Chapter 304 - Greatness of Gaṅgā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-4. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to Gaṅgā flowing on three paths, to the north-east of Saṅgāleśvara within seven Dhanus.

O my beloved, there are three-eyed aquatic fishes therein always. They are seen even in Kali Age. It is the truth. The truth has been mentioned by me. By taking holy ablution therein, O great goddess, one is rid of the five sins.

Sūta said:

On hearing his words, Satī, the daughter of Mountain, was surprised, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. She spoke to Lord Śiva who has the moving Moon for his crest-jewel:

Pārvatī said:

5. How did Gaṅgā flowing through three paths (viz. heavenly, earthly and nether-worldly) come there? O Śiva, how did the aquatic fishes become three-eyed?

6. O Lord, if I am your beloved, do explain this in detail.

Īśvara said:

7. O my splendid fair lady, since you ask me I shall explain. Do listen. It is my opinion that believers will have their faith enhanced.

8-10. The great Lord Mahādeva was cursed by the sages who were enveloped by the darkness of ignorance. They had been enraged for some reason. They realized that it was Maheśvara who had been cursed. They realized that they had been deprived of bliss and saw that the entire universe had become devoid of bliss. They propitiated Parameśāna (the great Lord) who had assumed the form of an elephant. The Brāhmaṇas brought him to a raised ground and made him pleased.

11. Although Maheśvara was pleased ever since then, they always considered themselves as great malicious offenders of Śiva.

12. All of them hurriedly came to Mahātīrtha from Mahodaya and performed a very severe penance in the vicinity of Saṅgāleśvara.

13-17. All these sages duly worshipped the deity named Saṅgāleśvara: (The sages were) Bhṛgu, Atri, Maṅki, Kaśyapa, Kaṇva, Gautama, Kauśika, Kuśika of great power of penance, Śūkara, Bharadvāja, the sage of powerful penance, the son of Bhārgava, Jātūkarṇya, Vasiṣṭha, Sāvarṇi. Parāśara, Śāṇḍilya, Pulastya, Vatsa of great penance and many other great sages. They had come to Prabhāsa, the destroyer of sins. In the vicinity of Saṅgāleśvara they installed Maheśvara and performed penance for ever.

18-20. Even after the lapse of a great deal of time, Maheśvara was not seen. All those leading sages considered penance as their asset. They were firmly established in the performance of penance. By meditating on the Three-eyed Lord, they themselves became three-eyed. They looked at one another with the suspicion that the others were the three-eyed Lord Maheśvara and began to eulogize by means of different kinds of prayers. Thus they acquired the state of three-eyed ones due to their power of meditation.

21. They thus continued to perform very severe penance and adored the Trident-bearing Lord. Even as they were performing the penance, Maheśvara became very compassionate.

22. He spoke to all those excellent sages, “O excellent sages, I am pleased with your penance as well as adoration. Listen, you may choose an excellent boon.”

The sages said:

23. O Lord of Devas, O Hara, if you are pleased with us, it behoves you to grant us a boon. Do cause Gaṅgā to come here for our holy ablution.

24. Due to our ignorance, we have caused offence to you. If we take our holy bath in Gaṅgā, we will regain sanctity on the earth.

Īśvara said:

25. Indeed you are persons of sacred actions. You sanctify those who purify (others). In order to gladden your hearts, I shall bring Gaṅgā here.

26. Due to your sanctity, you have assumed the state of having three eyes, O excellent sages.

After saying thus Śaṃbhu kept his eyes motionless in his mental absorption in meditation. Instantly he remembered Gaṅgā full of fishes.

27. On being remembered, Gaṅgā, the divine river of three paths, full of fishes, pierced through the surface of the earth and reached that place.

28. When the splendid Gaṅgā abounding in fishes was seen (by the sages) all the fishes acquired the state of having three eyes.

Īśvara said:

29. O Brāhmaṇas, because they were viewed at by you, they have attained the state of having three eyes. This is a very good example shown to the worlds.

The sages said:

30. O great Lord, with your favour let the progeny of the fish in this Kuṇḍa be three-eyed always in every Yuga.

31-32. A man who comes to this Kuṇḍa, takes his holy bath and offers gold, cows, gingelly seeds and garments to a Brāhmaṇa, particular on a New-Moon day, should become three-eyed.

After saying “It will be so” Hara vanished.

33-34. The Brāhmaṇas became pleased and all of them went to the place Mahodaya. Thus, O fair lady, the excellent greatness of Gaṅgā has been narrated to you. If it is listened to it suppresses all sins and yields all desired benefits.