देवदेवे गते तस्मिन् सोंऽगुष्ठाग्रनिपीडिताम् | कृत्वा वसुमतीं राम वत्सरं समुपासत || १-४३-१
deva deve gate tasmin so aMguShTha agra nipiiDitaam | kR^itvaa vasumatiim raama vatsaram samupaasata || 1-43-1
"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]
अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः | उमापतिः पशुपती राजानमिदमब्रवीत् || १-४३-२
atha saMvatsare puurNe sarva loka namaskR^itaH | umaapatiH pashupatii raajaanam idam abraviit || 1-43-2
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
priitaH te aham narashreShTha kariShyaami tava priyam | shirasaa dhaarayiShyaami shailaraaja sutaam aham ||1-43-3
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 |
tato haimavatii jyeShThaa sarva loka namaskR^itaa | tadaa saa ati mahat ruupam kR^itvaa vegam ca duHsaham ||1-43-4 aakaashaat apatat raama shive shiva shirasy uta |
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 |
acintayaH ca saa devii gaMga parama dur.hdharaa ||1-43-5 vishaami aham hi paataalam strotasaa gR^ihya shaMkaram |
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 |
tasyaaH valepanam j~natva kruddhaH tu bhagavan haraH || 1-43-6 tirobhaavayitum buddhim chakre trinayanaH tadaa |
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 |
saa tasmin patitaa puNyaa puNye rudrasya muur.hdhani||1-43-7 himavat pratime raama jaTaa maNDala gahvare |
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 |
saa kathaMcit mahiim gaMtum na ashak.hnot yatnam aasthitaa ||1-43-8 na eva saa nirgamam lebhe jaTaa maNDala aMtataH |
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 |
tatra eva aabaMbhramat devii saMvatsara gaNaan bahuun ||1-43-9 taam apashyan punaH tatra tapaH paramam aasthitaH |
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 |
sa tena toShitaH ca asiit atyaMtam raghunaMdana || 1-43-10 visasarja tato gaMgaam haro bindu saraH prati |
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
tasyam visR^iujyamaanaayaam sapta srotaMsi jaj~nire || 1-43-11 hlaadinii paavanii caiva nalinii ca tathaa eva ca | tisraH praaciim disham jagmuH gaMgaaH shiva jalaaH shubhaaH || 1-43-12
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
saptamii ca anvagaat taasam bhagiiratha ratham tadaa | bhagiiratho api rajar.hShi divyam syaMdanam aasthitaH || 1-43-14 praayaat agre mahaatejaa gaMga tam ca api anuvrajat |
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 |
gaganaat shaMkara shiraH tato dharaNim aagataa || 1-43-15 asarpata jalam tatra tiivra shabda puraskR^itam |
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 |
matsya kacChapa saMghaiH ca shishumaara gaNaiH tathaa || 1-43-16 patadbhiH patitaiH ca eva vyarocata vasuMdharaa |
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]
मत्स्यकच्छपसंघैश्च शिंशुमारगणैस्तथा || १-४३-१६ पतद्भिः पतितैश्चैव व्यरोचत वसुंधरा |
tato deva R^iShi gaMdharvaa yakSha siddha gaNaaH tathaa || 1-43-17 vyalokayanta te tatra gaganaat gaam gataam tadaa |
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 |
vimaanaiH nagara aakaaraiH hayaiH gaja varaiH tathaa ||1-43-18 paariplava gataaH ca api devataaH tatra viShThitaaH |
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 |
tat adbhutatamam loke gaMgaa avataram uttamam ||1-43-19 didR^ikShavo deva gaNaaH samiiyuH amita ojasaH |
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 |
saMpatadbhiH sura gaNaiH teShaam ca aabharaNa ojasaa || 1-43-20 shata aadityam iva aabhaati gaganam gata toyadam |
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 |
shiMshumaara uraga gaNaiH miinaiH api ca caMcalaiH || 1-43-21 vidyudbhiH iva vikShiptaiH aakaasham abhavat tadaa |
"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 |
paaNDuraiH salila utpiiDaiH kiiryamaaNaiH sahasradhaa ||1-43-22 shaarada abhraiH iva aakriiNam gaganam haMsa saMplavaiH |
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 |
kvacit drutataram yaati kuTilam kvacit aayatam ||1-43-23 vinatam kvacit uddhuutam kvacit yaati shanaiH shanaiH |
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 |
Vividly
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 |
salilena eva salilam kvacit abhyaahatam punaH || 1-43-24 muhur uurdhva patham gatvaa papaata vasudhaam punaH |
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 |
tat shaMkara shiro bhraShTam bhraShTam bhuumi tale punaH ||1-43-25 vyarocata tadaa toyam nirmalam gata kalmaSham |
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 |
tatra R^iShi gaNa gandharvaa vasudhaa tala vaasinaH 1-43-26 bhava aMga patitam toyam pavitram iti paspR^ishuH |
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 |
shaapaat prapatitaa ye ca gaganaat vasudhaa talam ||1-43-27 kR^itvaa tatra abhiShekam te babhuuvuH gata kalmaShaaH |
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 |
dhuuta paapaaH punaH tena toyena atha shubha anvitaa || 1-43-28 punaH aakaasham aavishya svaan lokaan pratipedire |
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 |
mumude mudito lokaH tena toyena bhaasvataa || 1-43-29 kR^ita abhiSheko gaMgaayaam babhuuva gata kalmaShaH |
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 |
bhagiiratho raajarShiH divyam syaMdanam aasthitaH ||1-43-30 praayaat agre mahaaraajaaH tam gaMgaa pR^iShThato anvagaat |
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]
देवाः सर्षिगणाः सर्वे दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः || १-४३-३१ गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवराः सकिंनरमहोरगाः | सर्पाश्चाप्सरसो राम भगीरथरथानुगाः || १-४३-३२ गंगामन्वगमन् प्रीताः सर्वे जलचराश्च ये |
devaaH sa R^iShi gaNaaH sarve daitya daanava raakShasaaH || 1-43-31 gandharva yakSha pravaraaH sa kiMnara mahoragaaH | sarpaaH ca apsaraso raama bhagiiratha ratha anugaaH || 1-43-32 gaMgaam anvagaman priitaaH sarve jala caraaH ca ye |
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 |
tato hi yajamaanasya jahnoH adbhuta karmaNaH ||1-43-34 gaMga saMplaavayaamaasa yaj~na vaaTam mahatmanaH |
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 |
tasayaa valepanam j~natva kR^iddho jahnuH ca raaghava || 1-43-35 apibat tu jalam sarvam gaMgayaaH parama adbhutam |
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 |
tato devaaH sa gaMgharva R^iShayaH ca su vismitaaH || 1-43-36 puujayanti mahatmanam jahnum puruSha sattamam | gaMgam ca api nayanti sma duhitR^itve mahaatmanaH || 1-43-37
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
tataH tuShTaH mahaatejaaH shrotraabhyaam asR^iujat prabhuH | tasmaat jahnu sutaa gaMga procyate jaahnavii iti ca || 1-43-38
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
bhagiiratho api rajaarShi gaMgam aadaaya yatnataH || 1-43-40 pitamahaan bhasma krutam apashyat gata chetanaH |
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 |
atha tat bhasmanaam raashim gaMga salilam uttamam | plaavayat puuta paapmaanaH svargam praptaa raghu uttama ||1-43-41
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]
भगीरथोऽपि रजार्षिर्गङ्गामादाय यत्नतः || १-४३-४० पितामहान् भस्मकृतानपश्यद्गतचेतनः |
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
"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]
