सा भक्तिः पृथिवीपाल तामसी चोत्तमा स्मृता
O protector of the earth, that devotion which is tamasic is also remembered as the highest among tamasic types.
श्रद्धया परया युक्तः सा राजस्यधमा स्मृता
Endowed with great faith, that is remembered as the lowest form of rajasic devotion.
अर्चयेत्परया भक्त्या सा मध्या राजसी मता
Worshipping with supreme devotion is regarded as the middle form of rajasic devotion.
सा राजस्युत्तमा भक्तिः कीर्तिता पृथिवीपते
O king, that devotion which is rajasic is called the highest among rajasic types.
श्रद्धया परयोपेतः सा सात्त्विक्यधमा स्मृता
Endowed with supreme faith, that is remembered as the lowest form of sattvic devotion.
श्रद्धया संयुतो भूयः सात्त्विकी मध्यमा तु सा
Again, joined with faith, that is the middle sattvic devotion.
भक्तीनां प्रवरा सा तु उत्तमा सात्त्विकी स्मृता
Among devotions, that is the best, remembered as the highest sattvic devotion.
तन्मयत्वेन संतुष्टः सा भक्तिरुत्तमोत्तमा
Being satisfied through complete absorption, that devotion is the highest of the highest.
इति यः सततं पश्येत्तं विद्यादुत्तमोत्तमम् तत्ते वक्ष्यामि सुमते सावधानं निशामय
One who always perceives thus should be known as the highest of the highest; I will explain this to you, O wise one, listen attentively.
तत्रापि सात्त्विकी भक्तिः सर्वकामफल प्रदा
Even among these, sattvic devotion grants all desired results.
स्वकर्मणो विरोधेन भक्तिः कार्या जनार्दने
Devotion to Janardana should be performed even in opposition to one's own prescribed duties.
न तस्य तुष्यते विष्णुराचारेणैव तुष्यते
Vishnu is not pleased by mere conduct, but is pleased only by proper conduct.
आचारप्रभवो धर्मो धर्मस्य प्रभुरच्युतः
Dharma arises from proper conduct, and the source of dharma is the imperishable one.
सदाचारविहीनानां धर्मा अप्यसुखप्रदाः
For those lacking good conduct, even dharmas do not bring happiness.
यत्तु पृष्टं त्वया भूयस्तत्सर्वं गदितं मया
And whatever else you have asked, all that has been explained by me.
नारायणमणीयांसं सुखमेष्यसि शाश्वकतम्
You will easily attain the eternal, supreme Narayana.
द्वयोरन्तरदृग्याति नरकारन्कोटिशः खलः
The wicked one who creates division between two, goes to hell by the millions.
भेदकृद्दुःखमाप्नोति इह लोके परत्रघ च
The maker of discord obtains suffering in this world and in the next.
वसन्ति नरके ते तु राजंस्तव पितामहाः
O King, your forefathers now dwell in hell.
गङ्गा सर्वाणि पापानि नाशयत्येव भूपते
O King, the Ganga indeed destroys all sins.
नयति विष्णुसदनं स्पृष्टा गाङ्गेनर वारिणा
One touched by water from the Ganga is led to the abode of Vishnu.
स सर्वपापनिर्मुक्तः प्रयाति भवनं हरेः
Freed from all sins, he goes to the dwelling of Hari.
तानि कर्माणिर नश्यन्ति गङ्गाबिन्द्वभिषेचनात्
Those actions are destroyed by the sprinkling of drops of Ganga.
धर्मात्मानं धर्मराजः सद्यश्वान्तर्दधेतदा
Then, the righteous king of justice would immediately disappear.
निक्षिप्य पृथिवीं सर्वां सचिवेषु ययौ वनम्
Entrusting the whole earth to his ministers, he went to the forest.
पश्चिमे तुहिनाक्रान्ते शृङ्गेषोडशयोजने
On the farthest, snow-covered peak, sixteen yojanas in extent,
तपस्तप्त्वानयामास गङ्गां त्रैलोक्यपावनीम्
He performed austerities and brought down the Ganga, purifier of the three worlds.
कथमानीतवान्गङ्गामेतन्मे वक्तुमर्हसि
Tell me how the Ganga was brought down; you ought to relate this to me.
गच्छन्हिमाद्रिं तपसे प्राप्तो गोदावरी तटम्
Going to the Himalaya for austerity, he reached the bank of the Godavari.
कृष्णसारसमाकीर्णं मातङ्गगणसेवितम्
It was filled with black antelopes and frequented by herds of elephants.