Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 44: Bhagīratha Delivers his Uncles
Text 1.44.21

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुत्र्यं स्वर्ग्यमतीव च।
यः श्रावयति विप्रेषु क्षत्रियेष्वितरेषु च।
प्रीयन्ते पितरस्तस्य प्रीयन्ते दैवतानि च॥

dhanyaṁ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṁ putryaṁ svargyam atīva ca
yaḥ
śrāvayati vipreṣu kṣatriyeṣv itareṣu ca
prīyante
pitaras tasya prīyante daivatāni ca

dhanyam = auspicious wealth; yaśasyam = fame; āyuṣyam = longevity; putryam = sons; svargyam = residence in heaven; atīva = abundant; ca = and; yaḥ = a man who; śrāvayati = narrates [this history of Gaṅgā’s descent]; vipreṣu = to brāhmaṇas; kṣatriyeṣu = kṣatriyas; itareṣu = others; ca = and; prīyante = become pleased with him; pitaraḥ = pious forefathers; tasya = of; prīyante = become pleased with him; daivatāni = the demigods; ca = also.

[This narration awards one who narrates] abundant auspicious wealth, fame, longevity, sons and residence in Svarga. Pious forefathers of a man who narrates [this history of Gaṅgā’s descent] to brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and others become pleased with him. The demigods also become pleased with him.

These are the benefits of narrating the history of Gaṅgā’s descent.