Ninth Skandha · Chapter 11
Sourceनारद उवाच ।। १ ।। श्रुतं पृथिव्युपाख्यानमतीव सुमनोहरम् ।। गंगोपाख्यानमधुना वद वेदविदां वर ।।१।। भारते भारतीशापात्सा जगाम सुरेश्वरी ।। विष्णु स्वरूपा परमा स्वयं विष्णुपदीति च ।।२।। कथं कुत्र युगे केन प्रार्थिता प्रेरिता पुरा ।। तत्क्रमं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पापघ्नं पुण्यदं शुभम् ।। ३ ।। श्रीनारायण उवाच ।। राजराजेश्वरः श्रीमान्सगरः सूर्यवंशजः ।। तस्य भार्या च वैदर्भी शैब्या च द्वे मनोहरे ।। ४ ।। तत्पत्न्यामेकपुत्रश्च बभूव सुमनोहरः ।। असमंज इति ख्यातः शैब्यायां कुलवर्धनः ।। ५ ।। अन्या चाऽऽराधयामास शंकरं पुत्र कामुकी।। बभूव गर्भस्तस्याश्च हरस्य च वरेण ह ।।६।। गते शताब्दे पूर्णे च मांसपिंडं सुषाव सा ।। तद्दृष्ट्वा सा शिवं ध्यात्वा रुरोदोच्चैः पुनः पुनः ।। ७ ।। शंभुर्ब्राह्मणरूपेण तत्समीपं जगाम ह ।। चकार संविभज्यैतत्पिडं षष्टिसहस्रधा ।। ८ ।। सर्वे बभूवुः पुत्राश्च महाबलपराक्रमाः ।। ग्रीष्ममध्याह्नमार्तंडप्रभामुष्टकलेवराः ।। ९ ।। कपिलस्य मुनेः शापाद्बभूवुर्भस्मसाच्च ते ।। राजा रुरोद तच्छुत्वा जगाम गहने वने ।। 9.11.१० ।। तपश्चकाराऽसमंजो गंगानयनकारणात् ।। लक्षवर्षं तपस्तप्त्वा ममार कालयोगतः ।। ११ ।। अंशुमांस्तस्य तनयो गंगानयनकारणात् ।। तपः कृत्वा लक्षवर्षं ममार कालयोगतः ।। १२ ।। भगीरथस्तस्य पुत्रो महाभागवतः सुधीः ।। वैष्णवो विष्णुभक्तश्च गुणवानजरामरः ।। १३ ।। तपः कृत्वा लक्षवर्षं गंगानयनकारणात् ।। ददर्श कृष्णं ग्रीष्म स्थसूर्यकोटिसमप्रभम् ।। १४ ।। द्विभुजं मुरलीहस्तं किशोरगोपवेषिणम् ।। गोपालसुन्दरीरूपं भक्तानुग्रहरूपिणम् ।। १५।। स्वेच्छामयं परं ब्रह्म परिपूर्णतमं प्रभुम् ।। ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाद्यैश्च स्तुतं मुनिगणैर्नुतम् ।। १६ ।। निर्लिप्तं साक्षिरूपं च निर्गुणं प्रकृतेः परम् ।। ईषद्धास्य प्रसन्नास्यं भक्तानुग्रहकारणम् ।। १७।। वह्निशुद्धांशुकाधानं रलभूषणभूषितम् ।। तुष्टाव दृष्ट्वा नृपतिः प्रणम्य च पुनः पुनः ।। १८ ।। लीलया च वरं प्राप वांछितं वंशता रणम् ।। कृत्वा च स्तवनं दिव्यं पुलकांकितविग्रहः ।। १९ ।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। भारतं भारतीशापाद्गच्छ शीघ्रं सुरेश्वरि ।। सगरस्य सुतान्सर्वान्वृतान्कुरु ममाज्ञया ।।9.11.२०।। त्वत्स्पर्शवायुनाः पूता यास्यंति मम मंदिरम् ।। बिभ्रतो मम मूर्तीश्च दिव्यस्यंदनगामिनः ।। २१ ।। मत्पार्षदा भविष्यंति सर्व कालं निरामयाः ।। समुच्छिद्य कर्मभोगान्कृताञ्जन्मनिजन्मनि ।। २२ ।। कोटिजन्मार्जितं पापं भारते यत्कृतं नृभिः ।। गंगाया वात स्पर्शेन नश्यतीति श्रुतौ श्रुतम् ।। २३ ।। स्पर्शनाद्दर्शनाद्देव्याः पुण्यं दशगुणं ततः ।। मौसलस्नानमात्रेण सामान्यदिवसे नृणाम्।। २४ ।। शतकोटिजन्मपापं नश्यतीति श्रुतौ श्रुतम् ।। यानि कानि च पापानि ब्रह्महत्या दिकानि च ।। २५ ।। जन्मसंख्यार्जितान्येव कामतोऽपि कृतानि च ।। तानि सर्वाणि नश्यंति मौसलस्नानतो नृणाम् ।। २६ ।। पुण्याहस्नानतः पुण्यं वेदा नैव वदंति च ।। किंचिद्वदंति ते विप्र फलमेव यथागमम् ।। २७ ।। ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाद्याश्च सर्वं नैव वदंति च ।। सामान्यदिवसस्नानसंकल्पं शृणु सुन्दरि ।। २८ ।। पुण्यं दशगुणं चैव मौसलस्नानतः परम् ।। ततस्त्रिंशद्गुणं पुण्यं रविसंक्रमणे दिने ।।२९।। अमायां चापि तत्तुल्यं द्विगुणं दक्षिणायने ।। ततो दशगुणं पुण्यं नराणामुत्तरायणे ।।9.11.३०।। चतुर्मास्यां पौर्णमास्यामनंतं पुण्यमेव च ।। अक्षयायां तत्तुल्यं चैतद्वेदे निरूपितम् ।। ३१ ।। असंख्यपुण्यफलदमेतेषु स्नानदानकम् ।। सामान्यदिवसस्नानाद्दानाच्छतगुणं फलम् ।। ३२ ।। मन्वतराद्यायां तिथौ युगाद्यायां तथैव च ।। माघस्यासित सप्तम्यां भीष्माष्टम्यां तथैव च ।। ३३ ।। अथाप्यशोकाष्टम्यां च नवम्यां च तथा हरेः ।। ततोऽपि द्विगुणं पुण्यं नंदायां तव दुर्लभम् ।। ३४ ।। दशहरादशम्यां तु युगाद्यादिसमं फलम् ।। नंदासमं च वारुण्यां महर्त्वे(?) चतुर्गुणम् ।। ३५ ।। ततश्चतुर्गुणं पुण्यं द्विमहत्पूर्वके सति ।। पुण्यं कोटिगुणं चैव सामान्यस्नानतोऽपि यत् ।। ३६ ।। चंद्रोपरागसमये सूर्ये दशगुणं ततः ।। पुण्यमर्धोदये काले ततः शतगुणं फलम् ।। ३७ ।। इत्येवमुक्त्वा देवेशो विरराम तयोः पुरः ।। तमुवाच ततो गंगा भक्तिनम्रात्सकंधरा ।। ३८ ।। गंगोवाच ।। यामि चेद्भारतं नाथ भारती शापतः पुराः ।। तवाज्ञया च राजेंद्र तपसा चैव सांप्रतम् ।। ३९ ।। दास्यंति पापिनो मह्यं पापानि यानि कानि च ।। तानि मे केन नश्यंति तमुपायं वद प्रभो ।। 9.11.४० ।। कतिकालं परिमितं स्थितिर्मे तत्र भारते ।। कदा यास्यामि देवेश तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् ।। ४१ ।। ममान्यद्वाछितं यद्यत्सर्वं जानासि सर्ववित् ।। सर्वान्तरात्मन्सर्वज्ञ तदुपायं वद प्रभो ।। ४२ ।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। जानामि वांछितं गंगे तव सर्वं सुरेश्वरि ।। पतिस्ते द्रवरूपाया लवणोदो भविष्यति ।। ४३ ।। स ममांश स्वरूपश्च त्वं च लक्ष्मीस्वरूपिणी ।। पिदग्धाया विदग्धेन संगमो गुणवान्भुवि ।। ४४ ।। यावत्यः संति नद्यश्च भारत्याद्याश्च भारते ।। सौभाग्या त्वं च तास्वेव लवणोदस्य सौरते ।। ४५ ।। अद्यप्रभृति देवेशि कलेः पंचसहस्रकम् ।। वर्षं स्थितिस्ते भारत्याः शापेन भारते भुवि ।। ४६ ।। नित्यं त्वमब्धिना सार्थं करिष्यसि रहो रतिम् ।। त्वमेव रसिका देवी रसिकेंद्रेण संयुता ।। ४७ ।। त्वां स्तोष्यन्ति च स्तोत्रेण भगीरथकृतेन च ।। भारतस्था जनाः सर्वे पूर्णयिष्यंति भक्तितः ।। ४८ ।। कण्वशाखोक्त ध्यानेन ध्यात्वा त्वां पूजयिष्यति ।। यः स्तौति प्रणयेन्नित्यं सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ।। ४९ ।। गंगा गंगेति यो ब्रूयाद्योजनानां शतैरपि ।। मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ।। 9.11.५० ।। सहस्रपापिनां स्नानाद्यत्पापं ते भविष्यति ।। प्रकृतेर्भक्तसंस्पर्शादेव तद्धि विनंक्ष्यति ।। ५१ ।। पापिनां तु सहस्राणां शवस्पर्शेन यत्त्वयि ।। तन्मन्त्रोपासकस्नानात्तदघं च विनंक्ष्यति ।। ५२ ।। तत्रैव त्वमधिष्ठानं करिष्यस्यघमोचनम् ।। सार्धं सरिद्भिः श्रेष्ठाभिः सरस्वत्यादिभिः शुभे ।। ५३ ।। तत्तु तीर्थं भवेत्सद्यो यत्र तद्गुणकीर्तनम् ।। त्वद्रेणुस्पर्शमात्रेण पूतो भवति पातकी ।। ५४ ।। रेणुप्रमाणवर्षं च देवेलोके वसेद् धुवम् ।। ज्ञानेन त्वयि ये भक्त्या मन्नामस्मृतिपूर्वकम् ।। ५५ ।। समुत्सृजंति प्राणांश्च ते गच्छन्ति हरेः पदम् ।। पार्षदप्रवरास्ते च भविष्यंति हरेश्चिरम् ।। ५६ ।। लयं प्राकृतिकं ते च द्रक्ष्यंति चाप्य संख्यकम् ।। मृतस्य बहुपुण्येन तच्छवं त्वयि विन्यसेत् ।। ५७ ।। प्रयाति स च वैकुण्ठं यावदह्नः स्थितिस्त्वयि ।। कायव्यूहं ततः कृत्वा भोजयित्वा स्वकर्मकम् ।। ५८ ।। तस्मै ददामि सारूप्यं करोमि तं च पार्षदम् ।। अज्ञानी त्वज्जलस्पर्शाद्यदि प्राणान्समुत्सृजेत् ।। ५९ ।। तस्मै ददामि सालोक्यं करोमि तं च पार्षदम् ।। अन्यत्र वा त्यजेत्प्राणांस्त्वन्नामस्मृतिपूर्वकम्।।9.11.६०।। तस्मै ददामि सालोक्यं यावद्वै ब्रह्मणो वयः ।। अन्यत्र वा त्यजेत्प्राणांस्त्वन्नामस्मृतिपूर्वकम् ।। ६१ ।। तस्मै ददामि सारूप्यमसंख्यं प्राकृतं लयम् ।। रत्नेंद्रसार निर्माणयानेन सह पार्षदैः ।।६२।। सद्यः प्रयाति गोलोकं मम तुल्यो भवेद् धुवम्।। तीर्थेऽप्यर्थे मरणे विशेषो नास्ति कश्चन ।।६३।। मन्मंत्रोपासकानां तु नित्यं नैवेद्यभोजिनाम्।। पूतं कर्तुं स शक्तो हि लीलया भुवनत्रयम्।।६४।। रत्नेंद्रसार यानेन गोलोकं संप्रयांति च।। मद्भक्ता बांधवा येषां तेऽपि पश्वादयोऽपि हि।।६५।। प्रयांति रत्नयानेन गोलोकं चातिदुर्लभम् ।। यत्र यत्र स्मृतास्ते च ज्ञानेन ज्ञानिनः सति ।।६६।। जीवन्मुक्ताश्च ते पूता मद्भक्ते संविधानतः ।। इत्युक्त्वा श्रीहरिस्तां च प्रत्युवाच भगीरथम् ।। ६७ ।। स्तुहि गंगामिमां भक्त्या पूजां च कुरु सांप्रतम् ।। भगीरथस्तां तुष्टाव पूजयामास भक्तितः ।। ६८ ।। कौथुमोक्तेन ध्यानेन स्तोत्रेणापि पुनः पुनः ।। प्रणनाम च श्रीकृष्णं परमात्मानमीश्वरम् ।। ६९ ।। भगीरथश्च गंगा च सोंऽतर्धानं चकार ह ।। नारद उवाच ।। केन ध्यानेन स्तोत्रेण केन पूजाक्रमेण च ।। 9.11.७० ।। पूजां चकार नृपतिर्वद वेदविदां वर ।। श्रीनारायण उवाच ।। स्नात्वा नित्यक्रियां कृत्वा धृत्वा धौते च वाससी ।। ७१ ।। संपूज्य देवषट्कं च संयतो भक्तिपूर्वकम् ।। गणेशं च दिनेशं च वह्नि विष्णुं शिवं शिवाम् ।। ७२ ।। संपूज्य देवषट्कं च सोऽधिकारी च पूजने ।। गणेशं विघ्ननाशाय आरोग्याय दिवाकरम् ।। ७३ ।। वह्निं शौचाय विष्णुं च लक्ष्म्यर्थं पूजयेन्नरः ।। शिवं ज्ञानाय ज्ञानेशं शिवां च मुक्तिसिद्धये ।। ७४ ।। संपूज्यैताँल्लभेत्प्राज्ञो विपरीतमतोऽन्यथा ।। दध्यावनेन ध्यानेन तद्ध्यानं शृणु नारद ।। ७५ ।।
nārada uvāca || 1 || śrutaṃ pṛthivyupākhyānamatīva sumanoharam || gaṃgopākhyānamadhunā vada vedavidāṃ vara ||1|| bhārate bhāratīśāpātsā jagāma sureśvarī || viṣṇu svarūpā paramā svayaṃ viṣṇupadīti ca ||2|| kathaṃ kutra yuge kena prārthitā preritā purā || tatkramaṃ śrotumicchāmi pāpaghnaṃ puṇyadaṃ śubham || 3 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca || rājarājeśvaraḥ śrīmānsagaraḥ sūryavaṃśajaḥ || tasya bhāryā ca vaidarbhī śaibyā ca dve manohare || 4 || tatpatnyāmekaputraśca babhūva sumanoharaḥ || asamaṃja iti khyātaḥ śaibyāyāṃ kulavardhanaḥ || 5 || anyā cā''rādhayāmāsa śaṃkaraṃ putra kāmukī|| babhūva garbhastasyāśca harasya ca vareṇa ha ||6|| gate śatābde pūrṇe ca māṃsapiṃḍaṃ suṣāva sā || taddṛṣṭvā sā śivaṃ dhyātvā rurodoccaiḥ punaḥ punaḥ || 7 || śaṃbhurbrāhmaṇarūpeṇa tatsamīpaṃ jagāma ha || cakāra saṃvibhajyaitatpiḍaṃ ṣaṣṭisahasradhā || 8 || sarve babhūvuḥ putrāśca mahābalaparākramāḥ || grīṣmamadhyāhnamārtaṃḍaprabhāmuṣṭakalevarāḥ || 9 || kapilasya muneḥ śāpādbabhūvurbhasmasācca te || rājā ruroda tacchutvā jagāma gahane vane || 9.11.10 || tapaścakārā'samaṃjo gaṃgānayanakāraṇāt || lakṣavarṣaṃ tapastaptvā mamāra kālayogataḥ || 11 || aṃśumāṃstasya tanayo gaṃgānayanakāraṇāt || tapaḥ kṛtvā lakṣavarṣaṃ mamāra kālayogataḥ || 12 || bhagīrathastasya putro mahābhāgavataḥ sudhīḥ || vaiṣṇavo viṣṇubhaktaśca guṇavānajarāmaraḥ || 13 || tapaḥ kṛtvā lakṣavarṣaṃ gaṃgānayanakāraṇāt || dadarśa kṛṣṇaṃ grīṣma sthasūryakoṭisamaprabham || 14 || dvibhujaṃ muralīhastaṃ kiśoragopaveṣiṇam || gopālasundarīrūpaṃ bhaktānugraharūpiṇam || 15|| svecchāmayaṃ paraṃ brahma paripūrṇatamaṃ prabhum || brahmaviṣṇuśivādyaiśca stutaṃ munigaṇairnutam || 16 || nirliptaṃ sākṣirūpaṃ ca nirguṇaṃ prakṛteḥ param || īṣaddhāsya prasannāsyaṃ bhaktānugrahakāraṇam || 17|| vahniśuddhāṃśukādhānaṃ ralabhūṣaṇabhūṣitam || tuṣṭāva dṛṣṭvā nṛpatiḥ praṇamya ca punaḥ punaḥ || 18 || līlayā ca varaṃ prāpa vāṃchitaṃ vaṃśatā raṇam || kṛtvā ca stavanaṃ divyaṃ pulakāṃkitavigrahaḥ || 19 || śrībhagavānuvāca || bhārataṃ bhāratīśāpādgaccha śīghraṃ sureśvari || sagarasya sutānsarvānvṛtānkuru mamājñayā ||9.11.20|| tvatsparśavāyunāḥ pūtā yāsyaṃti mama maṃdiram || bibhrato mama mūrtīśca divyasyaṃdanagāminaḥ || 21 || matpārṣadā bhaviṣyaṃti sarva kālaṃ nirāmayāḥ || samucchidya karmabhogānkṛtāñjanmanijanmani || 22 || koṭijanmārjitaṃ pāpaṃ bhārate yatkṛtaṃ nṛbhiḥ || gaṃgāyā vāta sparśena naśyatīti śrutau śrutam || 23 || sparśanāddarśanāddevyāḥ puṇyaṃ daśaguṇaṃ tataḥ || mausalasnānamātreṇa sāmānyadivase nṛṇām|| 24 || śatakoṭijanmapāpaṃ naśyatīti śrutau śrutam || yāni kāni ca pāpāni brahmahatyā dikāni ca || 25 || janmasaṃkhyārjitānyeva kāmato'pi kṛtāni ca || tāni sarvāṇi naśyaṃti mausalasnānato nṛṇām || 26 || puṇyāhasnānataḥ puṇyaṃ vedā naiva vadaṃti ca || kiṃcidvadaṃti te vipra phalameva yathāgamam || 27 || brahmaviṣṇuśivādyāśca sarvaṃ naiva vadaṃti ca || sāmānyadivasasnānasaṃkalpaṃ śṛṇu sundari || 28 || puṇyaṃ daśaguṇaṃ caiva mausalasnānataḥ param || tatastriṃśadguṇaṃ puṇyaṃ ravisaṃkramaṇe dine ||29|| amāyāṃ cāpi tattulyaṃ dviguṇaṃ dakṣiṇāyane || tato daśaguṇaṃ puṇyaṃ narāṇāmuttarāyaṇe ||9.11.30|| caturmāsyāṃ paurṇamāsyāmanaṃtaṃ puṇyameva ca || akṣayāyāṃ tattulyaṃ caitadvede nirūpitam || 31 || asaṃkhyapuṇyaphaladameteṣu snānadānakam || sāmānyadivasasnānāddānācchataguṇaṃ phalam || 32 || manvatarādyāyāṃ tithau yugādyāyāṃ tathaiva ca || māghasyāsita saptamyāṃ bhīṣmāṣṭamyāṃ tathaiva ca || 33 || athāpyaśokāṣṭamyāṃ ca navamyāṃ ca tathā hareḥ || tato'pi dviguṇaṃ puṇyaṃ naṃdāyāṃ tava durlabham || 34 || daśaharādaśamyāṃ tu yugādyādisamaṃ phalam || naṃdāsamaṃ ca vāruṇyāṃ mahartve(?) caturguṇam || 35 || tataścaturguṇaṃ puṇyaṃ dvimahatpūrvake sati || puṇyaṃ koṭiguṇaṃ caiva sāmānyasnānato'pi yat || 36 || caṃdroparāgasamaye sūrye daśaguṇaṃ tataḥ || puṇyamardhodaye kāle tataḥ śataguṇaṃ phalam || 37 || ityevamuktvā deveśo virarāma tayoḥ puraḥ || tamuvāca tato gaṃgā bhaktinamrātsakaṃdharā || 38 || gaṃgovāca || yāmi cedbhārataṃ nātha bhāratī śāpataḥ purāḥ || tavājñayā ca rājeṃdra tapasā caiva sāṃpratam || 39 || dāsyaṃti pāpino mahyaṃ pāpāni yāni kāni ca || tāni me kena naśyaṃti tamupāyaṃ vada prabho || 9.11.40 || katikālaṃ parimitaṃ sthitirme tatra bhārate || kadā yāsyāmi deveśa tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam || 41 || mamānyadvāchitaṃ yadyatsarvaṃ jānāsi sarvavit || sarvāntarātmansarvajña tadupāyaṃ vada prabho || 42 || śrībhagavānuvāca || jānāmi vāṃchitaṃ gaṃge tava sarvaṃ sureśvari || patiste dravarūpāyā lavaṇodo bhaviṣyati || 43 || sa mamāṃśa svarūpaśca tvaṃ ca lakṣmīsvarūpiṇī || pidagdhāyā vidagdhena saṃgamo guṇavānbhuvi || 44 || yāvatyaḥ saṃti nadyaśca bhāratyādyāśca bhārate || saubhāgyā tvaṃ ca tāsveva lavaṇodasya saurate || 45 || adyaprabhṛti deveśi kaleḥ paṃcasahasrakam || varṣaṃ sthitiste bhāratyāḥ śāpena bhārate bhuvi || 46 || nityaṃ tvamabdhinā sārthaṃ kariṣyasi raho ratim || tvameva rasikā devī rasikeṃdreṇa saṃyutā || 47 || tvāṃ stoṣyanti ca stotreṇa bhagīrathakṛtena ca || bhāratasthā janāḥ sarve pūrṇayiṣyaṃti bhaktitaḥ || 48 || kaṇvaśākhokta dhyānena dhyātvā tvāṃ pūjayiṣyati || yaḥ stauti praṇayennityaṃ so'śvamedhaphalaṃ labhet || 49 || gaṃgā gaṃgeti yo brūyādyojanānāṃ śatairapi || mucyate sarvapāpebhyo viṣṇulokaṃ sa gacchati || 9.11.50 || sahasrapāpināṃ snānādyatpāpaṃ te bhaviṣyati || prakṛterbhaktasaṃsparśādeva taddhi vinaṃkṣyati || 51 || pāpināṃ tu sahasrāṇāṃ śavasparśena yattvayi || tanmantropāsakasnānāttadaghaṃ ca vinaṃkṣyati || 52 || tatraiva tvamadhiṣṭhānaṃ kariṣyasyaghamocanam || sārdhaṃ saridbhiḥ śreṣṭhābhiḥ sarasvatyādibhiḥ śubhe || 53 || tattu tīrthaṃ bhavetsadyo yatra tadguṇakīrtanam || tvadreṇusparśamātreṇa pūto bhavati pātakī || 54 || reṇupramāṇavarṣaṃ ca develoke vased dhuvam || jñānena tvayi ye bhaktyā mannāmasmṛtipūrvakam || 55 || samutsṛjaṃti prāṇāṃśca te gacchanti hareḥ padam || pārṣadapravarāste ca bhaviṣyaṃti hareściram || 56 || layaṃ prākṛtikaṃ te ca drakṣyaṃti cāpya saṃkhyakam || mṛtasya bahupuṇyena tacchavaṃ tvayi vinyaset || 57 || prayāti sa ca vaikuṇṭhaṃ yāvadahnaḥ sthitistvayi || kāyavyūhaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā bhojayitvā svakarmakam || 58 || tasmai dadāmi sārūpyaṃ karomi taṃ ca pārṣadam || ajñānī tvajjalasparśādyadi prāṇānsamutsṛjet || 59 || tasmai dadāmi sālokyaṃ karomi taṃ ca pārṣadam || anyatra vā tyajetprāṇāṃstvannāmasmṛtipūrvakam||9.11.60|| tasmai dadāmi sālokyaṃ yāvadvai brahmaṇo vayaḥ || anyatra vā tyajetprāṇāṃstvannāmasmṛtipūrvakam || 61 || tasmai dadāmi sārūpyamasaṃkhyaṃ prākṛtaṃ layam || ratneṃdrasāra nirmāṇayānena saha pārṣadaiḥ ||62|| sadyaḥ prayāti golokaṃ mama tulyo bhaved dhuvam|| tīrthe'pyarthe maraṇe viśeṣo nāsti kaścana ||63|| manmaṃtropāsakānāṃ tu nityaṃ naivedyabhojinām|| pūtaṃ kartuṃ sa śakto hi līlayā bhuvanatrayam||64|| ratneṃdrasāra yānena golokaṃ saṃprayāṃti ca|| madbhaktā bāṃdhavā yeṣāṃ te'pi paśvādayo'pi hi||65|| prayāṃti ratnayānena golokaṃ cātidurlabham || yatra yatra smṛtāste ca jñānena jñāninaḥ sati ||66|| jīvanmuktāśca te pūtā madbhakte saṃvidhānataḥ || ityuktvā śrīharistāṃ ca pratyuvāca bhagīratham || 67 || stuhi gaṃgāmimāṃ bhaktyā pūjāṃ ca kuru sāṃpratam || bhagīrathastāṃ tuṣṭāva pūjayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ || 68 || kauthumoktena dhyānena stotreṇāpi punaḥ punaḥ || praṇanāma ca śrīkṛṣṇaṃ paramātmānamīśvaram || 69 || bhagīrathaśca gaṃgā ca soṃ'tardhānaṃ cakāra ha || nārada uvāca || kena dhyānena stotreṇa kena pūjākrameṇa ca || 9.11.70 || pūjāṃ cakāra nṛpatirvada vedavidāṃ vara || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca || snātvā nityakriyāṃ kṛtvā dhṛtvā dhaute ca vāsasī || 71 || saṃpūjya devaṣaṭkaṃ ca saṃyato bhaktipūrvakam || gaṇeśaṃ ca dineśaṃ ca vahni viṣṇuṃ śivaṃ śivām || 72 || saṃpūjya devaṣaṭkaṃ ca so'dhikārī ca pūjane || gaṇeśaṃ vighnanāśāya ārogyāya divākaram || 73 || vahniṃ śaucāya viṣṇuṃ ca lakṣmyarthaṃ pūjayennaraḥ || śivaṃ jñānāya jñāneśaṃ śivāṃ ca muktisiddhaye || 74 || saṃpūjyaitā~llabhetprājño viparītamato'nyathā || dadhyāvanena dhyānena taddhyānaṃ śṛṇu nārada || 75 ||
English translation
1-3. The Devarsi Narada said O Thou, the foremost of the knowers of the Vedas! I have heard the excellent narration of Earth. Now I want to hear the anecdote of Ganga. I heard, ere long, that Ganga, of the nature of Visnu and appearing from the feet of Visnu, the Is'vari of the Devas, appeared, due to the curse of Bharati, on Bharata; why has she come to Bharata; in which Yuga and asked by whom did she come to Bharata? O Lord! Now describe to me this auspicious anecdote capable to destroy sins and yield religious merits.
4-38. Narayana said O Child! In ancient days there was born a prosperous Emperor King of Kings, in the Solar dynasty. He had two beautiful wives; one was named Vaidarbhi, and the other was named S'aivya. S'aivya delivered a very lovely son; his name was Asamanja. On the other hand, the queen Vaidarbhi desirous of getting a son, worshipped S'ankara, the Lord of Bhutas who became pleased and granted her request; and Vaidarbhi became pregnant. After one hundred years of pregnancy she gave birth to one mass of flesh. Seeing this, the queen became very afflicted and taking refuge of Mahadeva, began to cry loudly and very often. Bhagavan S'ankara, then, appeared there in a Brahmin form and cut that mass of flesh into thousand pieces. Those thousand pieces turned out into thousand very powerful sons. Their bodies looked more brillant than the mid-day sun. But they were all burnt to ashes by the curse of Kapila Muni. And the King began to lament bitterly and he entered into the forest. Asamaja practised tapasya to bring the Ganga for one lakh years when he quitted his body in course of time. His son Ams'uman practised tapasya for one lakh years to bring Ganga unto Bharata and he, too, died. Then the son of Amsuman, the intelligent Bhagiratha, a great devotee of Visnu, free of old age and death and the store of many qualifications, practised tapasya for one lakh years
to bring Ganga on earth. At last he saw S’ri Krisna brilliant like ten millions of summer suns. He had two hands; there was a flute in his hand; be was full of youth in the dress of a cow-herd. A sight of His Gopala Sundari form, wearing a Sakhi's dress, makes one think that He is ever ready to show grace on His devotees. He is Para Brahma, whose Substance is Will; be has no deficiencies. Brahma, Visnu and MahesVara and the other Devas and Munis, etc. all praise Him, who pervades everywhere. He is not concerned with anything; yet He is the Witness of all. He is beyond the three gunas, higher than Prakriti. A sweet smile is always in his face, which makes it the more lovely. There is none equal to him in showing Grace to the Bhaktas. His raiment is purified (uninflammable) by fire and he is decorated with gems, jewels and ornaments. The King Bhagiratha saw that unforeseen appearance, bowed down and began to praise over and over again. His whole body was filled with ecstasy. Then he clearly told what he wanted for the deliverance of his family. Bhagavan S’ri Krisna then, addressed Ganga and said “O SuresVari! Go quickly and appear in Bharata, under the curse of Bharati. By My command go quickly and purify the sons of Sagara. They will all be purified by the touch of the air in contact with the Ganges and rise up in divine aerial cars, assuming forms like Mine and they will come to My abode. They will there remain always as My attendants and they will not be involved in the sins that they committed in their previous births. O Narada! It is stated thus in the Vedas, that if the human souls, taking their births in Bharata, commit sins for millions and millions of births, the sins will be completely destroyed if they touch once the air in contact with and carrying the particles of the Ganges. The sight of the Ganges and the touch of the Ganges water give religious merits ten times more than the touch with the air in contact with the Ganges water. People become freed of their sins then and there especially if they bathe in the Ganges. It is heard in the S'rutis that the bathing in the Ganges, if done according to rules, destroys all the sins, e.g., the murder of a Brahmin, etc., acquired in one thousand millions of births done consciously or unconsciously. The merits that are acquired by the bathing in the Ganges on a day of religious merit, cannot be described even by the Vedas. Whatever is
mentioned in the Agamas is but a mere trifle. Even Brahma, Visnu and Mahes'a cannot describe fully the merits of the bathing in the Ganges. O Brahmin! Such is the glory of ordinary bathing. Now I will describe the effect of the Ganges bath done with a Sankalpa (resolve); hear. Ten times more the result is obtained when the Ganges bathing is done with a resolve (Sankalpa) than ordinary bath and if one bathes on the day when the sun passes from one sign to another (in the Zodiac), thirty times more religious merits accrue. On the new Moon (Amavyas) day, the Ganges bath gives the merits as above mentioned; but when the Sun is in his Southern course (Daksinayana) double the merits are obtained and when the sun is in his Northern course, ten times more religious merits are obtained. The Ganges bathing in the time of Chaturmasya, full Moon day, Aksaya Navami or Aksaya trittiya yields merits that cannot be measured. And if on the above Parva (particular periods of the year on which certain ceremonies are commanded) days both bathing, and making over gifts are done, there is no limit to the religious merits acquired; hundred times more than ordinary bath, religious merits are obtained. Great religious merits accrue from the Ganges bath on Manvantara tithi, Yugadya, S'ukla seventh day of the month of Magha, Bhismastami day, As'okastami day, and S’ri Rama Navami day. Again double the merits than those of the above arise from bathing in the Ganges during the Nanda ceremony. The Gauges bath in the Das'ahara tenth tithi gives merits equivalent to Yugadya Snanam (bath). And if the bathing be done on Mahananda or in Mahavaruni day, four times more religious merits accrue. Ten million times more religious merits accrue from the Ganges bathing on Maha Maha Varuni day than ordinary bath. The Ganges bath in the Solar eclipse yields ten times more religious merits than in the Lunar eclipse. Again the Snanam in Ardhodaya Yoga yields hundred times more religious merits than that of the (solar) eclipse. Thus saying to Ganga before Bhagiratha, the Lord of the Devas remained silent. The Devi Ganga with her head bowed down with devotion, said
39-42. Ganga said If I am after all, to go to Bharata as Thou commandest and under the curse given previously by Bharati, then tell me how I would be freed of the sins that the sinners will cast on me. How long will I have to remain there? When, O Lord! Shall I be able to return to the Highest place of Visnu? O Thou, the Inner Self of all! O All Knowing! O Lord! Whatever else I desire. Thou knowest them all. So be pleased to instruct me on all these points.
43-69. Bhagavan S’ri Hari said O Sures'vari! I know all that you desire; when you will assume the liquid form, the Salt Ocean will be your husband. He is My part and you are of the nature of Laksmi; so the union of the lover with the love stricken in the world will turn out a happy and qualified one. Of all the rivers Sarasvati and others in Bharata, that go to mix with the ocean, you will be the best and highly fortunate of them all. From today you will have to remain in Bharata for a period of five thousand years, under the curse of Bharati. You will be able to enjoy daily and always the pleasures with the Ocean. O Devi! As you are a clever lady, so He is also apt and expert. The inhabitants of Bharata will praise Thee and worship Thee with great devotion by the stotra which Bhagiratha has composed.
He will derive the fruit of one horse-sacrifice who will meditate on Thee as per Kanvas'akha and worship, praise and bow down to Thee daily. Even if one utter “Ganga,” “Ganga,” though one is one hundred Yojanas away from the Ganges, one will be freed of all sins and go to Visnu-loka. Whatever sins will be cast in Thee by thousand sinners bathing in Thee will be destroyed by the touch of the devotees of Prakrit! Devi. Even if thousands and thousands of sinners touch the dead bodies and bath in Thee, all those will be destroyed when the Devi Bhaktas,the worshippers of BhuvanesVari and Maya Vija, will come and touch Thee. O Auspicious One! Thou wilt wash away the sins of the sinners, by Thy stay in Bharata with other best rivers Sarasvati and others. That will be at once a sacred place of pilgrimage where Thy glories will be chanted. By the touch of the dust of Thine, the sinner will be at once purified and he will
dwell in the DevMoka (Mani Dvipa) for as many years as will be the dust there. All Hail to the Devi BhuvanesVari! He who will leave his body on Thy lap with full consciousness and remembering My name, will certainly go to My abode and will remain, as My chief attendant for an infinite period. He will see countless Prakritik Layas (dissolutions of the Universe). Unless a man has collected hordes of religious merits, be cannot die in the Ganges; and if he dies on the Ganges he goes to Vaikuntha as long as the Sun rises in this world. I get many bodies for him where he can enjoy the fruits of his Karma and I then give him My Svarupya (Form resembling Mine) and make him My attendant. If any ignorant man, void of any Jhanam, quits his body by touching merely Thy water, I give him Salokya (place in My region) and make him My attendant. Even if one quits one's body in a far off place, uttering Thy Name, I give him place in My region for one life time of Brahma. And if he remembers Thee with devotion, and quits his mortal coil at another place, I give him Sarupya (Form resembling Mine) for a period of endless Prakritik Layas. He instantly gets on an aerial car made of jewels and goes with My attendants to the region of Goloka and gets form like Me. Those that worship daily My Mantra, that pass their day eating the remnant of the food offered to Me, they need not have any distinction whether they die in Tirath or not. They themselves can easily purify the three worlds. Getting on the excellent and best aerial car built of jewels, they go to the region of Goloka. O Chaste One! Even if the friends of My devotees, be born in animal births, they also will be purified by the devotion shown towards Me and getting on a jewelled aerial car will be able to go to Goloka, so diffcult of access. Wherever the Bhaktas may be, if they simply remember Me with devotion, they will become liberated while living by the power of My Bhakti. Thus saying to Ganga, Bhagavan S’ri Hah addressed Bhagiratha O Child! Now worship Ganga Devi with devotion and chant hymns to Her. The pure Bhagirata meditated with devotion as per Kauthuma S'akha and worshipped the Devi and praised Her repeatedly. Then Ganga and Bhagiratha bowed down to S’ri Krisna and He disappeared at once from their sight.
70. The Devarsi Narada said “O Thou the foremost of the Knowers of the Vedas! How, by what Kuthuma S’akha, the noble King Bhagiratha meditated on the Devi Ganga; what stotra did he recite and what was the method with which he worshipped the Ganges.
71-75. Narayana said O Narada! One should first take one's bath, and putting on a clean washed clothing should perform one's daily duties. Then one should control oneself and with devotion worship the six Devatas Ganes’a, Sun, Fire, Visnu, S’iva and S'ivani. Thus one becomes entitled to worship. First worship is to be given to Ganes'a for the destruction of obstacles; the Sun is to be next worshipped for health; Fire, for purification; Visnu is then worshipped for getting wealth and power; S’iva is worshipped for knowledge and S'ivani is worshipped for Mukti. When these Devatas are worshipped, one is entitled to worship the Deity. Otherwise contrary become the effects. Now I am saying what Dhyanam (meditation) did Bhagiratha practise towards the Devi Ganga.
Here ends the Eleventh Chapter of the Ninth Book on the origin of the Ganges in the Mahapuranam S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14774, revision 75066 (2016-07-24T06:04:50Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk09ch11.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.