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 Bindu sarovar, 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.
देवदेवे गते तस्मिन् सोंऽगुष्ठाग्रनिपीडिताम् |
कृत्वा वसुमतीं राम वत्सरं समुपासत || १-४३-१
1. raama = oh Rama; tasmin devadeve gate = that, on leaving god of gods [Brahma] ; saH = he Bhageeratha; vasumatiim = earth; anguSThaagranipiiDitaam = fully pressurising with tip of big toe ; kR^itvaa = on making so; vatsaram samupaasata = 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.
अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः |
उमापतिः पशुपती राजानमिदमब्रवीत् || १-४३-२
2. atha samvatsare puurNe = after on completion of one year; sarvalokanamaskR^itaH = venerated by all worlds; umaapatiH pashupatii = Uma's consort, god of animals [god Shiva]; raajaanam idam abraviit = spoke this to king.
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]
प्रीतस्तेऽहं नरश्रेष्ठ करिष्यामि तव प्रियम् |
शिरसा धारयिष्यामि शैलराजसुतामहम् ||१-४३-३
3. narashreSTha = oh the best among humans; aham te priitaH = I am happy of your - ascesis; tava priyam kariSyaami = I will fulfil your cherish; aham = I will; shailaraajasutaam = mountain king's - Himavanta's daughter - Ganga; shirasaa dhaarayiSyaami = I sustain by my head.
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]
ततो हैमवती ज्येष्ठा सर्वलोकनमस्कृता |
तदा सातिमहद्रूपं कृत्वा वेगं च दुःसहम् ||१-४३-४
आकाशादपतद्राम शिवे शिवशिरस्युत |
4, 5a. raama = oh Rama; tataH = afterwards; haimavatii jyeSThaa = Himavanta's, elder daughter; sarvalokanamaskR^itaa = who is reverenced by all worlds - such a Ganga; tadaa = then; ati mahat ruupam = supremely, great - unendurable, form; duHsaham vegam ca = not supportable, rapidity, also; kR^itvaa = on assuming; aakaashaat = from the sky; shive = auspicious; shivashirasi apatat = plunged on Shiva's head; 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]
अचिन्तयच्च सा देवी गङ्गा परमदुर्धरा ||१-४३-५
विशाम्यहं हि पातालं स्त्रोतसा गृह्य शंकरम् |
5b, 6a. parama dur dharaa = extremely unendurable 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 = I will enter indeed into netherworld.
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]
तस्या वलेपनं ज्ञात्वा क्रुद्धस्तु भगवान् हरः || १-४३-६
तिरोभावयितुं बुद्धिं चक्रे त्रिनयनस्तदा |
6b, 7a. trinayanaH bhagavaan haraH = three eyed, god, Shiva; tasyaaH valepanam j~naatvaa = on discerning her egotism; tadaa = then; kruddhaH tu = infuriated, on his part - Shiva; tirobhaavayitum buddhim chakre = made - thought of thinking to restrain - to pent-up.
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]
सा तस्मिन् पतिता पुण्या पुण्ये रुद्रस्य मूर्धनि||१-४३-७
हिमवत्प्रतिमे राम जटामण्डलगह्वरे |
7b, 8a. raama = oh Rama; saa puNyaa = she, that holy river; himavat pratime = equalling to Himalayas; jaTaamaNDalagahvare = in curls of matted hair-tufts similar to mountain caves - cavernous curls; tasmin rudrasya puNye muurdhani = on that, of Rudra's, holy 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]
सा कथञ्चिन्महीं गन्तुं नाशक्नोद्यत्नमास्थिता ||१-४३-८
नैव सा निर्गमं लेभे जटामण्डलमन्ततः |
8b, 9a. saa = she, Ganga; yatnam aasthitaa = though she strived hard; katha~ncit = someway; mahiim gantum = to go - to reach earth; na ashaknot = not, capable of; jaTaamaNDalam = from coils of matted hair-tuft ; antataH = from any edge of; nirgamam = 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]
तत्रैवाबंभ्रमद्देवी संवत्सरगणान्बहून् ||१-४३-९
तामपश्यन् पुनस्तत्र तपः परममास्थितः |
9b, 10a. devii = goddess - Ganga; bahuun samvatsaragaNaan = for many number of years; tatra eva = there [in coils of tufts,] alone; aabambhramat = whirled round and round; taam apashyan = on not seeing her [Ganga] - Bhageeratha; punaH tatra = again, in that matter - of her descent; paramam tapaH aasthitaH = firmed up in marvellous penance.
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]
स तेन तोषितश्चासीदत्यन्तं रघुनंदन || १-४३-१०
विससर्ज ततो गङ्गां हरो बिन्दुसरः प्रति |
10b, 11a. raghunandana = oh Rama of Raghu's dynasty; tena = with that - ascesis; haraH atyantam toShitaH aasiit = Shiva became very much delighted; tataH = thereupon; saH = he - that Shiva; gangaam bindusaraH prati = Ganga, towards Bindu lake; 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]
तस्यां विसृज्यमानायां सप्त स्रोतंसि जज्ञिरे || १-४३-११
ह्लादिनी पावनी चैव नलिनी च तथैव च |
तिस्रः प्राचीं दिशं जग्मुर्गंगाः शिवजलाः शुभाः || १-४३-१२
11b, 12. tasyaam = of her; visR^ijyamaanaayaam = while being released; sapta srotaamsi jaj~nire = seven, streams, emerged; hlaadinii paavanii ca eva = Hladini, Paavani, also thus; nalinii ca tathaa eva ca = Nalini, also, thus; shivajalaaH = streams having - holy waters; tisraH = three; shubhaaH gangaaH = auspicious, Ganga-s; praaciim disham jagmuH = gone - flowed towards east direction.
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]
सुचक्षुश्चैव सीता च सिन्धुश्चैव महानदी |
तिस्रस्त्वेता दिशं जग्मुः प्रतीचीं तु शुभोदकाः ||१-४३-१३
13. suchakShuH = Sucakshu; siitaa ca = Seetha, also; sindhuH mahaanadii eva ca = Sindhu, excellent river, thus, also; shubhodakaaH = those that have - holy waters; etaaH tisraH = these, three - rivers; pratiichiim disham jagmu = have gone - flowed towards westward direction.
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]
सप्तमी चान्वगात्तासां भगीरथरथं तदा |
भगीरथोऽपि रजर्षिर्दिव्यं स्यंदनमास्थितः || १-४३-१४
प्रायादग्रे महातेजा गङ्गा तं चाप्यनुव्रजत् |
14, 15a. taasaam = of them; saptamii = seventh Ganga; tadaa = then; bhagiirathaH ratham anvagaat ca = followed path of Bhageeratha's chariot, also; mahaatejaaH raajarShiH bhagiirathaH api = great resplendent, sagely king, Bhageeratha, even; divyam syandanam aasthitaH = sitting on divine chariot; agre = in front; prayaat = well journeyed - moved ahead; gangaa ca api = Ganga, also, even; tam anuvrajat = followed him.
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]
गगनाच्छङ्करशिरस्ततो धरणिमागता || १-४३-१५
व्यसर्पत जलं तत्र तीव्रशब्दपुरस्कृतम् |
15b, 16a. gaganaat shamkarashiraH = from heaven, to Sankara's head; tataH dharaNim aagataa = from there she came onto earth ; tatra = there; jalam = water; tiivrashabdapurarskR^itam = emanating first with tumultuous sound; vyasarpata = 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 tripathagaa '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.
मत्स्यकच्छपसंघैश्च शिंशुमारगणैस्तथा || १-४३-१६
पतद्भिः पतितैश्चैव व्यरोचत वसुंधरा |
16b, 17a. tathaa = then; vasundharaa = earth is; patitaiH = already fallen; patatbhiH ca eva = still falling, also, thus - with Ganga's spates; matsyakacChapasanghaiH ca = of shoals of fishes and tortoises, also; shimshumaaragaNaiH = number of porpoises [toothed whales] ; [anyaiH ca = with other marine beings, also]; vyarochat = 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]
ततो देवर्षिगंधर्वा यक्षा सिद्धगणास्तथा || १-४३-१७
व्यलोकयन्त ते तत्र गगनाद्गां गतां तदा |
17b, 18a. tataH = later; te = they; devarSigandharvaaH yakSaaH = gods, sages, gandharva-s, Yaksha-s; siddhagaNaaH = assemblages of siddha-s; tadaa tathaa = then, in that way; gaganaat gaam gataam = proceeded to - reached to earth from heaven , 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]
विमानैर्नगराकारैर्हयैर्गजवरैस्तथा ||१-४३-१८
पारिप्लवगताश्चापि देवतास्तत्र विष्ठिताः |
18b, 19a. tathaa = then; devataaH = gods; nagaraakaaraiH vimaanaiH = aircrafts like cities in shape and size - some of them; paariplavagataaH = which have gone in franticness - horses prancing, elephants staggering; hayaiH = with horses - some of them; gajavaraiH = with best elephants - some of them; tatra viSThitaaH = they entered that place - 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]
तदद्भुततमं लोके गंगापतनमुत्तमम् ||१-४३-१९
दिदृक्षवो देवगणाः समीयुरमितौजसः |
19b, 20a. loke = in world - in universe; adbhutatamam = marvel to a higher degree of comparison - highest; uttamam = benignant; gangaapatanam = Ganga's plunge; didR^ikSavaH = anxious to see; amitoujasaH = those that have - unlimited animation; devagaNaaH samiiyuH = 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]
संपतद्भिः सुरगणैस्तेषां चाभरणौजसा || १-४३-२०
शतादित्यमिवाभाति गगनं गततोयदम् |
20b, 21a. gatatoyadam gaganam = gone clouds, sky - sky clear of clouds; sampatadbhiH = falteringly coming - stampeding; suragaNaiH = hosts of gods; teSaam aabharaNoujasaa = with their glitter of ornaments; shataadityam iva = as if - having hundred suns; 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]
शिंशुमारोरगगणैर्मीनैरपि च चंचलैः || १-४३-२१
विद्युद्भिरिव विक्षिप्तैराकाशमभवत्तदा |
21b, 22a. tadaa = at that time; shimshumaaroragagaNaiH = with scores of porpoises reptiles; cancalaiH miinaiH api ca = with wriggling, fishes, even, also - that are falling and rising with streams; aakaasham = sky; vidyudbhiH vikSiptaiH iva = as if flashes of lightning strewn; 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]
पाण्डुरैः सलिलोत्पीडैः कीर्यमाणैः सहस्रधा ||१-४३-२२
शारदाभ्रैरिवाकीर्णं गगनं हंससंप्लवैः |
22b, 23a. sahasradhaa kiiryamaaNaiH = bespattered in thousands of ways - innumerably; paaNDuraiH = whitish; salilotpiiDaiH = water's upward pressure - born out of = with froth; gaganam = sky; hamsasaMplavaiH = with flights of swans ; shaaradaabhraiH = with autumnal silver-clouds; aakiirNam iva = as if - the sky is overspread.
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]
क्वचिद् द्रुततरं याति कुटिलं क्वचिदायतम् ||१-४३-२३
विनतं क्वचिदुद्धूतं क्वचिद्याति शनैः शनैः |
23b, 24a. kvacit = somewhere; drutataram = 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; vinatam = verily head-bent - sloppily; yaati = she goes; [kvacit = somewhere]; udbhuutam = 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 straightly, elsewhere sloppily, somewhere gushingly, and somewhere else her cruise is leisurely and tardily. [1-43-23b, 24a]
Somewhere Ganga is coursing precipitately in declivities, elsewhere sinuously on zigzag lands, somewhere else straightly 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.
सलिलेनैव सलिलं क्वचिदभ्याहतं पुनः || १-४३-२४
मुहुरूर्ध्वपथं गत्वा पपात वसुधां पुनः |
24b, 25a. kvacit = somewhere; salilam = water; salilena eva = by water, alone; punaH = again - repeatedly; abhyaahatam = knocking towards - colliding with, crashing into; muhuH = recurrent; uurdhvapatham gatvaa = on going upper way - billowing upwards; vasudhaam punaH papaata = has fallen on earth again - 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]
तच्छङ्करशिरोभ्रष्टं भ्रष्टं भूमितले पुनः ||१-४३-२५
व्यरोचत तदा तोयं निर्मलं गतकल्मषम् |
25b, 26a. shamkarashirobhraSTam = that which slipped - flounced down on Sankara's head ; punaH = later; bhuumitale bhraSTam = slipped - coasted down on earth's surface; gatakalmaSam = rid of blemish - impeccable; nirmalam = 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]
तत्रर्षिगणगन्धर्वा वसुधातलवासिनः ||१-४३-२६
भवाङ्गपतितं तोयं पवित्रमिति पस्पृशुः |
26b, 27a. tatra = at that place; R^iSigaNagandharvaaH = assemblages of sages,gandharva-s; and; vasudhaatalavaasinaH = residents on earth's surface; bhavaangapatitam toyam = water fell from - descended from Bhava's - Shiva's body - head; pavitram iti = holy, [asserting] thus; paspR^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]
शापात् प्रपतिता ये च गगनाद्वसुधातलम् ||१-४३-२७
कृत्वा तत्राभिषेकं ते बभूवुर्गतकल्मषाः |
27b, 28a. ye ca = those, also; shaapaat gaganaat = by curse, from sky - heaven; vasudhaatalam prapatitaa = fallen down onto earth's surface; te = they; tatra = in that - in water of Ganga; abhiSekam kR^itvaa = on taking head-bath ; gatakalmaSaaH 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]
धूतपापाः पुनस्तेन तोयेनाथ शुभान्विता || १-४३-२८
पुनराकाशमाविश्य स्वान् लोकान् प्रतिपेदिरे |
28b, 29a. tena = by that - water; subhaanvitaa toyena = hallowing water; dhuutapaapaaH = whose sins are washed away ; punaH aakaasham aavishya = again, entering to sky - transiting skyward; atha = then; punaH svaam lokaan pratipedire = again, they obtained their own empyrean-worlds.
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]
मुमुदे मुदितो लोकस्तेन तोयेन भास्वता || १-४३-२९
कृताभिषेको गंगायां बभूव विगतक्लमः |
29b, 30a. lokaH = people; bhaasvataa tena toyena = by that splendorous water; mumude = [people are] blissful; gangaayaam = in Ganga; kR^itaabhiSekaH = that have taken head-bath; vigataklamaH = 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]
भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षिर्दिव्यं स्यंदनमास्थितः ||१-४३-३०
प्रायादग्रे महातेजास्तं गंगा पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात् |
30b, 31a. [iti = in this way]; mahaatejaaH raajarShiH bhagiirathaH = highly resplendent, sagely king, Bhageeratha; divyam syandanam aasthitaH = sitting on divine chariot; agre = in front; praayaat = well journeyed - moved ahead; tam = him; [samyak = very well - continuously] gangaa pR^iSThataH anvagaat = Ganga, followed at his behind - 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.'
देवाः सर्षिगणाः सर्वे दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः || १-४३-३१
गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवराः सकिंनरमहोरगाः |
सर्पाश्चाप्सरसो राम भगीरथरथानुगाः || १-४३-३२
गंगामन्वगमन् प्रीताः सर्वे जलचराश्च ये |
31b, 32, 33a. raama = oh Rama; sarSigaNaaH = with assemblages of sages; devaaH = gods; sarve = all of the; daityadaanavaraakSasaaH = ogres, monsters, demons; sakinnaramahoragaaH = with kinnara-s, great reptiles; gandharvayakSapravaraaH = the best gandharva-s, yaksha-s ; sarpaaH = serpents [or, sarvaaH = all]; apsarasaH ca = apsara-s, also; priitaaH = becoming delighted; bhagiiratharathaanugaaH = one who is following Bhageeratha's chariot ; gangaam = after Ganga; anvagaman = moved after; ye jalacaraaH = 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]
यतो भगीरथो राजा ततो गंगा यशस्विनी || १-४३-३३
जगाम सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी |
33b, 34a. raajaa bhagiirathaH = king, Bhageeratha; yataH = whichever [direction he proceeded]; yashasvinii = glorious one; saritaam shreSThaa = prominent among rivers - River Ganga; sarvapaapapraNaashinii = complete obliterator of all sins; 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]
ततो हि यजमानस्य जह्नोरद्भुतकर्मणः ||१-४३-३४
गङ्गा संप्लावयामास यज्ञवाटं महत्मनः |
34b, 35a. tataH = then; gangaa = Ganga; yajamaanasya = who is an officiator of a Vedic-ritual; adbhutakarmaNaH = one with marvellous deeds; mahaatmanaH = of great-souled one; jahnoH = of sage Jahnu; yaj~navaaTam = field of vedic ritual; samplaavayaamaasa = 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]
तस्यावलेपनं ज्ञात्वा क्रुद्धो जह्नुश्च राघव || १-४३-३५
अपिबत्तु जलं सर्वं गङ्गायाः परमाद्भुतम् |
35b, 36a. raaghava = oh Raghava; jahnuH ca = sage Jahnu, on his part; tasyaavalepanam j~naatvaa = on knowing her proudness - hubris; kR^iddhaH = becoming irritated; gangaayaaH sarvam jalam tu = Ganga's, all, water, but; paramaadbhutam = 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]
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वा ऋषयश्च सुविस्मिताः || १-४३-३६
पूजयन्ति महात्मानं जह्नुं पुरुषसत्तमम् |
गङ्गां चापि नयन्ति स्म दुहितृत्वे महात्मनः || १-४३-३७
36b, 37. tataH = thereupon; sagangharvaaH devaaH = with gandharva-s, gods; R^iShayaH ca = sages, also; suvismitaaH = are highly astounded; and they then; puruShasattamam = to human ablest; mahaatmaanam = great-souled one; jahnum puujayanti = they started to worship sage Jahnu; gangaam ca = of Ganga, even; mahaatmaanaH = of great-souled sage Jahnu; duhitR^itve = in daughterhood; api nayanti sma = even, designed to take as - to ascribe, 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]
ततस्तुष्टो महातेजाः श्रोत्राभ्यामसृजत् प्रभुः |
तस्माज्जह्नुसुता गङ्गा प्रोच्यते जाह्नवीति च || १-४३-३८
38. tataH tuSTaH = then, who is delighted; mahaatejaaH prabhuH= great-radiant, godly sage - Jahnu; shrotraabhyaam asR^ijat = created - released Ganga from two ears ; tasmaat= therefore; gangaa jahnusutaa = Ganga, sage Jahnu's daughter - she became; jaahnavi iti ca = Jahnavi, as, also; procyate = 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]
जगाम च पुनर्गङ्गा भगीरथरथानुगा |
सागरं चापि संप्राप्ता सा सरित्प्रवरा तदा ||१-४३-३९
रसातलमुपागच्छत् सिद्ध्यर्थं तस्य कर्मणः |
39, 40a. gangaa punaH = Ganga, again; bhagiiratharathaanugaa = while moving - following behind Bhageeratha's chariot; jagaama ca = proceeded, further; tadaa = then; saa = she; sarit pravaraa = river, exceptionally superior one; saagaram ca = ocean, also; sampraaptaa api = well reached, even though; tasya karmaNaH siddhyartham = to accomplish his - Bhageeratha's mission; rasaatalam = to rasaatala - netherworld; upaagacChat = 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.
भगीरथोऽपि रजार्षिर्गङ्गामादाय यत्नतः || १-४३-४०
पितामहान् भस्मकृतानपश्यद्गतचेतनः |
40b, 41a. raajarSiH bhagiirathaH api = kingly-sage, Bhageeratha, even; yatnataH = making every effort; gangaam aadaaya = on taking - ushering Ganga; gatachetanaH [diinacetanaH] = = with a pitiable heart - became doleful; bhasmakR^itaan pitaamahaan = grandparents made as ashes; apashyat = 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]
अथ तद्भस्मनां राशिं गङ्गासलिलमुत्तमम् |
प्लावयत् पूतपाप्मानः स्वर्गं प्रप्ता रघूत्तम ||१-४३-४१
41b, c. raghuuttama = oh the best Raghu; atha = then; uttamam gangaa salilam = holy, Ganga's water; tat bhasmanaam raashim = that, mound of ashes; plaavayat = inundated; puutapaapmaanaH = cleansing sins - of souls of Sagara's sons; svargam praaptaa = obtained heaven.
"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]
इति वाल्मीकिरामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे त्रिचत्वारिंशः सर्गः
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© Aug, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao, [Revised : September 04]