Ganga Mata Chalisa

Hail, hail, hail world-purifier; hail goddess-river Ganga.

Hail Shiva-locks dweller, of peerless lofty waves.

Hail, hail, mother ending sins’ mines(?); joy-giving queen Ganga.

Hail Bhagirathi, divine-river mother, famed burner of Kali’s stains at the root.

Hail, hail, Jahnu’s daughter, sin-slayer; Bhishma’s mother, world-mother.

White lotus-petals adorn your form, shaming a hundred autumn moons.

There spotless crocodiles shine; nectar-pots in hand enchant beholders.

Studded gems, golden ornaments; heart-jewel dispelling darkness and taint.

World-purifier, ending three afflictions; your swift lofty waves delight the heart.

Even greatly-worshipped Ganapati bathes in Ganga first of all.

Goddess dwelling in Brahma’s pot, blissfully serving the Lord’s lotus feet.

Sixty thousand ocean-sons you ferried, hallowing Ganga-sagar pilgrimage.

Fathomless waves rose pleasing the heart; behold fair Haridwar pilgrimage.

King of pilgrimages, imperishable Prayag; then Mother held Kashi’s saw(?)...

Blessed, blessed divine river, heaven’s stair; boat across, fathers’ ...

Bhagiratha’s penance bore fruit above; Brahma granted your divine-river stream.

When the world-mother surged roaring, she merged into Shambhu’s locks.

For a year(?) queen Ganga stayed lost in Shambhu’s locks.

Again Bhagiratha meditated on Shambhu, winning a single drop from his locks.

Hence Mother split in three streams — mortal world, ... and underworld.

To the underworld as Prabhavati; to the sky as lovely Mandakini.

In the mortal world fair Jahnavi, ending Kali’s stains, purifying the fathomless world.

Blessed Mother of heavy glory; axis of dharma, axe to Kali’s sins.

Blessed Mandakini, mother of origin; blessed divine river, ending all fears.

Drinking pure Ganga water gains the heart’s wished endless fruit.

When past-life merit awakes, the heart turns to Ganga.

Each step taken toward the divine river earns horse-sacrifice’s fruit.

Great sinners none could ferry — your single name ferries them.

Whoever meditates from a hundred leagues surely attains Vishnu’s realm.

Chanting your name destroys countless sins, lighting pure wisdom, strength, sense.

As wealth roots in duty and gifts, duty roots in drinking Ganga water.

Singing your virtues, woes flee; house to house wealth and wisdom reign.

Whoever daily meditates on Ganga with discipline — even the wicked gain virtue’s rank.

The dull gain learning and strength; the sick are freed of sickness.

Whoever cries “Ganga, Ganga” never stays hungry or naked.

At “Mother Ganga” from their lips, Yama covers his ears and flees.

You ferry the greatly sinful; hell’s doors stay shut for them.

Whoever chants Ganga’s hundred names gains all powers, fulfilled desires.

Enjoying all joys they reach the supreme state, freed from coming-and-going.

Blessed Mother, joy-giving divine river; blessed, blessed king of pilgrimages, Triveni.

At Kakara village, sage Durvasa; Sundardas, Ganga’s servant.

Whoever reads this Ganga Chalisa gains unbroken devotion and eloquence.

Daily they gain new joys and wealth, holding Ganga in meditation; at life’s end they dwell in gods’ city, seated honourably in the craft.