Him to Ganga.
Heaven-born river.
Bhagavati Ganga.
Goddess redeemer of all the worlds.
In ripples,
Your waters playfully are flowing.
You wander in Shiva's matted hair.
Grant that my mind,
O you who are stainless,
Ever may dwell at the lotus of your feet.
Bhagirathi,
Mother,
Giver of gladness,
The scriptures celebrate the glory of your stream.
But I,
Alas,
Know nothing of your glories.
Foolish as I am,
Do you redeem me?
You,
The embodiment of merciful love.
Rippling,
You flow from the feet of Hari,
Whiter than frost or diamonds or the moon.
O mother Ganga,
Take away the burden of wicked deeds that weighs upon me.
Bear me across the ocean of the world.
One who is drunk,
Your refreshing waters truly is tasted of the highest.
They,
Your worshipper,
O mother Ganga,
Will never be seized by the king of death.
Ganga,
Janavi,
Savior of sinners.
Murmuring,
You flow on broken stones.
Mother of Bhishma,
Daughter of Janu.
You,
The almighty conqueror of evil.
Truly,
You are blessed in all the worlds.
Like the celestial tree of wishes,
You grant the boons of humanity's desiring.
One who salutes you will not grieve again.
You sport,
O Ganga,
With the limitless ocean.
Wondering,
The damsels of heaven regard you,
Watching with restless,
Side-lunged glances.
Gift by your grace,
One bathes in your waters.
Never need one enter a mother's womb.
The sins of a lifetime for all annulling.
The claims of destiny at death's dispelling.
Janavi,
Ganga,
The world accords you honor and renown for the glory that is yours.
Brightly,
O Janavi,
Your waters sparkle.
You look on your worshippers with loving glance.
Indra himself,
The ruler of the devas,
Bows at your feet with his jeweled crown.
Giver of happiness,
Bringer of good fortune,
Help of thy bond-slaves,
Hail to thee.
Vanish,
O Bhagavati,
All my illness.
Take away my troubles,
My sins,
And my grief.
Utterly crush my one cravings,
Goddess supreme in all the worlds.
Thou,
Mother earth's most precious necklace,
You are my refuge here in this world.
Giver of delight to the gods in heaven,
Essence of bliss adored by the afflicted.
On me shower your compassionate love,
One who has made your bank my dwelling.
Truly abides in Vishnu's realm.
Rather a fish or a turtle in your waters,
A tiny lizard on your bank would I be.
Or even a shunned and hated outcast living but a mile from your sacred stream.
Than the proudest emperor far from you.
You,
The auspicious ruler of creation,
Daughter of a sage and mother benign,
Flowing deity,
Veritable goddess.
One who repeats this hymn to Ganga surely will succeed in everything.
One who cherishes their mother Ganga when salvation would the greatest of ease.
This,
Her hymn,
Felicitous in rhythm,
Pleasant to the ear,
To the tongue like nectar,
Never surpassed the wish-fulfiller.
Noble and exalted in mood,
Was written in the mind bewitching Pajatika meter by Shankara.
Servant of Shankara himself.
Foolish mortal,
Given to enjoyment.
Read it daily for your lasting good.
