Ganga descends to earth by the extraordinary effort of Bhageeratha. Shiva agrees to the alighting of Ganga on His head and from where she is released into a lake called Bindusarovar, and from there she flows in seven courses. On land Bhageeratha ushers her up to netherworld dug by his ancestors where heaps of ashes of his grandparents are there, and she enters accordingly to inundate those mounds of ashes according salvation to the souls.
deva deve gate tasmin so aṃguṣṭha agra nipīḍitām |
kṛtvā vasumatīm rāma vatsaram samupāsata || 1-43-1
1. raama = oh, Rama; tasmin deva deve gate = that, god, of gods [Brahma,] on leaving; saH = he Bhageeratha; vasumatiim = earth; anguSTha agra = with big toe, tip of; ni piiDitaam = fully, pressurising; kR^itvaa = on making so; vatsaram upaasata = for one year, he prayed - practised ascesis.
"When the god of gods Brahma left from there Bhageeratha stood on the tip of his big-toe praying for the mercy of Lord Shiva for one year, while that tip of his big-toe pressurised the earth." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about Bhageeratha's effort to bring Ganga to earth. [1-43-1]
Bhageeratha stood on one big-toe with an unwavering intent and bodily movement, and with his hands upraised in prayer for a period of one year by day and night, sustaining himself on mere air, and thus his yogic concentration increased and that alone pressurised the earth.
atha saṃvatsare pūrṇe sarva loka namaskṛtaḥ |
umāpatiḥ paśupatī rājānam idam abravīt || 1-43-2
2. atha samvatsare puurNe = after, one year, on completion; sarva loka namakR^itaH = by all, worlds, venerated; umaa patiH pashu patii = Uma's, consort, animal's, god of, [god Shiva]; raajaanam idam abraviit = to king, this, spoke.
"On completion of one year, he who is venerated by all worlds, the consort of Uma and the god of animals from insects to humans, that god Shiva revealed himself and spoke this to the king. [1-43-2]
prītaḥ te aham naraśreṣṭha kariṣyāmi tava priyam |
śirasā dhārayiṣyāmi śailarāja sutām aham ||1-43-3
3. nara shreSTha = oh, among humans, the best one; aham te priitaH = I am, of your - ascesis, happy; tava priyam kariSyaami = your, cherish, I will fulfil; aham = I will; shaila raaja sutaam = mountain, king's - Himavanta's, daughter - Ganga; shirasaa dhaarayiSyaami = by my head, I sustain.
"Oh, best one among humans, I am delighted with your unwavering effort, and I will fulfil your cherish. I will therefore sustain Ganga, the daughter of king of mountains by my head. [1-43-3]
tato haimavatī jyeṣṭhā sarva loka namaskṛtā |
tadā sā ati mahat rūpam kṛtvā vegam ca duḥsaham ||1-43-4
ākāśāt apatat rāma śive śiva śirasy uta |
4, 5a. raama = oh, Rama; tataH = afterwards; haimavatii jyeSThaa = Himavanta's, elder daughter; sarva loka namaH kR^itaa = by all, worlds, who is reverenced - such a Ganga; tadaa = then; ati mahat ruupam = supremely, great - unendurable, form; duH saham vegam ca = not, supportable, rapidity, also; kR^itvaa = on assuming; aakaashaat = from the sky; shive = auspicious; shiva shirasi apatat = Shiva's, on head, plunged; uta = they say.
"Afterwards, she who is reverenced by all the worlds and who is the elder daughter of Himavanta, that Ganga assuming an unendurable form and an insupportable rapidity, they say, then plunged from the sky onto the auspicious head of Shiva. [1-43-4, 5a]
acintayaḥ ca sā devī gaṃga parama durdharā ||1-43-5
viśāmi aham hi pātālam strotasā gṛhya śaṃkaram |
5b, 6a. parama dur dharaa = extremely, un, endurable one; saa devii gangaa = she, that goddess, Ganga; acintayat ca = speculated, also; aham strotasaa shamkaram gR^ihya = I will, by streams, Shankara, on taking - by whisking; paataalam vishaami hi = into netherworld, I will enter, indeed.
"She who is an extremely unendurable river that goddess Ganga even speculated saying to herself, 'let me enter netherworld, indeed whisking Shiva with my streams.' [1-43-5b, 6a]
tasyāḥ valepanam jñatva kruddhaḥ tu bhagavan haraḥ || 1-43-6
tirobhāvayitum buddhim cakre trinayanaḥ tadā |
6b, 7a. tri nayanaH bhagavan haraH = three, eyed, god, Shiva; tasyaaH valepanam j~natva = her, egotism, on discerning; tadaa = then; kruddhaH tu = infuriated, on his part - Shiva; tirobhaavayitum buddhim chakre = to restrain - to pent-up, thinking, made - thought of.
"Discerning her egotism god Shiva is infuriated, and then on his part that Three-eyed god Shiva thought to pent her up in the tufts of his head-hair. [1-43-6b, 7a]
sā tasmin patitā puṇyā puṇye rudrasya mūrdhani||1-43-7
himavat pratime rāma jaṭā maṇḍala gahvare |
7b, 8a. raama = oh, Rama; saa puNyaa = she, that holy river; himavat pratime = to Himalayas, equalling; jaTaa maNDala gahvare = in matted hair-tufts, curls of, [similar to] mountain caves - cavernous curls; tasmin rudrasya puNye muurdhani = on that, of Rudra's, holy, on head; patitaa = she has fallen - swooped on - and became a detainee in those curls.
"And oh, Rama, she that holy River Ganga swooped down into the cavernous curls of matted hair-tufts on the holy head of God Shiva, and she became a detainee in them. [1-43-7b, 8a]
sā kathaṃcit mahīm gaṃtum na aśaknot yatnam āsthitā ||1-43-8
na eva sā nirgamam lebhe jaṭā maṇḍala aṃtataḥ |
8b, 9a. saa = she, Ganga; yatnam aasthitaa = strive, though sit on - though she strived hard; kathamcit = someway; mahiim gantum = earth, to go - to reach; na ashaknot = not, capable of; jaTaa maNDalam = from matted hair-tuft, coils; antataH = from any edge of; nir gamam = out, going - exiting, outlet; saa na eva lebhe = she, not, thus, got - gained no access - hence held there in durance vile.
"Though she strove hard in one way or another to reach the earth that Ganga is rendered incapable, as she could not gain access for an outlet from any edge of the coils of matted hair-tufts of Shiva, hence she is held there in durance vile. [1-43-8b, 9a]
tatra eva ābaṃbhramat devī saṃvatsara gaṇān bahūn ||1-43-9
tām apaśyan punaḥ tatra tapaḥ paramam āsthitaḥ |
9b, 10a. devii = goddess - Ganga; bahuun samvatsara gaNaan = for many, years, number of; tatra eva = there [in coils of tufts,] alone; aabam bhramat = round and round, whirled; taam a pasyan = her [Ganga,] on not, seeing - Bhageeratha; punaH tatra = again, in that matter - of her descent; parama tapaH asthitaH = in marvellous, penance, firmed up.
"Goddess Ganga whirled round and round in the coils of tufts alone for many number of years, and when Ganga's emanation from those coils is intangible Bhageeratha again firmed up in a marvellous penance in the matter of her descent to earth. [1-43-9b, 10a]
sa tena toṣitaḥ ca asīt atyaṃtam raghunaṃdana || 1-43-10
visasarja tato gaṃgām haro bindu saraḥ prati |
10b, 11a. raghunamdana = oh, Rama, of Raghu's dynasty; tena = with that - ascesis; haraH atyantam toShitaH asiit = Shiva, very much, delighted, he became; tataH = thereupon; saH = he - that Shiva; gangaam bindu saraH prati = Ganga, Bindu, lake, towards; visasarja ca = released, also.
"Oh, Rama, the legatee of Raghu, with that ascesis of Bhageeratha god Shiva is very much delighted, and thereupon he has also released Ganga aiming at Bindu Lake in Himalayas. [1-43-10b, 11a]
tasyam visṛujyamānāyām sapta srotaṃsi jajñire || 1-43-11
hlādinī pāvanī caiva nalinī ca tathā eva ca |
tisraḥ prācīm diśam jagmuḥ gaṃgāḥ śiva jalāḥ śubhāḥ || 1-43-12
11b, 12. tasyaam = of her; visR^iujyamaanaayam = while being released; sapta srotaamsi jaj~nire = seven, streams, emerged; hlaadinii paavanii caiva = Hladini, Paavani, also thus; nalinii ca tathaa eva ca = Nalini, also, thus; shivaa jalaaH = streams having - holy, waters; tisraH = three; shubhaaH gangaaH = auspicious, Ganga-s; praaciim disham jagmuH = towards east, direction, gone - flowed.
"While god Shiva released Ganga into Bindu Lake seven streams have emerged out of it, and thus three auspicious Ganga-s with holy waters have cruised eastward which are known as Hlaadini, Paavani, and Nalini. [1-43-11b, 12]
sucakṣuḥ ca eva sītā ca sindhuḥ ca eva mahānadī |
tisraḥ etā diśam jagmuḥ pratīcīm tu śubha udakāḥ ||1-43-13
13. suchakshuH = Sucakshu; siitaa ca Seetha, also; sindhuH mahaa nadii eva ca = Sindhu, excellent, river, thus, also; shubhaH udakaaH = those that have - holy, waters; etaaH tisraH = these, three - rivers; pratiichiim disham jagmu = westerly, to direction, have gone - flowed.
"Also thus Sucakshu, Seetha, and the excellent river Sindhu are the other three rivers which streamed to the westward direction with their holy waters. [1-43-13]
saptamī ca anvagāt tāsam bhagīratha ratham tadā |
bhagīratho api rajarṣi divyam syaṃdanam āsthitaḥ || 1-43-14
prāyāt agre mahātejā gaṃga tam ca api anuvrajat |
14, 15a. taasam = of them; saptamii = seventh Ganga; tadaa = then; bhagiiratha ratham anvagaat ca = Bhageeratha's, chariot, followed path, also; mahaatejaa rajaR^ishi bhagiirathaH api = great resplendent, sagely king, Bhageeratha, even; divyam syandanam aasthitaH = divine, on chariot, sitting on; agre = in front; pra yaat = well, journeyed - moved ahead; ganga ca api = Ganga, also, even; tam anuvrajat = him, followed.
"Of them the seventh Ganga flowed towards the path of Bhageeratha' chariot, and that great-resplendent and kingly sage Bhageeratha sitting in a divine chariot moved ahead and even Ganga followed him. [1-43-14, 15a]
gaganāt śaṃkara śiraḥ tato dharaṇim āgatā || 1-43-15
asarpata jalam tatra tīvra śabda puraskṛtam |
15b, 16a. gaganaat shamkara shiraH = from heaven, to Sankara's, head; tataH dharaNim aagataa = from there, onto earth, she came; tatra = there; jalam = water; tiivra shabda purarskR^itam = with tumultuous, sound, emanating first; asarpata = pushed forward - advanced.
"Thus Ganga came from heavens onto Shankara's head and from there onto the earth, and there on earth her waters advanced with a tumultuous sound advancing them. [1-43-15b, 16a]
The River Ganga is also called as tri patha gaa 'she courses in three ways...' of which one kind of thinking is that she flowed from Himalayas to heaven, from heaven to Shiva's head and from there to earth. In the above context also, she is said to have the three-way-flow, i.e., one is eastward flow, second westward flow and the third is southward flow as led by Bhageeratha. The westward river Sindhu is the Indus and the eastward Nalini, which is now called as river Brahmaputra, while Ganga proper courses a little to south to move towards the ocean.
matsya kacchapa saṃghaiḥ ca śiśumāra gaṇaiḥ tathā || 1-43-16
patadbhiḥ patitaiḥ ca eva vyarocata vasuṃdharā |
16b, 17a. tathaa = then; vasundhara = earth is; patitaiH = already fallen; patatbhiH ca eva = still falling, also, thus - with Ganga's spates; matsya kacChapa sanghaiH ca = of fishes, tortoises, shoals of, also; shishumaara gaNaiH = porpoises [toothed whales,] number of; [anyaiH ca = with other marine beings, also]; vi arochat = verily, shone forth.
"The earth then verily shone forth with the shoals of fish, schools of tortoises, and scores of porpoises and other aquatic beings that have already fallen and that are still falling in step with the spates of Ganga. [1-43-16b, 17a]
tato deva ṛṣi gaṃdharvā yakṣa siddha gaṇāḥ tathā || 1-43-17
vyalokayanta te tatra gaganāt gām gatām tadā |
17b, 18a. tataH = later; te = they; deva R^iSi gandharvaa yakSaaH = gods, sages, gandharva-s, Yaksha-s; siddha gaNaaH = siddha-s, assemblages of; tadaa tathaa = then, in that way; gaganaat gaam gataam = from heaven, to earth, proceeded to - reached, swoop of; tatra vyalokayanta = there, they have curiously seen.
"Later, they the gods, sages, gandharva-s, yaksha-s, and the assemblages of siddha-s have then seen there the swoop of Ganga in that way from heaven to earth, with curiosity. [1-43-17b, 18a]
vimānaiḥ nagara ākāraiḥ hayaiḥ gaja varaiḥ tathā ||1-43-18
pāriplava gatāḥ ca api devatāḥ tatra viṣṭhitāḥ |
18b, 19a. tathaa = then; devataaH = gods; nagara aakaaraiH vimaanaiH = city like, in shape and size, who are with aircrafts - some of them; paariplava gataaH = in franticness, which have gone in - horses prancing, elephants staggering; hayaiH = with horses - some of them; gaja varaiH = with elephants, best ones - some of them; tatra viSThitaaH = at that place, they entered - in firmament.
"Some of the gods with aircrafts that are like cities in their shape and size, and some with horses that are prancing, and some with best elephants that are staggering, at the very sight of plunging Ganga, have entered the firmament at that place. [1-43-18b, 19a]
tat adbhutatamam loke gaṃgā avataram uttamam ||1-43-19
didṛkṣavo deva gaṇāḥ samīyuḥ amita ojasaḥ |
19b, 20a. loke = in world - in universe; adbhuta tamam = marvel, to a higher degree of comparison - highest; uttamam = benignant; gangaa patanam = Ganga's, plunge; didR^ikSavaH = anxious to see; amita ojasaH = those that have - unlimited, animation; deva gaNaaH sameyuH = gods, assemblages, have come together. This verse implicitly compares her dynamism and the routine dynamism of gods in general.
"The gods whose animation is unlimited, and who are anxious to see the plunge of Ganga, have come together in assemblages, which plunge is a highest marvel in the universe by a better degree of her illimitable animation than that of gods who came to see, and even benignant to the world in according water and salving souls, which those gods cannot do. [1-43-19b, 20a]
saṃpatadbhiḥ sura gaṇaiḥ teṣām ca ābharaṇa ojasā || 1-43-20
śata ādityam iva ābhāti gaganam gata toyadam |
20b, 21a. gata toyadam gaganam = gone, clouds, sky - sky clear of clouds; sam patadbhiH = well, coming falling - falteringly coming - stampeding; sura gaNaiH = gods, hosts of; teSaam aabharaNa ojasaa = with their, ornaments, with glitter of; shata aadityam iva = a hundred, suns, as if - having; sky is; aabhaati = shone forth.
"The glitter of the ornaments of hosts of gods who are in stampede, made the cloudless sky to shine as if it is with a hundred of suns. [1-43-20b, 21a]
śiṃśumāra uraga gaṇaiḥ mīnaiḥ api ca caṃcalaiḥ || 1-43-21
vidyudbhiḥ iva vikṣiptaiḥ ākāśam abhavat tadā |
21b, 22a. tadaa = at that time; shimshumaara uraga gaNaiH = with porpoises, reptiles, scores of; cancalaiH miinaiH api ca = with wriggling, fishes, even, also - that are falling and rising with streams; aakaasham = sky; vidyudbhiH vikSiptaiH iva = flashes of lightning, strewn, as if; abhavat = sky - became, became flashy.
"At that time, with the falling and rising of scores of porpoises and reptiles, even with the wriggling fishes, the sky became flashy as if flashes of lightning are strewn over it. [1-43-21b, 22a]
pāṇḍuraiḥ salila utpīḍaiḥ kīryamāṇaiḥ sahasradhā ||1-43-22
śārada abhraiḥ iva ākrīṇam gaganam haṃsa saṃplavaiḥ |
22b, 23a. sahasradhaa kiiryamaaNaiH = in thousands of ways - innumerably, bespattered; paaNDuraiH = whitish; salila ut piiDaiH = water's upward, pressure - born out of = with froth; gaganam = sky; hamsa saMplavaiH = swans, with flights of; shaarada abhraiH = with autumnal, silver-clouds; aakriiNam iva = spread over, as if - the sky is.
"Spattered innumerably with the whitish froth from the splashes of Ganga, and stippled with the flights of swans, the sky is as though overspread with silver-clouds of autumn. [1-43-22b, 23a]
kvacit drutataram yāti kuṭilam kvacit āyatam ||1-43-23
vinatam kvacit uddhūtam kvacit yāti śanaiḥ śanaiḥ |
23b, 24a. kvacit = somewhere; druta taram = speed, in higher degree - precipitately; yaati = she courses [Ganga]; kvacit kuTilam yaati = elsewhere, sinuously, she courses; kvacit aayatam yaati = somewhere, straightly, she courses; kvacit = elsewhere; vi natam = verily, head-bent - sloppily; yaati = she goes; [kvacit = somewhere]; ut dhuutam = up, shoved - gushingly, she goes; [kvacit = elsewhere]; shanaiH shanaiH yaati = slowly, slowly - leisurely and tardily, she cruises.
"Somewhere Ganga is coursing precipitately, elsewhere sinuously, somewhere else staightly, elsewhere sloppily, somewhere gushingly, and somewhere else her cruise is leisurely and tardily. [1-43-23b, 24a]
Vividly
"Somewhere Ganga is coursing precipitately in declivities, elsewhere sinuously on zigzag lands, somewhere else staightly on uniform lands, elsewhere sloppily in canting lands, somewhere gushingly in craggy lands, and somewhere else her cruise is leisurely in flatlands and tardily in uplands.
salilena eva salilam kvacit abhyāhatam punaḥ || 1-43-24
muhur ūrdhva patham gatvā papāta vasudhām punaḥ |
24b, 25a. kvacit = somewhere; salilam = water; salilena eva = by water, alone; punaH = again - repeatedly; abhi aahatam = towards, knocking - colliding with, crashing into; muhuH = recurrent; uurdhva patham gatvaa = upper, way on going - billowing upwards; vasudhaam punaH papaata = on earth, again, has fallen - refluent tide making a nosedive.
"Somewhere her water repeatedly knocking against her own water is recurrently billowing upwards only to make nosedive onto earth. [1-43-24b, 25a]
tat śaṃkara śiro bhraṣṭam bhraṣṭam bhūmi tale punaḥ ||1-43-25
vyarocata tadā toyam nirmalam gata kalmaṣam |
25b, 26a. shamkara shiraH bhraSTam = on Sankara's, on head, that which slipped - flounced down; punaH = later; bhuumi tale bhraSTam = on earth's, surface, slipped - coasted down; gata kalmaSam = rid of, blemish - impeccable; nir malam = without, impurity - immaculate; tat toyam = that, water - of Ganga; tadaa vyarocata = then, shone forth - became outstanding river.
"That impeccable and immaculate water of Ganga then became outstanding as it has flounced down from heaven primarily onto the head of Shankara, and therefrom it has coasted down onto the earth. [1-43-25b, 26a]
tatra ṛṣi gaṇa gandharvā vasudhā tala vāsinaḥ 1-43-26
bhava aṃga patitam toyam pavitram iti paspṛśuḥ |
26b, 27a. tatra = at that place; R^iSi gaNa gandharvaa = sages, assemblages, gandharva-s; and; vasudhaa tala vaasinaH = on earth's, surface, residents of; bhava anga patitam toyam = from Bhava's - Shiva's, body - head, fell from - descended, water; pavitram iti = holy, [asserting] thus; pa spR^ishuH = touched - sipped.
"And asserting that the water as holy, because it descended touching the body of Shiva, viz., the head of Shiva, the assemblages of sages, gandharva-s, and those that are residents on the plane of earth have sipped that water at that place. [1-43-26b, 27a]
śāpāt prapatitā ye ca gaganāt vasudhā talam ||1-43-27
kṛtvā tatra abhiṣekam te babhūvuḥ gata kalmaṣāḥ |
27b, 28a. ye ca = those, also; shaapaat gaganaat = by curse, from sky - heaven; vasudhaa talam prapatitaaH = onto earth's, surface, fallen down; te = they; tatra = in that - in water of Ganga; abhiSekam kR^itvaa = head-bath, on taking; gata kalmaSaaH babhuuvuH = gone, blemishes - free from blemishes, they became.
"Also those that have fallen from heaven onto the surface of earth by some curse or the other, they too became blemishless on taking head-bath in the water of Ganga. [1-43-27b, 28a]
dhūta pāpāḥ punaḥ tena toyena atha śubha anvitā || 1-43-28
punaḥ ākāśam āviśya svān lokān pratipedire |
28b, 29a. tena = by that - water; subha anvitaa toyena = hallowing, having, water; dhuuta paapaaH = washed away, whose sins are; punaH aakaasham aavishya = again, to sky, on entering - transiting skyward; atha = then; punaH svaam lokaan pratipedire = again, their own, empyrean-worlds, they obtained,.
"When sins are washed away with the hallowing water of Ganga, they again transited skyward and then obtained their own empyrean worlds once again. [1-43-28b, 29a]
mumude mudito lokaḥ tena toyena bhāsvatā || 1-43-29
kṛta abhiṣeko gaṃgāyām babhūva gata kalmaṣaḥ |
29b, 30a. lokaH = people; bhaasvataa tena toyena = by splendorous, by that, water; mumude = [people are] blissful; gangaayaam = in Ganga; kR^ita abhiSekaH = that have taken, head-bath; vi gata klamaH = totally, removed, strain - strain of sins; muditaH = [people] blissfully; babhuuva = [people] became - lived blissfully ever after.
"With her splendorous water people are blissful, and on taking dip-baths in Ganga they are totally removed of the strains of their sins, and they lived blissfully ever after. [1-43-29b, 30a]
bhagīratho rājarṣiḥ divyam syaṃdanam āsthitaḥ ||1-43-30
prāyāt agre mahārājāḥ tam gaṃgā pṛṣṭhato anvagāt |
30b, 31a. [iti = in this way]; mahaa tejaa rajaR^ishi bhagiirathaH = highly resplendent, sagely king, Bhageeratha; divyam syandanam aasthitaH = divine, on chariot, sitting on; agre = in front; pra yaat = well, journeyed - moved ahead; tam = him; gangaa pR^iSThataH [samyak = very well - continuously] anvagaat = Ganga, at his behind, followed - this is continued action.
"In this way, the great-resplendent and kingly sage Bhageeratha sitting in a divine chariot continuously moved ahead and Ganga continually followed him at his behind. [1-43-30b, 31a]
This verse is almost similar to the verse No. 14 above. But here, the continuous actions of both the leader and the led are implied with ellipses - 'in this way', and 'continuously.'
devāḥ sa ṛṣi gaṇāḥ sarve daitya dānava rākṣasāḥ || 1-43-31
gandharva yakṣa pravarāḥ sa kiṃnara mahoragāḥ |
sarpāḥ ca apsaraso rāma bhagīratha ratha anugāḥ || 1-43-32
gaṃgām anvagaman prītāḥ sarve jala carāḥ ca ye |
31b, 32, 33a. raama = oh, Rama; sa R^iSi gaNaaH = with, sages, assemblages of; devaaH = gods; sarve = all of the; daitya daanava raakSasaaH = ogres, monsters, demons; sa kinnara mahaa uragaaH = with kinnara-s, great reptiles; gandharva yakSa pravaraaH = gandharva-s, yaksha-s, the best ones; sarpaaH = serpents [or, sarvaaH = all]; apsarasaH ca = apsara-s, also; priitaaH = becoming delighted; bhagiiratha ratha anugaaH = Bhageeratha's, chariot, one who is following; gangaam = after Ganga; anvagaman = moved after; ye jala caraaH = which, water, moving beings; ca= also - in fact; sarve = all of them - followed.
"Oh, Rama, all of the gods along with the assemblages of sages, ogres, monsters, demons, and even great reptiles with kinnara-s, and gandharva-s with best yaksha-s, and even serpents and apsara-s, have delightfully moved after Ganga who is following the chariot of Bhageeratha, and why they, in fact, all of the aquatic beings have followed Ganga. [31b, 32, 33a]
yato bhagīratho rājā tato gaṃgā yaśasvinī || 1-43-33
jagāma saritām śreṣṭhā sarva pāpa praṇāśinī |
33b, 34a. raajaa bhagiirathaH = king, Bhageeratha; yataH = whichever [direction he proceeded]; yashasvinii = glorious one; saritaam shreSThaa = among rivers, prominent - River Ganga; sarva paapa pra Naashinii = all, sins, complete, obliterator; such as she is; gangaa = Ganga; tataH = to there; jagaama = advanced.
"In whichever direction king Bhageeratha has advanced, that glorious River Ganga, who is the prominent river among all the rivers and the complete obliterator of sins, has also moved at his behind in that direction. [1-43-33b, 34a]
tato hi yajamānasya jahnoḥ adbhuta karmaṇaḥ ||1-43-34
gaṃga saṃplāvayāmāsa yajña vāṭam mahatmanaḥ |
34b, 35a. tataH = then; ganga = Ganga; yajamaansya = who is an officiator of a Vedic-ritual; adbhuta karmaNaH = one with marvellous, deeds; mahaatmanaH = of great-souled one; jahnoH = of sage Jahnu; yaj~na vaaTam = Vedic-ritual, field of ritual; sam plaavayaamaasa = fully, started to inundate.
"While in flow she started to completely inundate the field of Vedic-ritual belonging to the great-souled sage Jahnu, who is of marvellous deeds and who is presently an officiator of an ongoing Vedic-ritual. [1-43-34b, 35a]
tasayā valepanam jñatva kṛddho jahnuḥ ca rāghava || 1-43-35
apibat tu jalam sarvam gaṃgayāḥ parama adbhutam |
35b, 36a. raaghava = oh, Raghava; jahnuH ca = sage Jahnu, on his part; tsayaaH valepanam j~natva = her, proudness - hubris, on knowing; kR^iddhaH = becoming irritated; gangayaaH sarvam jalam tu = Ganga's, all, water, but; parama adbhutam = causing extreme, marvel; apibat = drank off.
"But on knowing her hubris, oh, Raghava, that sage Jahnu has become irritated and causing an extreme marvel he drank off all the water of Ganga. [1-43-35b, 36a]
tato devāḥ sa gaṃgharva ṛṣayaḥ ca su vismitāḥ || 1-43-36
pūjayanti mahatmanam jahnum puruṣa sattamam |
gaṃgam ca api nayanti sma duhitṛtve mahātmanaḥ || 1-43-37
36b, 37. tataH = thereupon; sa gangharva devaaH = with, gandharva-s, gods; R^ishayaH ca = sages, also; su vismitaaH = are highly, astounded; and they then; puruSha sattamam = to human, ablest; mahatmanam = great-souled one; jahnum puujayanti = at sage Jahnu, they started to worship; gangam ca = of Ganga, even; mahaa atmanaH = of great-souled sage Jahnu; duhitR^itve = in daughterhood; api nayanti sma = even, taken as - to ascribe, deigned to, they are.
"Thereupon, the gods along with gandharva-s and sages at that extremely marvellous feat of Sage Jahnu are highly astounded, and they then started to worship that ablest human and great-souled sage Jahnu, and even deigned for the daughterhood of Ganga to that high-souled sage Jahnu. [1-43-36b, 37]
tataḥ tuṣṭaḥ mahātejāḥ śrotrābhyām asṛujat prabhuḥ |
tasmāt jahnu sutā gaṃga procyate jāhnavī iti ca || 1-43-38
38. tataH tuSTaH = then, who is delighted; mahaatejaaH prabhuH= great-radiant, godly sage - Jahnu; shrotraabhyaam asR^iujat = from two ears, created - released Ganga; tasmaat= therefore; ganga jahnu sutaa = Ganga, sage Jahnu's, daughter, - she became; jaahnavi iti ca = Jahnavi, as, also; pra ucyate = well, said - renowned as.
"That greatly radiant and godly sage Jahnu is then delighted and released Ganga from both of his ears. Therefore Ganga became the daughter of sage Jahnu, and she is also renowned as Jahnavi, after the name of that sage. [1-43-38]
jagāma ca punaḥ gaṃga bhagīratha ratha anugā |
sāgaram ca api saṃpraptā sā sarit pravarā tadā ||1-43-39
rasātalam upāgacchat siddhyartham tasya karmaṇaḥ |
39, 40a. ganga punaH = Ganga, again; bhagiiratha ratha anu gaa = Bhageeratha's, chariot, behind, while moving - following; jagaama ca = proceeded, further; tadaa = then; saa = she; sarit pra varaa = river, exceptionally, superior one; saagaram ca = ocean, also; sam praptaa api = well, reached, even though; tasya karmaNaH siddhyartham = his - Bhageeratha's, mission, to accomplish; rasaatalam = to rasaatala - netherworld; upa aa gacChat = near, coming, gone - arrived, had to wend her way.
"Even though Ganga again proceeded moving behind the chariot of Bhageeratha and reached the ocean, therefrom she had to wend her way to netherworld, once dug by the sons of Sagara, only to accomplish the mission of Bhageeratha, namely drenching the ashes of Sagara's sons. [1-43-39, 40a]
Some take the word saagaram as the netherworld dug by the sons of Sagara and omit the mention of her ocean-bound travel.
bhagīratho api rajārṣi gaṃgam ādāya yatnataḥ || 1-43-40
pitamahān bhasma krutam apaśyat gata cetanaḥ |
40b, 41a. rajaarSi bhagiirathaH api = kingly-sage, Bhageeratha, even; yatnataH = making every effort; gangam aadaaya = Ganga, on taking - ushering; gata chetanaH = diina cetanaH = with a pitiable, heart - became doleful; bhasma kR^itan pitamahaan = ashes, made as, grandparents; apasyat = he has seen.
"Even kingly-sage Bhageeratha making every effort ushered Ganga to netherworld, but on seeing his grandparents rendered to ashes he has became doleful. [1-43-40b, 41a]
atha tat bhasmanām rāśim gaṃga salilam uttamam |
plāvayat pūta pāpmānaḥ svargam praptā raghu uttama ||1-43-41
41b, c. raghu uttama = oh, Raghu, the best; atha = then; uttamam ganga salilam = holy, Ganga's, water; tat bhasmanaam raashim = that, of ashes, mound; plaavayat = inundated; puuta paapmaanaH = cleansing, sins - of souls of Sagara's sons; svargam praptaa = heaven, obtained.
"Oh, Rama, the best of Raghu's dynasty, then Ganga inundated that mound of ashes of Sagara's six-thousand sons, by which those souls obtained heaven, while the sins of souls are cleansed with the water of Ganga." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration. [1-43-41b, c]
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe tri catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
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© Aug, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao, [Revised : September 04]
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