fame—as well as the auspicious fruits belonging to the (four) āśramas of life.

Verse 6

सर्वेन्द्रियाणां चांचल्यं व्यसनानि च पातकम् । निर्घृणत्वं च नश्यंति गंगादर्शन मात्रतः ॥ ६ ॥

The fickleness of all the senses, addictions and calamities, sin, and even cruelty are destroyed merely by beholding the Gaṅgā.

Verse 7

परहिंसा च कौटिल्यं परदोषाद्यवेक्षणम् । दांभिकत्वं नृणां गंगादर्शनादेव नश्यति ॥ ७ ॥

Violence toward others, deceit, the habit of scrutinizing others’ faults, and hypocrisy in people—all these are destroyed merely by the sight of the River Gaṅgā.

Verse 8

मुहुर्मुहुस्तथा पश्येत्स्पृशेद्वापि मुहुर्मुहुः । भक्त्या यदिच्छति नरः शाश्वतं पदमव्ययम् ॥ ८ ॥

Again and again one should behold it, and again and again one should touch it; for the man who seeks—with devotion—the eternal, imperishable state, this is the true means.

Verse 9

वापीकूपतडागादिप्रपासत्रादिभिस्तथा । अन्यत्र यद्भवेत्पुण्यं तद्गंगादर्शनाद्भवेत् ॥ ९ ॥

Whatever merit is gained elsewhere by pious works such as constructing wells, ponds, tanks, water-stations, and rest-houses, that very merit arises from merely beholding the Gaṅgā.

Verse 10

यत्फलं जायते पुंसां दर्शने परमात्मनः । तद्भवेदेव गंगाया दर्शनाद्भक्तिभावतः ॥ १० ॥

Whatever spiritual fruit arises for people from the direct vision of the Supreme Self, that very fruit indeed arises from beholding the Gaṅgā, when it is done with a devotional disposition.

Verse 11

नैमिषे च कुरुक्षेत्रे नर्मदायां च पुष्करे । स्नानात्संस्पर्शना सेव्य यत्फलं लभते नरः ॥ ११ ॥

By bathing—or even by mere contact—in Naimiṣa, Kurukṣetra, the Narmadā, and Puṣkara, a person obtains the spiritual merit that is to be gained there through reverent observance.

Verse 12

तद्गंगादर्शनादेव कलौ प्राहुर्महर्षयः । अथ ते स्मरणस्यापि गंगाया भूपभामिनि ॥ १२ ॥

The great sages have declared that, in the Kali age, merely by beholding the Gaṅgā one attains that merit. And further, O radiant queen of kings, even by remembering the Gaṅgā one gains it.

Verse 13

प्रवक्ष्यामि फलं यत्तु पुराणेषु प्रकीर्तितम् । अशुभैः कर्मभिर्युक्तान्मज्जमानान्भवार्णवे ॥ १३ ॥

I shall now declare the fruit praised in the Purāṇas—the fruit that rescues those who, bound by inauspicious deeds, are sinking in the ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 14

पततो नरके गङ्गा स्मृता दूरात्समुद्धरेत् । योजनानां सहस्रेषु गंगां स्मरति यो नरः ॥ १४ ॥

Even one who is falling into hell—if he merely remembers the Gaṅgā—she lifts him up from afar. A man who remembers the Gaṅgā even from thousands of yojanas away is thus delivered.

Verse 15

अपि दुष्कृतकर्मा हि लभते परमां गतिम् । स्मरणादेव गंगायाः पापसंघातपंजरम् ॥ १५ ॥

Even a person who has committed evil deeds attains the supreme goal merely by remembering the Gaṅgā, for that remembrance shatters the cage-like enclosure formed by a mass of sins.

Verse 16

भेदं सहस्रधा याति गिरिर्वज्रहतो यथा । गच्छंस्तिष्ठन्स्वपन्ध्यायञ्जाग्रद्भुंजन् हसन् रुदन् ॥ १६ ॥

As a mountain struck by a vajra-thunderbolt is shattered into a thousand fragments, so too (the bonds) are split and scattered—while walking, standing, sleeping, meditating, waking, eating, laughing, and weeping.

Verse 17

यः स्मरेत्सततं गंगां स च मुच्येत बंधनात् । सहस्रयोजनस्थाश्च गंगां भक्त्या स्मरंति ये ॥ १७ ॥

Whoever constantly remembers the Goddess Gaṅgā is freed from bondage. Even those a thousand yojanas away, if they remember Gaṅgā with devotion (bhakti), attain that same liberating benefit.

Verse 18

गंगागंगेति चाक्रुश्य मुच्यंते तेऽपि पातकात् । ये च स्मरंति वै गंगां गंगाभक्तिपराश्च ये ॥ १८ ॥

Even those who merely cry out “Gaṅgā, Gaṅgā!” are released from sin. Likewise, those who truly remember Gaṅgā, and those steadfast in bhakti to her, are freed from wrongdoing and its consequences.

Verse 19

तेऽप्यशेषैर्महापापैर्मुच्यंते नात्र संशयः । भवनानि विचित्राणि विचित्राभरणाः स्त्रियः ॥ १९ ॥

Even they are freed from all great sins—of this there is no doubt. They obtain wondrous mansions, and women adorned with splendid, varied ornaments.

Verse 20

आरोग्यं वित्त्रसंपत्तिर्गंगास्मरणंज फलम् । मनसा संस्मरेद्यस्तु गंगां दूरस्थितो नरः ॥ २० ॥

The fruits of remembering Gaṅgā are health and the gaining of wealth. Even a person far away, if he recalls Gaṅgā in his mind, attains these results.

Verse 21

चांद्रायणसहस्रस्य स फलं लभते ध्रुवम् । गङ्गा गङ्गा जपन्नाम योजनानां शते स्थितः ॥ २१ ॥

He certainly obtains the merit of performing a thousand Cāndrāyaṇa vows—even while remaining a hundred yojanas away—if he keeps repeating the name “Gaṅgā, Gaṅgā.”

Verse 22

मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति । कीर्तनान्मुच्यते पापाद्दर्शनान्मंगलं लभेत् ॥ २२ ॥

One is freed from all sins and attains the realm of Viṣṇu. By kīrtana, the chanting of His glories, one is released from sin; by darśana, the sacred beholding of Him, one gains auspiciousness.

Verse 23

अवगाह्य तथा पीत्वा पुनात्यासप्तमं कुलम् । सप्तावपरान्परान्सप्त सप्ताथ परतः परान् ॥ २३ ॥

By bathing there and likewise drinking that sacred water, one purifies one’s lineage up to the seventh generation—seven generations of descendants, seven of ancestors, and seven further beyond them.

Verse 24

गंगा तारयते पुंसां प्रसंगेनापि कीर्तिता । अश्रद्धयापि गंगाया यत्तु नामानुकीर्तनम् ॥ २४ ॥

The Gaṅgā delivers people even when she is mentioned only incidentally. Even without faith, the mere repeated utterance of Gaṅgā’s name becomes, in itself, a saving act.

Verse 25

करोति पुण्यवाहिन्याः सोऽपि स्वर्गस्य भाजनम् । सर्वावस्थां गतो वापि सर्वधर्मविवर्जितः ॥ २५ ॥

Even one devoid of all dharma—whatever condition of life he may have fallen into—becomes a recipient of heaven if he performs the prescribed devotion and service in relation to the holy, merit-bearing river.

Verse 26

गंगायाः कीर्तनेनैव शुभां गतिमवाप्नुयात् । ब्रह्महा गुरुहागोघ्नः स्पृष्टो वा सर्वपातकैः ॥ २६ ॥

By the mere glorification of the Gaṅgā, one attains an auspicious destiny—even if one is a slayer of a brāhmaṇa, a slayer of a guru, a killer of a cow, or one tainted by all major sins.

Verse 27

गंगातोयं नरः स्पृष्ट्वा मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः । कदा द्रक्ष्यामि तां गंगां कदा स्नानं लभे ह्यहम् ॥ २७ ॥

By merely touching the waters of the Gaṅgā, a person is released from all sins. When shall I behold that Gaṅgā, and when indeed shall I gain the blessed boon of bathing in her?

Verse 28

इति पुंसाभिलषिता कुलानां तारयेच्छतम् । अथ स्नानफलं देवि गंगायाः प्रवदामि ते ॥ २८ ॥

Thus, the cherished merit of a man delivers a hundred generations of his lineage. Now, O Goddess, I shall tell you the fruit of bathing in the Gaṅgā.

Verse 29

यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः । स्नातस्य गंगासलिले सद्यः पापं प्रणश्यति ॥ २९ ॥

Hearing this, one is freed from all sins—of this there is no doubt. For one who bathes in the waters of the Gaṅgā, sin is destroyed immediately.

Verse 30

अपूर्वपुण्यप्राप्तिश्च सद्यो मोहिनि जायते । स्नातानां शुचिभिस्तोयैर्गांगेयैः प्रयतात्मनाम् ॥ ३० ॥

For those disciplined in mind who bathe in the pure waters of the Gaṅgā, an unprecedented store of merit is obtained—and in that very moment, O Mohinī, it arises.

Verse 31

व्युष्टिर्भवति या पुंसां न सा क्रतुशतैरपि । अपहत्य तमस्तीव्रं यथा भात्युदये रविः ॥ ३१ ॥

That awakening which arises in people cannot be obtained even by hundreds of sacrificial rites; it shines forth, having dispelled dense darkness, just as the sun shines at dawn.

Verse 32

तथापहत्य पाप्मानं भाति गंगाजलोक्षितः । एकेनैवापि विधिना स्नानेन नृपसुन्दरि ॥ ३२ ॥

Thus, casting off sin, one who is touched by—or bathes in—the waters of the Gaṅgā shines forth, O fair one of royal lineage, even by a single bath performed according to the prescribed rite.

Verse 33

अश्वमेधफलं मर्त्यो गंगायां लभते ध्रुवम् । अनेकजन्मसंभूतं पुंसः पापं प्रणश्यति ॥ ३३ ॥

A mortal surely attains in the Gaṅgā the fruit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice; and a person’s sins, gathered through many births, are destroyed.

Verse 34

स्नानमात्रेण गंगायाः सद्यः स्यात्पुण्यभाजनम् । अन्यस्थानकृतं पापं गंगातीरे विनश्यति ॥ ३४ ॥

By merely bathing in the Gaṅgā, one instantly becomes a vessel of merit. Even sins committed elsewhere are destroyed upon the bank of the Gaṅgā.

Verse 35

गंगातीरे कृतं पापं गङ्गास्नानेन नश्यति । रात्रौ दिवा च संध्यायां गंगायां तु प्रयत्नतः ॥ ३५ ॥

Sin committed on the bank of the Gaṅgā is destroyed by bathing in the Gaṅgā—at night, by day, or at twilight—provided one does so with earnest effort and reverence.

Verse 36

स्नात्वाश्वमेधजं पुण्यं गृहेऽप्युद्धृततज्जलैः । सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वेष्टायतनेषु च ॥ ३६ ॥

By bathing there, one gains the merit born of the Aśvamedha sacrifice; and even at home, by using water drawn from that place. One attains the same merit as that gained at all tīrthas and in all sanctuaries of worship.

Verse 37

तत्फलं लभते मर्त्यो गङ्गास्नानान्न संशयः । महापातकसंयुक्तो युक्तो वा सर्वपातकैः ॥ ३७ ॥

A mortal surely gains that saving fruit from bathing in the Gaṅgā—of this there is no doubt. Even one stained with great sins, or burdened with all sins, attains it.

Verse 38

गङ्गास्नानेन विधिवन्मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः । गङ्गा स्नानात्परं स्नानं न भूतं न भविष्यति ॥ ३८ ॥

By bathing in the Gaṅgā in the duly prescribed manner, one is freed from all sins. Beyond bathing in the Gaṅgā, no bath has ever been, nor will ever be, superior.

Verse 39

विशेषतः कलियुगे पापं हरति जाह्नवी । निहत्य कामजान्दोषान्कायवाक्चित्तसंभवान् ॥ ३९ ॥

Especially in the Kali Yuga, Jāhnavī (the Gaṅgā) removes sin, destroying the faults born of desire—those arising through body, speech, and mind.

Verse 40

गङ्गास्नानेन भक्त्या तु मोदते दिवि देववत् । वर्षं स्नाति च गंगायां यो नरो भक्तिसंयुतः ॥ ४० ॥

But by bathing in the Gaṅgā with devotion, one rejoices in heaven like a god. The man who bathes in the Gaṅgā for a full year, endowed with bhakti, attains such divine delight.

Verse 41

तस्य स्याद्वैष्णवे लोके स्थितिः कल्पं न संशयः । आमृत्युं स्नाति गंगायां यो नरो नित्यमेव च ॥ ४१ ॥

For that man there is no doubt: he attains residence in Viṣṇu’s world, the Vaiṣṇava realm, for a full kalpa—he who bathes in the Gaṅgā every day, up to the time of death.

Verse 42

समस्तपापनिमुक्तः समस्तकुलसंयुतः । समस्तभोगसंयुक्तो विष्णुलोके महीयते ॥ ४२ ॥

Freed from all sins, united with his entire lineage, and endowed with every enjoyment, he is honored and exalted in the world of Viṣṇu.

Verse 43

परार्द्धद्वितयं यावन्नात्र कार्या विचारणा । गंगायां स्नाति यो मर्त्यो नैरंतर्येण नित्यदा ॥ ४३ ॥

Up to the span of two parārdhas, there is no need for doubt here: the mortal who bathes in the Gaṅgā daily, without interruption, attains the promised spiritual fruit.

Verse 44

जीवन्मुक्तः स चात्रैव मृतो विष्णुपदं व्रजेत् । प्रातःस्नानाद्दशगुणं पुण्यं मध्यंदिने स्मृतम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Such a person becomes liberated while still living; and if he dies here itself, he attains the abode of Viṣṇu. It is remembered that bathing at midday yields merit ten times greater than bathing in the morning.

Verse 45

सायंकाले शतगुणमनन्तं शिवसन्निधौ । कपिलाकोटिदानाद्धि गंगास्नानं विशिष्यते ॥ ४५ ॥

Bathing in the Gaṅgā is declared superior even to the gift of ten million tawny cows—especially at evening time, where the merit becomes a hundredfold, and immeasurable in the presence of Śiva.

Verse 46

कुरुक्षेत्रसमा गंगा यत्र तत्रावगाहिता । हरिद्वारे प्रयागे च सिंधुसंगे फलाधिका ॥ ४६ ॥

The Gaṅgā, wherever one bathes in her, is equal in merit to Kurukṣetra; and at Haridvāra, at Prayāga, and at the confluence with the Sindhu, her fruit is even greater.

Verse 47

ये मदीयांशुसंतप्ते जले ते स्नांति जाह्नवि । ते भित्वा मंडलं यांति मोक्षं चेति रवेर्वचः ॥ ४७ ॥

Those who bathe in the Jahnavī (Gaṅgā) in waters warmed by my rays—breaking through the solar sphere, they attain mokṣa, liberation. Thus is the word of Ravi (the Sun).

Verse 48

यो गृहे स्वे स्थितोऽपि त्वां स्नाने संकीर्तयिष्यति । सोऽपि यास्यति नाकं वै इत्याह वरुणश्च ताम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Even one who remains in his own home—if, at the time of bathing, he chants your name in praise—he too will surely attain Nāka, the heavenly realm. Thus did Varuṇa speak to her.

Verse 49

इति श्रीबृहन्नारदीयपुराणोत्तरभागे मोहिनीचरिते गंगास्नानमाहात्म्यं नामैकोनचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ३९ ॥

Thus ends the thirty-ninth chapter, entitled “The Greatness of Bathing in the Gaṅgā,” in the Mohinī narrative of the Uttara-bhāga of the Śrī Bṛhannāradīya Purāṇa.