Sage Vishvamitra along with others reach the banks of River Ganga and they make their sojourn on that riverbank. There when Rama inquisitively enquires about River Ganga Vishvamitra narrates the legend of Ganga, as to how she is taken to heavens by gods from her father Himalayas.
उपास्य रात्रि शेषम् तु शोणा कूले महर्षिभिः |
निशायाम् सुप्रभातायाम् विश्वामित्रो अभ्यभाषत || १-३५-१
1. vishvaamitraH = Viswamitra; raatri sheSam = night, remaining; maharSibhiH shoNaa kuule upaasya = with great-sages, Sona [the river,] on its bank, on sojourning; nishaayaam su prabhaataayaam = night elapsing, sunny, daybreak; abhyabhaaSata = spoke.
On sojourning the remaining night on the bank of river Sona along with great-sages, Viswamitra spoke when that night is elapsing into a sunny daybreak. [1-35-1]
सुप्रभाता निशा राम पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते |
उत्तिष्ठ उत्तिष्ठ भद्रम् ते गमनाय अभिरोचय || १-३५-२
2. raama = oh, Rama; nisha su prabhaataa = night [fared away,] joyous dawn; puurvaa sandhyaa pravartate = eastern, day-spring, is set in; uttiSTha uttiSTha = awake, arise; te bhadram = to you, let safe be; gamanaaya abhirocaya = for travel, be inspired to - ready yourself.
"Oh, Rama, night fared into a sunny morning, eastern day-spring is set in, hence awake and arise, you be safe, ready yourself for further travel." [1-35-2]
तत् श्रुत्वा वचनम् तस्य कृत्वा पौर्व आह्णिक क्रियः |
गमनम् रोचयामास वाक्यम् च इदम् उवाच ह || १-३५-३
3. tasya tat vacanam shrutvaa = his, that, word, on hearing;Rama got up; paurva aahNika kriyaH kR^itvaa = early, morning, religious activities, on performing; gamanam rocayaamaasa = to journey on, shown interest; idam vaakyam ca uvaaca ha = this, sentence, also, said, indeed.
On hearing the words of Sage Vishvamitra, Rama woke up and on completion of morning time religious activities he readied himself for further journey and indeed spoke this sentence to the sage. [1-35-3]
अयम् शोणः शुभ जलो गाधः पुलिन मण्डितः |
कतरेण पथा ब्रह्मन् संतरिष्यामहे वयम् || १-३५-४
4. brahman = oh, Brahman; shubha jalaH = one with auspicious, waters; pulina maNDitaH = with sand-dunes, decorated with - overspread; ayam shoNaH = this, [river] Sona; gaadhaH = fordable - not so deep; vayam katareNa pathaa = we, in which of the two, ways; sam tariSyaamahe = very, easily cross it over - rather, without a boat
"This River Sona is with auspicious waters and even adorned with dunes, where it is not so deep. Oh, Brahman, in which of the two ways, namely by fordless waters or by fordable water with dunes, we have to cross this river?" [1-35-4]
एवम् उक्तः तु रामेण विश्वामित्रो अब्रवीत् इदम् |
एष पंथा मया उद्दिष्टो येन यान्ति महर्षयः || १-३५-५
5. raameNa = by Rama; evam uktaH vishvaamitraH = thus, one who is spoken, Vishvamitra; idam abraviit = this, said; maharSayaH yena [panthaa] yaanti = great-sages, in which [route,] they go; eSa panthaa mayaa uddiSTaH = that, route, by me, is proposed.
When Rama spoke to him thus sage Vishvamitra replied, "I propose the same route by which these great sages are going. [1-35-5]
एवम् उक्त्वा महर्षयो विश्वमित्रेण धीमता |
पश्यन्तः ते प्रयाता वै वनानि विविधानि च || १-३५-६
6. dhiimataa vishvamitreNa evam uktvaa = by astute one, Vishvamitra, thus, said; te maharSayaH = those, great sages; vividhaani vanaani pashyantaH = divers, forests, while beholding; prayaataa vai = they travelled, indeed.
Thus spoken by that astute Sage Vishvamitra, the other great sages travelled on, indeed beholding diverse forests and their environs. [1-35-6]
ते गत्वा दूरम् अध्वानम् गते अर्ध दिवसे तदा |
जाह्नवीम् सरिताम् श्रेष्ठाम् ददृशुर् मुनि सेविताम् || १-३५-७
7. te duuram adhvaanam gatvaa = they, a distance, on their way, on going; tadaa ardha divase gate = then, half, day, while elapsing; muni sevitaam = by sages, adored; saritaam shreSThaam = among rivers, prominent one; jaahnaviim = River Ganga; dadR^ishuH = they perceived.
On going a distance on their way, and after a lapse of half a day, then they perceived the prominent one among rivers and the one adored by sages, namely River Ganga. [1-35-7]
ताम् दृष्ट्वा पुण्य सलिलाम् हंस सारस सेविताम् |
बभूवुर् मुनयः सर्वे मुदिता सह राघवाः || १-३५-८
8. puNya salilaam = one with pious, waters; hamsa saarasa sevitaam = by swans, by saarasa [waterfowls,] adored by; taam dR^iSTvaa = at her [Ganga], on seeing; saha raaghavaaH = along with, Raghava-s, Rama and Lakshmana; sarve munayaH muditaa babhuuvuH = all, saints, delighted, they became.
On seeing River Ganga with her pious waters and adored by swans and saarasa waterfowls, all the sages felt delighted together with both of the Raghava-s, namely Rama and Lakshmana. [1-35-8]
तस्याः तीरे ततः चक्रुः ते आवास परिग्रहम् |
ततः स्नात्वा यथा न्यायम् संतर्प्य पितृ देवताः || १-३५-९
हुत्वा चैव अग्निहोत्राणि प्राश्य च अमृतवत् हविः |
विविशुर् जाह्नवी तीरे शुभा मुदित मानसाः || १-३५-१०
विश्वामित्रम् महात्मानम् परिवार्य समंततः |
9, 10, 11a. tataH te = then, they; tasyaaH tiire = on her, banks; aavaasa parigraham cakruH = sojourn, taking, they have done - they camped there; tataH snaatvaa = then, taking bath; yathaa nyaayam = as per, custom; pitR^i devataaH = to fatherly, gods - to manes; sam tarpya = offered oblations; agni hotraaNi hutvaa ca eva = ritual fire, enkindled, also, thus - performed fire oblations; amR^ita vat = ambrosia, like; haviH ca praashya = oblation items, also, on dining; mudita maanasaaH = contented, at hearts - in oblating at river Ganga; mahaatmaanam vishvaamitram = great-souled one, Viswamitra; sam antataH parivaarya = all around, surrounding; shubhaa jaahnavii tiire = on propitious, Ganga, on the banks; vivishuH = they perched.
Then they sojourned on the riverbank of Ganga, and next on taking bath in Ganga they have customarily offered that river's water as oblations to their manes. After that, on enkindling the ritual-fire they have also offered fire-oblations into it for gods. Later, dining on their part of those ambrosian oblations with which they have oblated the fire, those sages perched on the propitious banks of Ganga, surrounding the great-souled Vishvamitra from all sides, to the contentment of their heart in having performed religious chores on the riverbank of Ganga. [1-35-9, 10, 11a]
विष्टिताः च यथा न्यायम् राघवो च यथा अर्हम् |
संप्रहृष्ट मना रामो विश्वामित्रम् अथ अब्रवीत् || १-३५-११
11b. viSTitaaH ca = [when sages are] sitting at ease; raaghavau ca = Rama and Lakshmana, also; yathaa nyaayam yathaa arham = as per custom, as, admissible; atha = then; raamaH = Rama; sam pra hR^iSTa manaasa = very, well, gladdened, at heart; vishvaamitram abraviit = to Vishvamitra, spoke.
When sages are sitting at ease then even Rama and Lakshmana sat down according to their admissibility and custom of sitting before their teachers, and then Rama highly gladdened at heart has spoken to Vishvamitra. [1-35-11]
भगवन् श्रोतुम् इच्छामि गङ्गाम् त्रि पथ गाम् नदीम् |
त्रैलोक्यम् कथम् आक्रंय गता नद नदीपतिम् || १-३५-१२
12. bhagavan = oh, god; tri patha gaam = in three, ways, coursing; ga~Ngaam nadiim = about Ganga, river; shrotum icChaami = to listen, I wish; trai lokyam aakramya = three, worlds, on pervading; nada nadii patim = at rivulet, river, husband of - ocean; katham gataa = how, she reached.
"Oh, godly sage, I wish to listen about Ganga, the river that has a trinal course, and as to how she is reaching the husband of rivulets and rivers, namely the ocean, on pervading all the three worlds." Thus Rama asked Vishvamitra. [1-35-12]
चोदितो राम वाक्येन विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः |
वृद्धिम् जन्म च गंगाया वक्तुम् एव उपचक्रमे || १-३५-१३
13. raama vaakyena coditH = by Rama's, words, motivated; vishvaamitrH mahaamuniH = Vishvamitra, eminent-sage; gangaayaaH = of Ganga; janma vR^iddhim ca eva = emergence, progression, also, that way; vaktum upacakrame = to narrate, thus, commenced.
Motivated by Rama's words the eminent-sage Vishvamitra commenced to narrate about the emergence and that way even about the progression of River Ganga. [1-35-13]
शैलेन्द्रो हिमवान् राम धातूनाम् आकरो महान् |
तस्य कन्या द्वयम् राम रूपेण अप्रतिमम् भुवि || १-३५-१४
14. raama = oh, Rama; dhaatuunaam mahaan aakaraH = for minerals, greatest, repository - treasure trove of; himavaan [naama] = Himavan, [named]; shaila indraH = mountains', lord [is there]; tasya = to him; ruupeNa = by virtue of comeliness; bhuvi a pratimam = on earth, without, another - unequalled; kanyaa dvayam = daughters, pair of; is there.
"The lordly mountain Himavan who is the greatest treasure trove of minerals, Rama, also treasures up a pair of daughters who by their comeliness are unequalled on earth. [1-35-14]
या मेरु दुहिता राम तयोर् माता सुमध्यमा |
नाम्ना मेना मनोज्ञा वै पत्नी हिमवतः प्रिया || १-३५-१५
15. raama = oh, Rama; naamnaa menaa [naama] = by name, Mena, [she who is renowned like that]; yaa meru duhitaa = she who is, Mt. Meru's, daughter; su madhyamaa = to that slender-waisted one; manoj~naa = fascinating one; himavataH patnii priyaa = Himavan's, dear, wife; tayoH maataa vai = their, mother, indeed.
"The slender-waisted and fascinating daughter of Mt. Meru, oh, Rama, renowned by her name Mena, is the dear wife of Himavan and the mother of those two daughters, indeed. [1-35-15]
तस्याम् गंग इयम् अभवत् ज्येष्ठा हिमवतः सुता |
उमा नाम द्वितीया अभूत् कन्या तस्य एव राघव || १-३५-१६
16. raaghava = oh, Raghava; iyam ganga = this, Ganga; himavataH= Himavan's; jyeSThaa sutaa = as elder, daughter; tasyaam abhavat = from her [Mena,] emerged; tasya eva = to him, that way; [naamnaa = by name]; umaa naama = Uma, renowned as; dvitiiyaa kanyaa abhuut = second, daughter, became - emerged.
"This Ganga has emerged as an elder daughter to Himavan through Mena, oh, Raghava, and that way a girl renowned by the name Uma has become a second daughter to him. [1-35-16]
अथ ज्येष्ठाम् सुराः सर्वे देव कार्य चिकीर्षया |
शैलेन्द्रम् वरयामासुः गंगाम् त्रि पथ गाम् नदीम् || १-३५-१७
17. atha = later; sarve suraaH = all, gods; deva kaarya cikiirSayaa = divine, purpose, interested in; tri patha gaam nadiim = who will ultimately become - three, way, cruising, river; jyeSThaam gangaam = elder one, Ganga is; shailendram varayaamaasuH = mountain, lordly one - Himavan, sought him.
"Later, all of the divinities intending to fulfil a divine purpose have sought the lordly mountain Himavan to spare Ganga, who is scheduled to become a tri-way-cruising river. [1-35-17]
ददौ धर्मेण हिमवान् तनयाम् लोक पावनीम् |
स्वच्छंद पथ गाम् गंगाम् त्रैलोक्य हित कांयया || १-३५-१८
18. himavaan dharmeNa = Himavan, with a righteous mind; trai lokya hita kaamyayaa = for three, worlds, welfare, hopeful of; loka paavaniim = worlds, one who is a sanctifier; svacChanda patha gaam = volitionally, in her way, on who flows; tanayaam gangaam dadau = daughter, Ganga, he spared.
"With a righteous thinking and hopeful of the welfare in triadic world, Himavan then spared his daughter Ganga whose flow is at her own volition. [1-35-18]
प्रतिगृह्य त्रिलोक अर्थम् त्रिलोक हित कांक्षिणः |
गंगाम् आदाय ते अगच्छन् कृतार्थेन अंतरात्मना || १-३५-१९
19. tataH = then; te [devaaH] = those, [gods]; tri loka hita kaankshiNaH [kaariNaH] = for three, world's, well-being, wishing [she who causes weal]; tri loka artham = for three, world's, purpose of; gangaam = Ganga; prati gR^ihya aadaaya = in turn, taking [on receiving, welcoming,] took with them; kR^ita arthena antar aatmanaa = fulfilled, of purpose, in inner, soul; agacChan = came back - to heaven.
"Those divinities who are the well-wishers of the well-being of tri-world welcomed Ganga, who is incidentally intended for the purpose of the tri-world, and they came back to heaven fetching Ganga with them, with a heartfelt joy for their purpose is fulfilled. [1-35-19]
या च अन्या शैल दुहिता कन्या आसीत् रघुनंदन |
उग्रम् सुव्रतम् आस्थाय तपः तेपे तपोधना || १-३५-२०
20. raghunandana = oh, Raghu's descendent; anyaa shaila duhitaa = other, mountain's [Himavanta's], daughter; yaa kanyaa aasiit = which, unmarried girl, is there; [saa = she]; tapaH dhanaa = her ascesis, is her wealth; ugram su vratam aasthaaya = rigorous, supreme, devoutness, taking hold of; tapaH tepe = sacrament, performed.
"The other daughter of Himavanta, oh, Raghu's descendent, that unmarried girl namely Uma, she performed a rigorous sacrament taking hold of a supreme devoutness as her ascesis itself is her wealth. [1-35-20]
उग्रेण तपसा युक्ताम् ददौ शैलवरः सुताम् |
रुद्राय अप्रतिरूपाय उमाम् लोक नमस्कृताम् || १-३५-२१
21. shaila varaH = mountain, best [Himavanta]; ugreNa tapasaa yuktaam = one who is - rigorous, sacrament, unified with; loka namaskR^itaam = one who is - by worlds, adored; sutaam umaam = daughter, Uma is; a prati ruupaaya = one with - no, coequal, in aspect [unequalled one, unique god]; rudraaya dadau = to Rudra, gave - in marriage.
"As for Uma who is unified with her rigorous sacrament and who is adored by all the world, that best one among mountains Himavanta gave such a daughter to the unique god Rudra. [1-35-21]
एते ते शैल राजस्य सुते लोक नमस्कृते |
गंगा च सरिताम् श्रेष्ठा उमादेवी च राघव || १-३५-२२
22. raaghava = oh, Raghava; saritaam shreSThaa gangaa ca = among rivers, prominent one Ganga, also; umaa devii ca = Uma Devi, also; ete te shaila raajasya = these, they two, mountain, king's - Himavan's; loka namaskR^ite sute = by world, revered, daughters.
"Oh, Raghava, the prominent one among rivers namely Ganga and Uma Devi as well, these are the two daughters of the king of mountains that are highly revered by the world. [1-35-22]
एतत् ते सर्वम् आख्यातम् यथा त्रि पथ गामिनी |
खम् गता प्रथमम् तात गतिम् गतिमताम् वर || १-३५-२३
23. gati mataam vara = in cruising, [of life] of people, best one; or, one who has beautiful gait - Rama; taata = oh, dear boy; tri patha gaaminii = three, way, cruising; prathamam yathaa = firstly, as to how; kham gataa = to heavens, cruised; etat gatim = all about, cruising; te sarvam aakhyaatam = to you, all in all, is related.
"Dear boy Rama with beautiful gait, as to how the triply coursing Ganga has cruised to heaven in the first phase, I have related all about that cruise to you. [1-35-23]
The three-way coursing of the river is firstly as Ganga in the lap of Himalayas. Then when she cruised heavenward with divinities as Deva Ganga, or Mandaakini or Sudiirghika, it is second. Later, when she came to earth from heaven and gone into ocean and even to netherworlds as Jahnavi, it is the third. There are variations for this. Some say that the river's entry into sky is the first, by taking words gati mataam vara, gati and deriving meaning as - which sky grants a path for all moving things etc., and the next is her entry to heaven, and nextly her coming to earth. And some say that gods have not left her in middle of the sky to come to heaven at a later time, and hence her three courses are as Ganga, Mandaakini, and Jahnavi.
स एषा सुर नदी रंया शैलेन्द्र तनया तदा |
सुर लोकम् समारूढा विपापा जल वाहिनी || १-३५-२४
24. ramyaa = marvellous one; vi paapaa = without, sins; jala vaahinii = in the form of waters, one that flows; saa eSaa = such as she is; shaila indra tanayaa = mountain, lord's, daughter; tadaa = then; sura nadii = divine, river; on becoming; sura lokam sam aaruuDhaa = divinity's, abode [to heaven], well, ascended.
"As such, that marvellous and sinless daughter of the lordly mountain Himavanta, ever-flowing in the form of water, ascended to the abode of divinities and became deva ganga , Divine River. [1-35-24]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे पंच त्रिंशः सर्गः
© 2002, Desiraju Kumari [Revised : July 04]