Chapter 72 - Description of the glory of Ganga

CHAPTER LXXII Sri Mahadeva said She is pious divine river, the remover of terrible sin. She bestows salvation only after visit and touch. (1) Now listen, O the best among the sages, I am relating to you the glory of the liquid form of Ganga. (2) ! One who waking in the morning remembers Ganga does not come across any inauspicious in the three worlds. Prosperity reigns in his quarters and within a moment distress disappears along with all his sins even of past birth and attains perennial sanctity or holiness. mortal being is released from inaccessible distress and effect of evil dreams no doubt. (3-5) Remembering the Ganga for once even the One should remember the goddess Ganga, the purifier of the three worlds at the beginning of any deeds so that one will be successful in one's all undertakings. (6) If a human being desires to be engaged in meditation and sacrifice then he should once remember Ganga and start his duties. (7) If one desirous of salvation remembers Ganga anywhere, she appears before him then and there for his liberation. (8) The Ganga is the accomplisher of all deeds, the abolisher of all sins, the destroyer of all prosperity. (9)

450 One achieves everything by remembering Ganga for once which is attainable holiness by taking bath in all holy places, worshipping all gods by performing all sacrifices, meditations and offerings, visiting all holy places, worshipping the lotus feet adorable by all and by oblation. (11-12) O the great sage, among the thousand names of goddess Bhagavati, Ganga is the supreme one no doubt. (13) The devotee of Ganga though very low is said to be wise and those who disregard the memory of Ganga eventhough wise are considered as low. (14) The day when Ganga is not remembered is considered as dull like the day covered with cloud. (15) O magnanimous, by remembering the name of Ganga all the sins born out of telling lies, keeping illegal relations with other's wife, illegal cruelty, taking liquor and the other distress if any are destroyed. (16-17) He, who advances towards Ganga attains the merit of horse sacrifice and Vajapeya sacrifice in his every step. (18) The ancestors of one who goes towards Ganga, dance heinous sins free. (19) The man about to die if goes towards Jahnavi, beholding him the followers of Yama overpowered with fear run away. (20)

451 If he dies anywhere he attains liberation as if beside Ganga. (21) He, who receives the guests those are moving towards Ganga also attains more merits. (22) He who salutes him and speaks humbly also is released from sins no doubt. (23) O Narade he who rebukes such person in a sinful one. He is being tormented in the terrible hell so long fourteen Indras rule. (24) If a devotee of Ganga causes any offence, he ought to be released by the king and he is not penalised anywhere. (25) While going towards Ganga if a thirsty person drinks the water from a well or pond etc., attains greater prosperity.(26) While travelling towards Jalavi if one is unable to walk, moves through vehicle attains more merit, His ancestors attain supreme eternal pleasure, all his sins disappear and is embodied with holiness. At lastly if his death is possible in the Ganga water, his supreme fame along with children and grandchildren on this earth become eternal. Only by the visit of Ganga a man is immediately released from his terrible sing like slaying of brahmins. (27-30) He, who going there salutes the goddess with devotion, his body even his birth as a human being is fruitful. parents are fortunate and he is also fortunate enough as he His

452 has no sins and fear of death. O magnanimous, he attains incomparable pleasure and happiness in other world also and if dies in Ganga while remembering Her. (31-33) All gods and magnanimous sages are contented by visiting Ganga what to speak of human beings. (34) ✪ magnanimous, one who comes in contact with her is released of creates thousands of sins and never punished by Yama. (33) O the best among the sages, please listen, I am telling you the myth regarding the glory of Ganga, (36) In the past there was a terrible hunter named 'Sarvantaka ' the unconquerable scion of a Savara race, the most sinful.(37) He maintained his livelihood by killing many animals and selling their flesh. The wicked always insisted on enjoying others' wife and stealing others property and never performed any pious deed. (38-39) Once he was going to the forest, killed many animals and reaching at a river's bank decided to take batli. (40) In the meantime the king Citrasena, the best among the kings came to that forest for hunting. He looked that wicked hunter Sarvantaka with the load of flesh intending to go to his own dwelling. (41-42) In the meantime the king seeing a deer aimed at it by fixing arrows on his bow. The deer also, beholding the valorous king attempting to kill, ran swiftly the king lost his aim, (43-44

453 O the best among the sages, being hit by the arrow and blooded with blood the deer came to the bunt er. The hunter beholding the king and the deer was puzzled and tying by a net he went. The king looked at him. (45-46) O the best among the sages, then the king approached him and tied him out of anger with a strong net. Taking that deer and also that sinful one the king went to his palace riding on a swift moving horse. (47-48) When the king crossed over the Ganga with the help of a boat, O sage the hunter visited the Goddess Ganga at that time. (49) The king coming to his house kept the wicked in a dark prison. (50) After sometime the hunter named Sarvantaka died. To take him by tying him with net the followers of Yama came. In the meantime the follower of Siva with His permission, defeating the followers of Yama took him to Sivaloka. Then the defeated followers coming to the lord of Dharma informed everything about the deeds of the followers of Siva. Having heard this Yama asked the wise Citragupta "why that hunter was taken to Mahesa.* Please look carefully about his sin and merit. I think beside sin he must have some merits. (51-55) Then Citragupta, the chastiser of sin informed that due to coming in contact with Ganga, which destroys all sins, he

454 is freed from his misdeeds. Having heard this the magnanimous Yama was astonished and, saluting Ganga addressed thus to his followers. (56-57) The king of Dharma said - O my followers, those who visit Ganga, the most purifier, though embodied with hundreds of sina are not punishable by me. (58) Those who remember Ganga, the purifier of distress for once though embodied with hundreds of sins are not punishable by me. (59) Those who meditato on the goddess of liquid form with devotion though implicted with hundreds of sins are not punishable by me. (60) Those who worship Ganga and take bath in Her water even though sinful are not punishable by me. (61) Those who give up their mortal coil at Ganga, are adorable by Indra, what to think of their punishment, (62) Sri Mahadeva said O sage, having heard the glory of Ganga the followers of Yama were surprised and became meritorious. He who reads this chapter carefully does not face the fear of death and the fear of the followers of Yama. (63) Here ends the seventy second chapter called the description of the glory of Ganga in Sri Mahabhagavata Upapurana.