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Kriyāyogasāra-khaṇḍa · Chapter 8

Chapter 8

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Kriyāyogasāra-khaṇḍa · Chapter 8

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व्यास उवाच- पुनर्वक्ष्यामि विप्रेन्द्र गङ्गामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । गङ्गाकथासुधापानं कुरु मुक्तिं यदीच्छसि १। दानं दत्तं तेन सर्वं तेन सर्वे मखाः कृताः । तेन प्रपूजितो विष्णुर्यद्भक्तिर्भीष्म मातरि २। गङ्गायां धर्मकर्माणि क्रियंते यानि कानि च । अक्षयानि भवंत्यस्य तानि सर्वाणि जैमिने ३। वहंतं जलमालोक्य गाङ्गेयानि जलानि यः । भक्त्या गच्छेत्समुत्थाय सोऽश्वमेधसहस्रकृत् ४। गङ्गाजलेष्वागतेषु यो नो तिष्ठति भक्तितः । पशुता शाश्वती तस्य जन्मजन्मनि जैमिने ५। गाङ्गेयं जलमासाद्य यो न गृह्णाति भक्तितः । जन्मकोट्यर्जितं पुण्यं क्षणादेव तु नश्यति ६। गङ्गातीरं जिगमिषुं यस्तु वारयते द्विज । स कोटिकुलसंयुक्तो रौरवं नरकं व्रजेत् ७। मूत्रं वाथ पुरीषं वा गंगातीरे करोति यः । न दृष्टा निष्कृतिस्तस्य कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ८। श्लेष्माणं वापि निष्ठीवं दूषिकां वाश्रु वा मलम् । गंगातीरे त्यजेद्यस्तु स नूनं नारकी भवेत् ९। उच्छिष्टं कफकं चैव गङ्गागर्भे च यस्त्यजेत् । स याति नरकं घोरं ब्रह्महत्यां च विंदति १०। गङ्गारोधसि यः पापं कुरुते मूढधीर्नरः । तदक्षय भवेन्नूनं नान्यतीर्थेषु शाम्यति ११। अन्यतीर्थे कृतं पापं गङ्गायां च विनश्यति । गङ्गायां यत्कृतं पापं तत्कुत्रापि न शाम्यते १२। तस्मात्पापं न कर्तव्यं गङ्गायां शास्त्रकोविदैः । कर्मणा मनसा वाचा कर्तव्यो धर्मसंग्रहः १३। न ते देशा न ते शैला न च तानि वनानि च । पापविध्वंसिनी यत्र न तिष्ठेत्सुरनिम्नगा १४। गङ्गातीरं परित्यज्य मुहूर्तमपि जैमिने । न च स्थातव्यमन्यत्र यदि कार्यशतान्यपि १५। भिक्षान्नमपि भुक्त्वा च स्थातव्यं जाह्नवीतटे । न चान्यत्र क्षणमपि प्राप्य भूपालतामपि १६। संत्यज्य देहं गङ्गायां ब्रह्महापि विमुच्यते । अन्यत्र मुक्तये न स्यादश्वमेधसहस्रकृत् १७। गङ्गातीरे वसन्यस्तु हरिपूजापरो भवेत् । जन्मजन्मांतरे येन कदाचिन्नार्चितो हरिः १८। भक्तिर्भवति नैतस्य गङ्गायां लोकमातरि । श्रूयतां मानवाः सर्वे भूयोभूयो ब्रवीम्यहम् १९। स्नानं विधाय गङ्गायां गम्यतां परमं पदम् । मृत्युकाले भजेद्यस्तु गङ्गागङ्गेति मानवः २०। विमुक्तःपातकैः सर्वैर्दिवि देवयुगायुतम् । यस्य गङ्गाकथारम्भो मृत्युकाले भवेद्द्विज २१। स गच्छेद्विष्णुभवनं गलिताखिल कल्मषः । यस्तु स्मरति वै प्राज्ञो मृत्युकाले द्विजोत्तम २२। गङ्गेति मुक्तिदं नाम तस्य तुष्टो भवेद्धरिः । मृत्युकाले भवेद्यस्तु गङ्गामृत्पुण्ड्रमुत्तमम् २३। गङ्गास्नायिनमालोक्य त्यजेद्यस्तु कलेवरम् । श्मशानेऽपि द्विजश्रेष्ठ स गङ्गामरणं लभेत् २४। तिष्ठंत्यस्थीनि गङ्गायां यावत्कालं शरीरिणः । तावत्कल्पसहस्राणि विष्णुलोके महीयते २५। यस्य मज्जन्ति गङ्गायां भस्मास्थीनि नखानि च । शिरोरुहाण्यपि प्राज्ञः स विष्णोर्भुवनं वसेत् २६। स्थितेष्वस्थिषु गङ्गायां यत्कर्म लभते नरः । ब्रवीमि तत्फलं सर्वं शृणु नान्यमना द्विज २७। एकदा भगवाञ्छक्रो नानालंकारभूषितः । क्रीडागृहं ययौ कामी युवत्या पद्मगंधया २८। पद्मगंधा रसज्ञा सा संप्राप्त नवयौवना । नानारसप्रदानेन चकार सुरसं प्रति २९। सपत्न्याः स्वर्णपर्यंके तस्याः शिशुमृगीदृशः । प्रीतः पादतले जिष्णुरुवास स्मरमोहितः ३०। अथ तस्यै स्वयं शक्रो निर्माय स्वर्णवीटिकाम् । ददाति परमप्रीतस्तद्गुणाकृष्टमानसः ३१। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु पौलोमी वरसुन्दरी । भूषणैर्भूषिता सर्वैः स्वयं तद्गृहमाययौ ३२। दृष्ट्वा तथाविधं शक्रं सर्वदेवाधिपं प्रभुम् । भृशं चुकोप पौलोमी प्राहेति च सुलक्षणा ३३। शच्युवाच- देव किं कुरुषे कांत त्वं समस्तसुराधिप । मम दासीस्वरूपायै ददासि स्वर्णवीटिकाम् ३४। स्पृशंति त्रिदशाः सर्वे शिरसा चरणौ तव । त्वं कथं पद्मगन्धाया दास्याः पादतले प्रभोः ३५। याचितश्च सुगन्धित्वाद्भृंगः स्यानचतद्यशः । सुंदरी कोटिभर्त्ता त्वं समस्तरसवित्प्रभो ३६। कथमेवंविधं कर्म करोष्यत्यंतकुत्सितम् । निर्गुणे पद्मगन्धेहे दासिदूरं परिव्रज ३७। त्वमीश्वरी च पर्यंके शक्रः पादतले तव । व्यास उवाच- तया निर्भर्त्सिता साध्वी पौलोम्या बहुधा ततः ३८। उवाच पद्मगन्धा सा क्रोधादिति वरांगना । पद्मगंधोवाच- गुणं च मम दोषं च स्वयं स्वाम्येव वेत्ति वै ३९। केनाधिकारेणागत्य त्वं मां निंदसि निर्गुणे । अन्ये नेत्रद्वयेनापि पश्यंति गुणदोषकौ ४०। सहस्रनेत्रैरप्येष न पश्येत्किं दुराशये । यथा दोषो हि लोकानां प्रचरेन्न गुणं तथा ४१। आदौ कलंकश्चन्द्रस्य दृश्यते गुणवज्जनैः । अनर्थभाषिणी क्रूरा कुमूर्त्तिर्गुणवर्जिता ४२। यदाहं नास्मि गुणिनी भजतु त्वां तदा पतिः । व्यास उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा पद्मगंधा सा क्रोधात्कोकनदेक्षणा ४३। उत्तस्थौ स्वर्णपर्यङ्कात्कुर्वंती करुणं महत् । इन्द्र उवाच- प्रिये प्राणेश्वरि श्रेष्ठे मां विहाय क्व गच्छसि ४४। मया किमपराद्धं ते मम तद्वद सुंदरि । कांते दासोऽस्म्यहं नूनं दासकर्म करोमि ते ४५। दासपत्नी भवेद्दासी वाक्यं त्वं न शृणोषि कम् । समुत्थाय ततः शक्रस्तन्मोहाकुलमानसः ४६। अंके निवेशयामास भूयस्तां वरसुंदरीम् । शच्युवाच- क्रौंचित्वज्जीवनं धन्यं व्यर्थं मज्जीवनं ध्रुवम् ४७। त्वं स्वामिसुभगा नित्यं दुर्भगाहं वरांगना । यावत्पुण्यक्षयं क्रौंचि तत्पुण्यं यास्यते क्षयम् ४८। क्रौंचवंशसमुत्पन्ना दुःखंभूयोऽपि भोक्ष्यसि । देवेन्द्रेणसमं तावत्कुरु केलि यथासुखम् ४९। कियद्भिर्दिवसैः क्रौंचि न भवेत्तव निर्गुणे । अत्यद्भुतं वचस्तस्याः पद्मगन्धा निशम्य सा ५० 7.8.50। द्वन्द्वभावं परित्यज्य प्रणम्योवाच तां सतीम् । पद्मगंधोवाच- पुलोमजे वरारोहे चित्रमेतत्त्वयोदितम् ५१। क्रौंची कथमहं ब्रूहि श्रोतुमिच्छामि यत्नतः । काहं कुत्रस्थिता चापि कथमत्रागता सती ५२। कालैः कियद्भिर्मत्पुण्यं क्षीणत्वं प्रतियास्यति । शच्युवाच- पद्मगन्धे पुरा त्वं हि क्रौंची पक्षिसमुद्भवा ५३। अमेध्यमामिषं कीटान्भक्षयंती क्षितौ स्थिता । न्यग्रोधतरुरेकोऽस्ति गङ्गातीरे मनोरमे ५४। तत्र नीडं विनिर्माय भवत्या वसतिः कृता । एकदा कृष्णसर्पेण तस्मिन्न्यग्रोधपादपे ५५। नीडं प्रविश्य दष्टा त्वं सहसा पंचतां गता । क्रव्याणि तव सर्वाणि स सर्पो भक्षयत्क्रुधा ५६। स्थितानि तत्रैवास्थीनि निर्मांसानि वरानने । कदाचित्पवनैर्भद्रे महद्भिः स च पातितः ५७। भग्नः पपात गङ्गायां समूलोऽपि वरांगने । गङ्गायां पतिते तस्मिन्न्यग्रोधे धरणीरुहे ५८। गङ्गाजलैः प्लावितानि तान्यस्थीनि तवोत्तमे । यावदस्थीनि गङ्गायां तावत्तिष्ठंति तानि च ५९। तावत्त्वं स्वामिसुभगा भविष्यसि सदैव हि । इति ते कथितं सर्वं पद्मगंधे मयाधुना ६०। येन पुण्यप्रभावेण शक्रोऽपि वशगस्तव । धन्या तु जाह्नवी देवी क्रौंची यस्याः प्रसादतः ६१। त्वमस्पृश्यासि चाण्डालैरंकेस्वपिषि वज्रिणः । तेनापमानिता साध्वी शक्रेणापि पुलोमजा ६२। परिम्लानमुखांभोजा सा जगाम यथागता । शक्रांक एव सा तस्थौ पद्मगन्धा वरांगना ६३। तद्वाक्यं हृदये तस्या जागरूकमिवस्थितम् । अथैकदा सुराधीशः सुप्रीतस्तद्गुणैर्द्विज ६४। वरं वरय सुश्रोणि स्वयं तामित्युवाच ह । पद्मगंधोवाच । त्वं सर्वदेवताधीशो नारीकोटिपतिस्थता ६५। तथाप्यसि ममाधीनः स्वामिन्किमपरैर्वरैः । तथापि त्वं वरं दित्सुर्यदा नूनं सुरोत्तम ६६। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा प्रतिज्ञां कुरु मत्पुरः । इंद्र उवाच- जीवितं च धनं चैव राज्यं चैव परिच्छदम् ६७। आज्ञापय किमेतद्वै तुभ्यं दास्यामि सुंदरि । सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं संदेहो नात्र विद्यते ६८। यदीच्छसि मृगीनेत्रे तत्ते दास्याम्यहं ध्रुवम् । पद्मगंधोवाच- नूनमेव प्रसन्नोऽसि यदि त्वं त्रिदशेश्वर ६९। जन्म मे हस्तियोनौ च भूयो देहीति मे वरम् । इंद्र उवाच- कृतप्रतिज्ञः सुश्रोणि वरं तेऽहं ददामि वै ७०। किंतु दुःखानि यातानि बहूनि हृदये मम । त्वामदृष्ट्वा वरारोहे प्रीतिर्न प्राप्यते क्षणम् ७१। कथं ते चिरविच्छेदं सोढुं शक्नोमि दुःसहम् । यदा मय्यनुकंपास्ति तव पीनपयोधरे ७२। तदा कियद्दिनं तिष्ठ मया सह वराङ्गने । ततो देवाधिराजस्य वदंती बहुसंपदम् ७३। वर्षाणामयुतं तस्थौ सा देवनिलये सती । पद्मगन्धोवाच- आज्ञां देहि सुराधीश साधितुं सुमनोरथम् ७४। व्रजाम्यहं कर्मभूमिं वंदे पादद्वयं तव । इन्द्र उवाच- त्वत्प्रेमसिंधुमानेन मया चन्द्रनिभानने ७५। स्थित्वा कतिदिनं पश्चाद्गमिष्यसि यथासुखम् । ततस्तुकौतुकागारे तेन सार्द्धमहर्निशम् ७६। क्रीडंती पद्मगंधा सा तस्थौ वर्षायुतत्रयम् । सुराधीशं ततः सेति तदा प्राह मुदान्विता ७७। आदेशं कुरु गच्छामि पृथिवीं प्रति संप्रति । इंद्र उवाच- जाड्यं जहीहि सुश्रोणि तिष्ठात्रैव मया सह ७८। त्वां त्यक्तुं न हि शक्नोमि प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम् । पद्मगन्धोवाच- पुण्यक्षये सुराधीश यदा यास्याम्यहं भुवि ७९। तदा चिरं ते विच्छेदो भविष्यति मया सह । यद्विच्छेदे मया नाथ पुनर्गंतुं भुवं प्रति ८०। इच्छाम्यहं पुनर्द्यौश्च पुण्योपार्जनहेतवे । कर्मभूमिमहं गत्वा येनोपायेन वासव ८१। तत्करिष्यामि विच्छेदः कदाचित्स्यात्त्वया न मे । इन्द्र उवाच- भद्रे त्वया यदा नूनं कर्मेदं कर्तुमिच्छितम् ८२। तदा गच्छ पुनः शीघ्रमागमिष्यसि सुंदरि । सह नेत्राद्धि विगलद्वाष्पसिक्ततनुस्ततः ८३। दोर्भ्यामालिङ्ग्य तां शक्रो गच्छेत्याह प्रिये वदन् । तदादेशात्ततः साध्वी कर्मभूमिं समागता ८४। जाता च हस्तिनी योनौ भूत्वा जातिस्मरा द्विज । स्मरंती निजवृत्तांतं सा कियद्भिर्दिनैस्ततः ८५। जगाम जाह्नवीतीरं हस्तियोनिसु संभवा । गङ्गायां स्नानमासाद्य गङ्गाकर्दमभूषिता ८६। गंगागंगेति जल्पंती ह्रदं निम्नं विवेश सा । तस्मिन्गंगाह्रदे गत्वा हस्तिनी पर्वताकृतिः ८७। निजां जातिं स्मरंती सा जगाम पंचतां पुनः । तस्याः साहसमालोक्य हस्तिनीं सर्वदेवताः ८८। ववर्षुः पारिजाताद्यैः कुसुमैरुत्तमैर्मुदा । तामानेतुं ततः शक्रः सर्वदेवगणैर्वृतः ८९। वेगात्तच्चिरविच्छेदात्कृष्णांगीं सुमना ययौ । पुष्पकेतां समालोक्य दिव्यदेहां सुराधिपः ९०। कथयन्निजदुःखानि निजावासं जगाम ह । पुलोमजा च रंभा च प्रम्लोचा चोर्वशी तथा ९१। सुंदर्योऽन्याश्च युवतीस्तस्यास्त्यक्त्वा मुदा गताः । शक्रस्य हृदयोत्साहं तन्वंती सा वरांगना ९२। पुरंदरपुरे तस्थौ सुभगा प्रीतिवल्लभा । यस्यास्तिष्ठंति गङ्गायां यावदस्थीनि जैमिने ९३। कुलकोटिशतं तावत्तस्थावास सुरालये । राजानो दिविराज्येषु ये ये भूतास्तपोबलात् ९४। तेषांतेषां स्नेहभूमिर्भवत्यमरसुंदरी । गंगास्थिमज्जनादेव जैमिने फलमीदृशम् ९५। गंगायां त्यजतो देहं फलं वक्तुं न शक्यते । मृतं शरीरं गंगायां यावदस्थीनि जैमिने ९६। कल्पकोटिशतं तावत्तस्या वासः सुरालये । मृतं शरीरं गंगायां स्रोतोभिश्चलितं द्विज ९७। दृश्यते देहिनस्तस्य तत्फलं शृणु जैमिने । स्वर्गे देवांगना त्रस्तचारुचामरवायुभिः ९८। वीजितः स्वर्णपर्यंके सुप्तस्तिष्ठति कौतुकी । जाह्नवीसैकते यस्य शरीरं दृश्यते मृतम् ९९। दिवाकरकरैस्तप्तं कुलं तस्य वदाम्यहम् । सुगन्धैश्चंदनैर्दिव्यैर्लिप्तसर्वकलेवरः १०० 7.8.100। दिव्याङ्गनाभिः सहितो दिवि क्रीडतिसर्वदा । काकैर्गृध्रैश्च कंकैश्च शकुंतैर्भीष्ममातरि १०१। वपुर्विदलितं यस्य दृश्यते तत्फलं शृणु । दिवि दिव्यांगनापीनप्रोत्तुङ्गरुचिरस्तनैः १०२। श्लिष्टवक्षाश्च पर्यंके निद्राति नित्यमेव सः । पिपीलिकाभिः कीटैश्च मक्षिकाभिश्च वेष्टितः १०३। गंगायां यस्य दृश्यंते अस्थीनि पतितानि च । तस्याक्षयं फलं विप्र वदतो मे निशामय १०४। प्रणमत्त्रिदशव्यूह शिरोमुकुटभूषणैः । हतपादरजाः स्वर्गे स च शक्रायते चिरम् १०५। अनिच्छयापि गङ्गायां यद्देहपतनं भवेत् । स विमुक्तोऽखिलैः पापैर्नरो नारायणो भवेत् १०६। यस्यांगाराश्च दृश्यंते गङ्गायां चलिता जलैः । अङ्गारसङ्ख्यया स्वर्गे तिष्ठेत्कल्पशताधिकम् १०७। सर्वेषामेव पुण्यानां कदाचित्क्षयमीक्षते । गङ्गायां पतिते देहे भवेत्पुण्यक्षयो न हि १०८। बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन निश्चितं कथ्यतेऽधुना । गङ्गायां त्यक्तदेहस्य महिमा ज्ञायते नहि १०९। विषमदुरितराशीनाशि गाङ्गं नरो यः स्पृशति भुवि कदाचिद्भावुको भक्तिभावैः । जगदुदधिजलं विलंघ्य घोरं व्रजति स पारमपारतुष्टि नावा ११०। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे क्रियायोगसारे गङ्गामाहात्म्येऽष्टमोऽध्यायः ८ ।

vyāsa uvāca- punarvakṣyāmi viprendra gaṅgāmāhātmyamuttamam | gaṅgākathāsudhāpānaṃ kuru muktiṃ yadīcchasi 1| dānaṃ dattaṃ tena sarvaṃ tena sarve makhāḥ kṛtāḥ | tena prapūjito viṣṇuryadbhaktirbhīṣma mātari 2| gaṅgāyāṃ dharmakarmāṇi kriyaṃte yāni kāni ca | akṣayāni bhavaṃtyasya tāni sarvāṇi jaimine 3| vahaṃtaṃ jalamālokya gāṅgeyāni jalāni yaḥ | bhaktyā gacchetsamutthāya so'śvamedhasahasrakṛt 4| gaṅgājaleṣvāgateṣu yo no tiṣṭhati bhaktitaḥ | paśutā śāśvatī tasya janmajanmani jaimine 5| gāṅgeyaṃ jalamāsādya yo na gṛhṇāti bhaktitaḥ | janmakoṭyarjitaṃ puṇyaṃ kṣaṇādeva tu naśyati 6| gaṅgātīraṃ jigamiṣuṃ yastu vārayate dvija | sa koṭikulasaṃyukto rauravaṃ narakaṃ vrajet 7| mūtraṃ vātha purīṣaṃ vā gaṃgātīre karoti yaḥ | na dṛṣṭā niṣkṛtistasya kalpakoṭiśatairapi 8| śleṣmāṇaṃ vāpi niṣṭhīvaṃ dūṣikāṃ vāśru vā malam | gaṃgātīre tyajedyastu sa nūnaṃ nārakī bhavet 9| ucchiṣṭaṃ kaphakaṃ caiva gaṅgāgarbhe ca yastyajet | sa yāti narakaṃ ghoraṃ brahmahatyāṃ ca viṃdati 10| gaṅgārodhasi yaḥ pāpaṃ kurute mūḍhadhīrnaraḥ | tadakṣaya bhavennūnaṃ nānyatīrtheṣu śāmyati 11| anyatīrthe kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ gaṅgāyāṃ ca vinaśyati | gaṅgāyāṃ yatkṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tatkutrāpi na śāmyate 12| tasmātpāpaṃ na kartavyaṃ gaṅgāyāṃ śāstrakovidaiḥ | karmaṇā manasā vācā kartavyo dharmasaṃgrahaḥ 13| na te deśā na te śailā na ca tāni vanāni ca | pāpavidhvaṃsinī yatra na tiṣṭhetsuranimnagā 14| gaṅgātīraṃ parityajya muhūrtamapi jaimine | na ca sthātavyamanyatra yadi kāryaśatānyapi 15| bhikṣānnamapi bhuktvā ca sthātavyaṃ jāhnavītaṭe | na cānyatra kṣaṇamapi prāpya bhūpālatāmapi 16| saṃtyajya dehaṃ gaṅgāyāṃ brahmahāpi vimucyate | anyatra muktaye na syādaśvamedhasahasrakṛt 17| gaṅgātīre vasanyastu haripūjāparo bhavet | janmajanmāṃtare yena kadācinnārcito hariḥ 18| bhaktirbhavati naitasya gaṅgāyāṃ lokamātari | śrūyatāṃ mānavāḥ sarve bhūyobhūyo bravīmyaham 19| snānaṃ vidhāya gaṅgāyāṃ gamyatāṃ paramaṃ padam | mṛtyukāle bhajedyastu gaṅgāgaṅgeti mānavaḥ 20| vimuktaḥpātakaiḥ sarvairdivi devayugāyutam | yasya gaṅgākathārambho mṛtyukāle bhaveddvija 21| sa gacchedviṣṇubhavanaṃ galitākhila kalmaṣaḥ | yastu smarati vai prājño mṛtyukāle dvijottama 22| gaṅgeti muktidaṃ nāma tasya tuṣṭo bhaveddhariḥ | mṛtyukāle bhavedyastu gaṅgāmṛtpuṇḍramuttamam 23| gaṅgāsnāyinamālokya tyajedyastu kalevaram | śmaśāne'pi dvijaśreṣṭha sa gaṅgāmaraṇaṃ labhet 24| tiṣṭhaṃtyasthīni gaṅgāyāṃ yāvatkālaṃ śarīriṇaḥ | tāvatkalpasahasrāṇi viṣṇuloke mahīyate 25| yasya majjanti gaṅgāyāṃ bhasmāsthīni nakhāni ca | śiroruhāṇyapi prājñaḥ sa viṣṇorbhuvanaṃ vaset 26| sthiteṣvasthiṣu gaṅgāyāṃ yatkarma labhate naraḥ | bravīmi tatphalaṃ sarvaṃ śṛṇu nānyamanā dvija 27| ekadā bhagavāñchakro nānālaṃkārabhūṣitaḥ | krīḍāgṛhaṃ yayau kāmī yuvatyā padmagaṃdhayā 28| padmagaṃdhā rasajñā sā saṃprāpta navayauvanā | nānārasapradānena cakāra surasaṃ prati 29| sapatnyāḥ svarṇaparyaṃke tasyāḥ śiśumṛgīdṛśaḥ | prītaḥ pādatale jiṣṇuruvāsa smaramohitaḥ 30| atha tasyai svayaṃ śakro nirmāya svarṇavīṭikām | dadāti paramaprītastadguṇākṛṣṭamānasaḥ 31| etasminneva kāle tu paulomī varasundarī | bhūṣaṇairbhūṣitā sarvaiḥ svayaṃ tadgṛhamāyayau 32| dṛṣṭvā tathāvidhaṃ śakraṃ sarvadevādhipaṃ prabhum | bhṛśaṃ cukopa paulomī prāheti ca sulakṣaṇā 33| śacyuvāca- deva kiṃ kuruṣe kāṃta tvaṃ samastasurādhipa | mama dāsīsvarūpāyai dadāsi svarṇavīṭikām 34| spṛśaṃti tridaśāḥ sarve śirasā caraṇau tava | tvaṃ kathaṃ padmagandhāyā dāsyāḥ pādatale prabhoḥ 35| yācitaśca sugandhitvādbhṛṃgaḥ syānacatadyaśaḥ | suṃdarī koṭibharttā tvaṃ samastarasavitprabho 36| kathamevaṃvidhaṃ karma karoṣyatyaṃtakutsitam | nirguṇe padmagandhehe dāsidūraṃ parivraja 37| tvamīśvarī ca paryaṃke śakraḥ pādatale tava | vyāsa uvāca- tayā nirbhartsitā sādhvī paulomyā bahudhā tataḥ 38| uvāca padmagandhā sā krodhāditi varāṃganā | padmagaṃdhovāca- guṇaṃ ca mama doṣaṃ ca svayaṃ svāmyeva vetti vai 39| kenādhikāreṇāgatya tvaṃ māṃ niṃdasi nirguṇe | anye netradvayenāpi paśyaṃti guṇadoṣakau 40| sahasranetrairapyeṣa na paśyetkiṃ durāśaye | yathā doṣo hi lokānāṃ pracarenna guṇaṃ tathā 41| ādau kalaṃkaścandrasya dṛśyate guṇavajjanaiḥ | anarthabhāṣiṇī krūrā kumūrttirguṇavarjitā 42| yadāhaṃ nāsmi guṇinī bhajatu tvāṃ tadā patiḥ | vyāsa uvāca- ityuktvā padmagaṃdhā sā krodhātkokanadekṣaṇā 43| uttasthau svarṇaparyaṅkātkurvaṃtī karuṇaṃ mahat | indra uvāca- priye prāṇeśvari śreṣṭhe māṃ vihāya kva gacchasi 44| mayā kimaparāddhaṃ te mama tadvada suṃdari | kāṃte dāso'smyahaṃ nūnaṃ dāsakarma karomi te 45| dāsapatnī bhaveddāsī vākyaṃ tvaṃ na śṛṇoṣi kam | samutthāya tataḥ śakrastanmohākulamānasaḥ 46| aṃke niveśayāmāsa bhūyastāṃ varasuṃdarīm | śacyuvāca- krauṃcitvajjīvanaṃ dhanyaṃ vyarthaṃ majjīvanaṃ dhruvam 47| tvaṃ svāmisubhagā nityaṃ durbhagāhaṃ varāṃganā | yāvatpuṇyakṣayaṃ krauṃci tatpuṇyaṃ yāsyate kṣayam 48| krauṃcavaṃśasamutpannā duḥkhaṃbhūyo'pi bhokṣyasi | devendreṇasamaṃ tāvatkuru keli yathāsukham 49| kiyadbhirdivasaiḥ krauṃci na bhavettava nirguṇe | atyadbhutaṃ vacastasyāḥ padmagandhā niśamya sā 50 7.8.50| dvandvabhāvaṃ parityajya praṇamyovāca tāṃ satīm | padmagaṃdhovāca- pulomaje varārohe citrametattvayoditam 51| krauṃcī kathamahaṃ brūhi śrotumicchāmi yatnataḥ | kāhaṃ kutrasthitā cāpi kathamatrāgatā satī 52| kālaiḥ kiyadbhirmatpuṇyaṃ kṣīṇatvaṃ pratiyāsyati | śacyuvāca- padmagandhe purā tvaṃ hi krauṃcī pakṣisamudbhavā 53| amedhyamāmiṣaṃ kīṭānbhakṣayaṃtī kṣitau sthitā | nyagrodhatarureko'sti gaṅgātīre manorame 54| tatra nīḍaṃ vinirmāya bhavatyā vasatiḥ kṛtā | ekadā kṛṣṇasarpeṇa tasminnyagrodhapādape 55| nīḍaṃ praviśya daṣṭā tvaṃ sahasā paṃcatāṃ gatā | kravyāṇi tava sarvāṇi sa sarpo bhakṣayatkrudhā 56| sthitāni tatraivāsthīni nirmāṃsāni varānane | kadācitpavanairbhadre mahadbhiḥ sa ca pātitaḥ 57| bhagnaḥ papāta gaṅgāyāṃ samūlo'pi varāṃgane | gaṅgāyāṃ patite tasminnyagrodhe dharaṇīruhe 58| gaṅgājalaiḥ plāvitāni tānyasthīni tavottame | yāvadasthīni gaṅgāyāṃ tāvattiṣṭhaṃti tāni ca 59| tāvattvaṃ svāmisubhagā bhaviṣyasi sadaiva hi | iti te kathitaṃ sarvaṃ padmagaṃdhe mayādhunā 60| yena puṇyaprabhāveṇa śakro'pi vaśagastava | dhanyā tu jāhnavī devī krauṃcī yasyāḥ prasādataḥ 61| tvamaspṛśyāsi cāṇḍālairaṃkesvapiṣi vajriṇaḥ | tenāpamānitā sādhvī śakreṇāpi pulomajā 62| parimlānamukhāṃbhojā sā jagāma yathāgatā | śakrāṃka eva sā tasthau padmagandhā varāṃganā 63| tadvākyaṃ hṛdaye tasyā jāgarūkamivasthitam | athaikadā surādhīśaḥ suprītastadguṇairdvija 64| varaṃ varaya suśroṇi svayaṃ tāmityuvāca ha | padmagaṃdhovāca | tvaṃ sarvadevatādhīśo nārīkoṭipatisthatā 65| tathāpyasi mamādhīnaḥ svāminkimaparairvaraiḥ | tathāpi tvaṃ varaṃ ditsuryadā nūnaṃ surottama 66| karmaṇā manasā vācā pratijñāṃ kuru matpuraḥ | iṃdra uvāca- jīvitaṃ ca dhanaṃ caiva rājyaṃ caiva paricchadam 67| ājñāpaya kimetadvai tubhyaṃ dāsyāmi suṃdari | satyaṃ satyaṃ punaḥ satyaṃ saṃdeho nātra vidyate 68| yadīcchasi mṛgīnetre tatte dāsyāmyahaṃ dhruvam | padmagaṃdhovāca- nūnameva prasanno'si yadi tvaṃ tridaśeśvara 69| janma me hastiyonau ca bhūyo dehīti me varam | iṃdra uvāca- kṛtapratijñaḥ suśroṇi varaṃ te'haṃ dadāmi vai 70| kiṃtu duḥkhāni yātāni bahūni hṛdaye mama | tvāmadṛṣṭvā varārohe prītirna prāpyate kṣaṇam 71| kathaṃ te ciravicchedaṃ soḍhuṃ śaknomi duḥsaham | yadā mayyanukaṃpāsti tava pīnapayodhare 72| tadā kiyaddinaṃ tiṣṭha mayā saha varāṅgane | tato devādhirājasya vadaṃtī bahusaṃpadam 73| varṣāṇāmayutaṃ tasthau sā devanilaye satī | padmagandhovāca- ājñāṃ dehi surādhīśa sādhituṃ sumanoratham 74| vrajāmyahaṃ karmabhūmiṃ vaṃde pādadvayaṃ tava | indra uvāca- tvatpremasiṃdhumānena mayā candranibhānane 75| sthitvā katidinaṃ paścādgamiṣyasi yathāsukham | tatastukautukāgāre tena sārddhamaharniśam 76| krīḍaṃtī padmagaṃdhā sā tasthau varṣāyutatrayam | surādhīśaṃ tataḥ seti tadā prāha mudānvitā 77| ādeśaṃ kuru gacchāmi pṛthivīṃ prati saṃprati | iṃdra uvāca- jāḍyaṃ jahīhi suśroṇi tiṣṭhātraiva mayā saha 78| tvāṃ tyaktuṃ na hi śaknomi prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasīm | padmagandhovāca- puṇyakṣaye surādhīśa yadā yāsyāmyahaṃ bhuvi 79| tadā ciraṃ te vicchedo bhaviṣyati mayā saha | yadvicchede mayā nātha punargaṃtuṃ bhuvaṃ prati 80| icchāmyahaṃ punardyauśca puṇyopārjanahetave | karmabhūmimahaṃ gatvā yenopāyena vāsava 81| tatkariṣyāmi vicchedaḥ kadācitsyāttvayā na me | indra uvāca- bhadre tvayā yadā nūnaṃ karmedaṃ kartumicchitam 82| tadā gaccha punaḥ śīghramāgamiṣyasi suṃdari | saha netrāddhi vigaladvāṣpasiktatanustataḥ 83| dorbhyāmāliṅgya tāṃ śakro gacchetyāha priye vadan | tadādeśāttataḥ sādhvī karmabhūmiṃ samāgatā 84| jātā ca hastinī yonau bhūtvā jātismarā dvija | smaraṃtī nijavṛttāṃtaṃ sā kiyadbhirdinaistataḥ 85| jagāma jāhnavītīraṃ hastiyonisu saṃbhavā | gaṅgāyāṃ snānamāsādya gaṅgākardamabhūṣitā 86| gaṃgāgaṃgeti jalpaṃtī hradaṃ nimnaṃ viveśa sā | tasmingaṃgāhrade gatvā hastinī parvatākṛtiḥ 87| nijāṃ jātiṃ smaraṃtī sā jagāma paṃcatāṃ punaḥ | tasyāḥ sāhasamālokya hastinīṃ sarvadevatāḥ 88| vavarṣuḥ pārijātādyaiḥ kusumairuttamairmudā | tāmānetuṃ tataḥ śakraḥ sarvadevagaṇairvṛtaḥ 89| vegāttacciravicchedātkṛṣṇāṃgīṃ sumanā yayau | puṣpaketāṃ samālokya divyadehāṃ surādhipaḥ 90| kathayannijaduḥkhāni nijāvāsaṃ jagāma ha | pulomajā ca raṃbhā ca pramlocā corvaśī tathā 91| suṃdaryo'nyāśca yuvatīstasyāstyaktvā mudā gatāḥ | śakrasya hṛdayotsāhaṃ tanvaṃtī sā varāṃganā 92| puraṃdarapure tasthau subhagā prītivallabhā | yasyāstiṣṭhaṃti gaṅgāyāṃ yāvadasthīni jaimine 93| kulakoṭiśataṃ tāvattasthāvāsa surālaye | rājāno divirājyeṣu ye ye bhūtāstapobalāt 94| teṣāṃteṣāṃ snehabhūmirbhavatyamarasuṃdarī | gaṃgāsthimajjanādeva jaimine phalamīdṛśam 95| gaṃgāyāṃ tyajato dehaṃ phalaṃ vaktuṃ na śakyate | mṛtaṃ śarīraṃ gaṃgāyāṃ yāvadasthīni jaimine 96| kalpakoṭiśataṃ tāvattasyā vāsaḥ surālaye | mṛtaṃ śarīraṃ gaṃgāyāṃ srotobhiścalitaṃ dvija 97| dṛśyate dehinastasya tatphalaṃ śṛṇu jaimine | svarge devāṃganā trastacārucāmaravāyubhiḥ 98| vījitaḥ svarṇaparyaṃke suptastiṣṭhati kautukī | jāhnavīsaikate yasya śarīraṃ dṛśyate mṛtam 99| divākarakaraistaptaṃ kulaṃ tasya vadāmyaham | sugandhaiścaṃdanairdivyairliptasarvakalevaraḥ 100 7.8.100| divyāṅganābhiḥ sahito divi krīḍatisarvadā | kākairgṛdhraiśca kaṃkaiśca śakuṃtairbhīṣmamātari 101| vapurvidalitaṃ yasya dṛśyate tatphalaṃ śṛṇu | divi divyāṃganāpīnaprottuṅgarucirastanaiḥ 102| śliṣṭavakṣāśca paryaṃke nidrāti nityameva saḥ | pipīlikābhiḥ kīṭaiśca makṣikābhiśca veṣṭitaḥ 103| gaṃgāyāṃ yasya dṛśyaṃte asthīni patitāni ca | tasyākṣayaṃ phalaṃ vipra vadato me niśāmaya 104| praṇamattridaśavyūha śiromukuṭabhūṣaṇaiḥ | hatapādarajāḥ svarge sa ca śakrāyate ciram 105| anicchayāpi gaṅgāyāṃ yaddehapatanaṃ bhavet | sa vimukto'khilaiḥ pāpairnaro nārāyaṇo bhavet 106| yasyāṃgārāśca dṛśyaṃte gaṅgāyāṃ calitā jalaiḥ | aṅgārasaṅkhyayā svarge tiṣṭhetkalpaśatādhikam 107| sarveṣāmeva puṇyānāṃ kadācitkṣayamīkṣate | gaṅgāyāṃ patite dehe bhavetpuṇyakṣayo na hi 108| bahunātra kimuktena niścitaṃ kathyate'dhunā | gaṅgāyāṃ tyaktadehasya mahimā jñāyate nahi 109| viṣamaduritarāśīnāśi gāṅgaṃ naro yaḥ spṛśati bhuvi kadācidbhāvuko bhaktibhāvaiḥ | jagadudadhijalaṃ vilaṃghya ghoraṃ vrajati sa pāramapāratuṣṭi nāvā 110| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe kriyāyogasāre gaṅgāmāhātmye'ṣṭamo'dhyāyaḥ 8 |

English translation

Vyāsa said :

1-6. O chief among brāhmaṇas , I shall again narrate the excellent greatness of Gaṅgā . If you desire liberation, drink the nectar in the form of an account of Gaṅgā. He who has-devotion for the mother of Bhīṣma , has given all gifts, has performed all sacrifices, and has worshipped Viṣṇu . O Jaimini , whatever religious rites are performed in Gaṅgā, all those become inexhaustible for him. Seeing flowing water he who gets up and goes to the water of Gaṅgā with devotion, is the performer of a thousand horse-sacrifices. He who does not show devotion (i.e. does not become devoted) when Gaṅgā-water has come (to him), will perpetually have beast-hood in every existence. The religious merit earned during crores of existences of him who, having come across the Gaṅgā-water, does not devoutly take it, perishes just in a moment.

7-10. He who stops one desiring to go to the bank of Gaṅgā, would, along with a crore (members of) his family, go to Raurava hell. The expiation for him who urinates or excretes on the bank of Gaṅgā is not seen even after hundreds of crores of kalpas . He who would drop phlegm, spittle, rheum, tears or dirt on the bank of Gaṅgā would be a resident of hell. He who would throw leavings of food and phlegm into Gaṅgā goes to a fearful hell, and gets (the sin of) the murder of a brāhmaṇa .

11-12. The sin which a foolish man commits on the bank of Gaṅgā, would indeed be perpetual and is not destroyed at (i.e. by visiting) other holy places. A sin committed at another holy place is destroyed in Gaṅgā; (but) the sin committed in Gaṅgā is destroyed nowhere.

13-14. Therefore, those who are proficient in the holy texts should not commit a sin in Gaṅgā. They should collect religious merit through (bodily) act, (act of) mind, and through words. They are not countries, they are not mountains, and they are also not the forests where the divine river, destroying sins, would not exist.

15-19. O Jaimini, even if one has (to carry out) a hundred (pieces of) work one should not stay at any other place even for a short while after leaving the bank of Gaṅgā. Even by eating begged food one should stay at the bank of Gaṅgā, but not at other place, even for a moment, even after having obtained the status of a king. By casting his body in Gaṅgā even the killer of a brāhmaṇa is liberated. (But even) the performer of a thousand horse-sacrifices at any other place would not get liberation. He who would live on the bank of Gaṅgā and be devoted to Viṣṇu’s worship (would obtain liberation). He who has never worshipped Viṣṇu in any former existence, would not have devotion for Gaṅgā, the mother of the world. O men, all of you listen. I am saying this repeatedly.

20-24 Having bathed in Gaṅgā, he would go to the highest position. That man who would worship Gaṅgā by repeating the name ‘Gaṅgā, Gaṅgā’, (would) freed from aU sins, (live) in heaven for a myriad divine ages. O brāhmaṇa, he who would start (narration of) the account of Gaṅgā at the time of his death, would, with all his sins dropped, go to the abode of Viṣṇu. O best brāhmaṇa, with the wise man who at the time of his death remembers the name ‘Gaṅgā’ giving liberation, Viṣṇu would be pleased. He who would, at the time of death, have a sectarian mark (on his forehead) of the Gaṅgā-clay ( mṛtpuṇḍra ), so also he who would cast his body after seeing him who bathes in Gaṅgā, would get (the fruit of) death in Gaṅgā even (if his death occurs) in a cremation ground, O brāhmaṇa.

25-26. As long as the bones of a man remain in Gaṅgā, he would, for thousands of kalpas, be honoured in Viṣṇu’s heaven. That wise man whose ashes, bones, nails and hair lie dipped in Gaṅgā, would live in Viṣṇu’s abode.

27-28. O brāhmaṇa, I shall tell (about) the fate a man has when his bones lie in Gaṅgā. I shall tell the entire fruit of it. Listen attentively. Once the lustful lord Indra , adorned with various ornaments, went along with a young woman Padmagandhā to the pleasure-house.

29-31. She who was called Padmagandhā, who had the prime of youth, contributed to great delight by giving him various pleasures. He, the conqueror, deluded by Cupid and being pleased, sat at the feet of that lady having eyes like those of a young deer, and seated on his wife’s golden bed. Indra, being very much pleased and with his mind attracted by her virtues, himself prepared a tāmbūla and gave it to her.

32-33. Just at that time, very beautiful Paulomī , adorned with all ornaments, herself came to that (pleasure-)house. Paulomī, seeing lord Indra, the king of all gods, in that condition, was very angry; and she, of good marks, spoke thus:

Śacī said :

34-37a. O lord, O my husband, O king of all gods, what is this that you are doing? Giving a golden tāmbūla to one who is my maid! O lord, all gods touch your feet with their heads. Then how do you remain at the feet of Padmagandhā? A bee is solicited for its fragrance(?). It would not be its success(?). O lord, how do you, who are the lord of a crore of beautiful women, and who know all flavours, do such an extremely condemned act?

37b-38a. O you virtueless Padmagandhā, O you maid, go away. You, (as if you were) a goddess, are (lying) on the bed, and Indra is seated at your feet!

Vyāsa said :

38b-39a. Thus reproached in various ways by that Paulomī, that chaste woman of a beautiful body angrily spoke thus:

Padmagandhā said :

39b-43a. The lord himself knows my virtue and vice. O you virtueless one, with what authority are you, after coming (here), censuring me? Others see virtues and vices even with two eyes. O you wicked-minded one, would Indra not see with a thousand eyes, since the virtue of people is not propagated as (as quickly as) their fault? Virtuous people first see the spot on the moon. You are talking nonsense, are cruel, of a bad form, void of virtues. If I am not virtuous, then let your husband resort to you.

Vyāsa said :

43b-44a. Speaking like this, that lotus-eyed Padmagandhā, acting very pitiably, angrily got up from the golden bed.

Indra said :

44b-47a. O dear one, O mistress of my life, O greatest one, leaving me where are you going? Tell me, O beautiful lady, what offence have I committed against you. O dear one, I am your servant and will serve you as a servant. The wife of a servant would be a maid-servant. Do you not hear such words?

Then Indra, with his mind overcome by infatuation, got up. and again put that exquisitely beautiful woman on his lap.

Śacī said :

47b-51a. O female curlew, your life is good, (and) my life certainly fruitless. You are loved by the lord, and I, an excellent lady, am always disliked by him, till (your) religious merit (lasts). O female curlew, that religious merit will be exhausted. Being born in the family of curlew you will again suffer grief. Till then sport with the lord of gods as you please. O virtueless. female curlew, after a few days (the lord) would not be yours.

Having heard her very amazing words, that Padmagandhā,. giving up her antagonism, saluted that chaste lady (i.e. Śacī ) and said to her:

Padmagandhā said :

51b-53a. O daughter of Puloman , O beautiful woman, what you have said is wonderful. Tell me how I am a female curlew. I desire to listen to it carefully. Who am I? Where did I stay? How have I, a chaste woman, come here? After how much time will my religious merit be exhausted?

Śacī said :

53b-60a. O Padmagandhā, formerly you were born of a curlew. You lived on the earth, eating impure flesh and insects. On the charming bank of Gaṅgā there was a fig tree. After building a nest on it, you lived there. Once a black serpent entered the hole on the fig tree and bit you. And you, a wicked one, suddenly died. The serpent angrily ate up all your flesh. O beautiful woman, all your fleshless bones remained there only. O good one, once the tree was hurled down by a strong wind. O beautiful one, being broken it fell into the Gaṅgā along with its roots. When that fig tree fell into Gaṅgā, your bones were submerged, O best lady. As long as those bones will remain in Gaṅgā, you will always be loved by the lord.

60b-65a. O Padmagandhā, I have told you everything as to which. of your religious merits has placed (even) Indra under your thumb. Blessed is goddess Jāhnavī (i.e. Gaṅgā) due to whose favour, you, a female curlew, not touched even by cāṇḍālas , lie on the lap of Indra.

The daughter of Puloman, the chaste lady, being insulted even by Indra, with her lotus-face faded, went as she had come. That excellent woman Padmagandhā remained on Indra’s lap only. Those words of her remained, as it were, wakeful in her heart. O brāhmaṇa, once the lord of gods very much pleased with her virtues, himself said to her: “O beautiful lady, ask for a boon.”

Padmagandhā said :

65b-67a. You are the chief of all gods and the lord of crores of women. Yet, O lord, you are under my influence. (Then) what is the use of other boons? Yet, O best god, you who desire to grant (me) a boon (should) take a pledge before me with your (bodily) acts, mind and words.

Indra said :

67b-69a. O you beautiful lady, order me what I shall give you—(my) life, wealth, kingdom, clothes (or attendants). (What I promise) is true, (certainly) true, is repeatedly true. There is no doubt about it. O you fawn-eyed one, I shall certainly give you what you desire.

Padmagandhā said :

69b-70a. O lord of the three worlds, if you are indeed pleased with me, then give me the boon that I shall be born in the stock of elephant.

Indra said :

70b-74a. O beautiful lady, I who have given a promise, give you the boon. But many griefs have come to my heart. O beautiful lady, I do not get happiness if I do not see you even for a moment. Then how can I put up with the unbearable separation from you for a long time? O you of stout breasts, O you beautiful lady, if you have compassion for me, then stay with me for a few days (more).

Then enjoying the large wealth of the lord of the gods that chaste woman lived for a myriad of years in the house of the lord.

Padmagandhā said :

74b-75a. O lord of gods, give me an order to fulfil my desire. I (shall) go to the land of religious rites (i.e. Bhāratavarṣa ). I salute the pair of your feet.

Indra said :

75b-76a. O you having a moon-like face, after living with me, having the measure of an ocean of love for you, for a few days, you will go as you please.

76b-78a. Then, that Padmagandhā, day and night sporting with him in the pleasure-house, lived there for three myriads of years. Then, she, full of joy, said to the lord of gods: “Give me an order. I (shall) now go to the earth.”

Indra said :

78b-79a. O you beautiful one, give up your apathy. Stay with me here only. I cannot abandon you; (you are) more important than (my own) life.

Padmagandhā said :

79b-82a. O lord of gods, when, on the exhaustion of my religious merit I shall go to the earth, then I shall have separation from you for a long time. On that separation, O lord, I, having gone to the earth, desire (to come back to) heaven. O Indra, having gone to the land of religious rites, I shall employ that means by which I shall never be separated from you.

Indra said :

82b-84. O good one, when you again desire to do this, then O beautiful one, you will again quickly come (here).

Then, with his body sprinkled by tears trickling from his eyes, he embraced her, and addressing her as “O dear one”, said: “You (can) go”. Then by his order the chaste woman came to the land of religious rites.

85-92a. O brāhmaṇa, she was born in the stock of female elephants and remembered her former birth. She who was wellborn in the stock of female elephants and remembered her account went, after a few days, to the bank of Gaṅgā. Bathing in Gaṅgā, and decorated with the mud from Gaṅgā, and uttering (the words) ‘Gaṅgā, Gaṅgā’, she entered a deep pool of water. That female elephant, of the form of a mountain, remembering her own birth, went into that pool of the Gaṅgā water, and died. Seeing her boldness, all deities gladly showered her with excellent flowers like pārijāta etc. To bring her, of a dark body, Indra, of a good mind, and surrounded by all hosts of gods, speedily went (to Gaṅgā) due to a long separation from her. Telling her, of a divine body, his own agonies (while) in the Puṣpaka (aeroplane) he went to his own abode, after gladly abandoning, for her sake, Śacī, Rambhā and Pramlocā and Urvaśī , that had come (there).

92b-95a. That excellent lady, increasing the happiness in the mind of Śakra , that fortunate one, dear (to Indra), stayed in the city of Indra as long as her bones remained in Gaṅgā, O Jaimini. A hundred crores (of the members of) her family lived in Indra’s abode for that period. That divine beauty became the object of the friendship of those who were kings of kingdoms in heaven due to the power of their austerities.

95b-97a. O Jaimini, such a fruit is had due to a bath in Gaṅgā. The fruit of (i.e. got by) him who casts his body in Gaṅgā cannot be described. O Jaimini, as long as the dead body and the bones remain in Gaṅgā, till that time, i.e. for a hundred crores of kalpas she resided in the abode of the god.

97b-99a. O Jaimini, listen to the fruit obtained by a man whose dead body is tossed in Gaṅgā by her currents: He, lying on a golden bed, and fanned with the breezes of charming chowries by divine ladies, becomes happy.

99b-1 04. I shall tell you about the abode of him whose dead body is seen on the sandy bank of Gaṅgā heated by the rays of the sun: With his entire body smeared with divine fragrant substances and sandal he always sports with divine damsels in heaven. Listen to the fruit obtained by him whose body is seen torn by crows, vultures, herons, and (other) birds in (Gaṅgā) the mother of Bhīṣma: He, with his chest embraced by the stout, high, charming breasts of divine damsels, always sleeps on a bed in heaven. O brāhmaṇa, listen to the inexhaustible fruit from me who am telling it, which he who (i.e. whose body) is surrounded by ants, insects and flies and whose bones are seen to have fallen in Gaṅgā, obtains.

105-110. He, with the dust-particles on his feet removed by the ornaments on their crowns and being saluted with their heads by the hosts of gods, behaves in heaven like Indrafor a long time. That man whose body falls into Gaṅgā even against his desire, is freed from all sins, and would become Viṣṇu. He whose charcoals (burnt parts of the body) are seen to be tossed by the water in Gaṅgā, would remain in heaven proportionately with the number of the charcoals for more than a hundred kalpas. Maybe all (kinds) of religious merit are exhausted. (But) when the body has fallen into Gaṅgā, the religious merit is never exhausted. What is the use of prolixity in this matter? The greatness of him who has cast his body in Gaṅgā is not (i.e. cannot be) known. That blessed man who, on the earth, sometime devoutly touches the water of Gaṅgā, destroying heaps of very strong sins, crosses the fearful ocean of the (mundane) world and goes to the (other) shore in a boat of boundless pleasure.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14768, revision 336756 (2022-04-27T03:35:20Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365849.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.