स गत्वा सागरं राजा गंगयानुगतस्तदा | प्रविवेश तलं भूमेर्यत्र ते भस्मसात्कृताः || १-४४-१
sa gatvaa saagaram raajaa gaMgayaa anugatas tadaa | pravivesha talam bhuumeH yatra te bhasmasaat kR^itaaH || 1-44-1
"King Bhageeratha followed by Ganga has gone to the ocean-like ditch which is dredged up by the sons of Sagara, and entered the subterranean of earth where the sons of Sagara are rendered to ashes." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about the Descent of Ganga. [1-44-1]
भस्मन्यथाप्लुते राम गंगायाः सलिलेन वै | सर्वलोकप्रभुर्ब्रह्मा राजानमिदमब्रवीत् || १-४४-२
bhasmani atha aaplute raama gaMgaaiaaH salilena vai | sarva loka prabhuH brahmaa raajaanam idam abraviit || 1-44-2
While the waters of Ganga are inundating those ashes, oh, Rama, then Brahma, the lord of all worlds, indeed spoke this to the king Bhageeratha. [1-44-2]
तारिता नरशार्दूल दिवं याताश्च देववत् | षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि सगरस्य महात्मनः || १-४४-३
taaritaa narashaarduula divam yaataaH ca devavat | ShaShTiH putra sahasraaNi sagarasya mahaatmanaH || 1-44-3
Oh, tigerly-man Bhageeratha, the sixty thousands sons of great souled Sagara have crossed over the sea of mortality, and on a par with the gods they have also transited to heaven. [1-44-3]
सागरस्य जलं लोके यावत् स्थास्यति पार्थिव | सगरस्यात्मजाः सर्वे दिवि स्थास्यन्ति देववत् ||१-४४-४
saagarasya jalam loke yaavat sthaasyati paarthiva | sagarasya aatmajaaH sarve divi sthaasyanti devavat ||1-44-4
As long as the water of the ocean abides in the world, oh, king, so long the sons of Sagara will abide in heaven like gods. [1-44-4]
इयं च दुहिता ज्येष्ठा तव गंगा भविष्यति | त्वत्कृतेन च नाम्नाथ लोके स्थास्यति विश्रुता ||१-४४-५
iyam ca duhitaa jyeShThaa tava gaMgaa bhaviShyati | tvat kR^itena ca naamnaa atha loke sthaasyati vishrutaa ||1-44-5
This Ganga will become your eldest daughter and hereafter she will remain renowned in the world with the name associated with your deed of bringing her onto earth. [1-44-5]
गंगा त्रिपथगा नाम दिव्या भागीरथीति च | त्रीन्पथो भावयन्तीति तस्मत्त्रिपथगा स्मृता || १-४४-६
gaMgaa tripathagaa naama divyaa bhaagiirathii iti ca | triin patho bhaavayanti iti tasmat tripathagaa smR^itaa || 1-44-6
Henceforth heavenly Ganga will be renowned as 'Triple-path-cruiser' and 'Bhaageerathi,' as well, and as this river is sanctifying three worlds, namely, svarga, bhuu, paataala loka-s, 'heaven, earth and netherworld' she will be remembered as the traveller on triple path. [1-44-6]
पितामहानां सर्वेषां त्वमत्र मनुजाधिप | कुरुष्व सलिलं राजन् प्रतिज्ञामपवर्जय || १-४४-७
pitaamahaanaam sarveShaam tvam atra manujaadhipa | kuruShva salilam raajan pratij~naam apavarjaya || 1-44-7
You may now offer water-oblations to all of your forefathers in the waters of Ganga, oh, king, the lord of people, thus you may fulfil and do away with the pledge of your requiescat. [1-44-7]
पूर्वकेण हि ते राजंस्तेनातियशसा तदा | धर्मिणां प्रवरेणाथ नैष प्राप्तो मनोरथः || १-४४-८
puurvakeNa hi te raajan tena atiyashasaa tadaa | dharmiNaam pravareNa atha na eSha praapto manorathaH || 1-44-8
Your ancestor Sagara is a highly glorious one and a best one among righteous persons, oh, king, even then he has not achieved this aspiration of alighting Ganga in his lifetime, but you have achieved it. [1-44-8]
तथैवांशुमता वत्स लोकेऽप्रतिमतेजसा | गङ्गां प्रार्थयता नेतुं प्रतिज्ञा नापवर्जिता || १-४४-९
tathaiva aMshumataa vatsa loke apratima tejasaa | gaMgaam praarthayataa netum pratij~naa na apavarjitaa || 1-44-9
Like that, your grandfather Amshuman, who is unequalled in his resplendence in this world and who had been praying for the descent of Ganga, he also could not dispense with this vow on fulfilling it. [1-44-9]
राजर्षिणा गुणवता महर्षिसमतेजसा | मत्तुल्यतपसा चैव क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितेन च || १-४४-१० दिलीपेन महाभाग तव पित्रातितेजसा | पुनर्न शङ्किता नेतुं गङ्गां प्रार्थयतानघ || १-४४-११
raajarShiNaa guNavataa maharShi sama tejasaa | mat tulya tapasaa caiva kShatra dharma sthitena ca || 1-44-10 diliipena mahaabhaaga tava pitraa atitejasaa | punar na shakitaa netum gaMgaam praarthayata anagha || 1-44-11
Oh, impeccable Bhageeratha, even by the kingly-sage Dileepa whose resplendence is kindred to great sages, who is equal to me in his ascesis, who is abided by the observances of ruling Kshatriya class, even by such a highly fortunate and highly resplendent father of yours it was impossible to bring Ganga in his turn, even though he had been supplicating for the descent of Ganga throughout his lifetime. [1-44-10, 11]
सा त्वया समतिक्रान्ता प्रतिज्ञा पुरुषर्षभ | प्राप्तोऽसि परमं लोके यशः परमसंमतम् || १-४४-१२
tat ca gaMgaa avataraNam tvayaa kR^itam arindama | anena ca bhavaan praapto dharmasya aayatanam mahat || 1-44-13
But, you have accomplished that pledge, oh, the best one among men, and in the world you have achieved highest renown which is highly adorable by all. [1-44-12]
तच्च गंगावतरणं त्वया कृतमरिन्दम | अनेन च भवान् प्राप्तो धर्मस्यायतनं महत् || १-४४-१३
plaavayasva tvam aatmaanam narottama sadaa ucite | salile puruShashreShTha shuciH puNyaphalo bhava || 1-44-14
That 'Descent of Ganga' is perfected by you, oh, enemy-represser, and by this you have acquired a genuine basis for righteousness in this world, and thereby a base for yourself in my world, namely Abode of Brahma. [1-44-13]
प्लावयस्व त्वमात्मानं नरोत्तम सदोचिते | सलिले पुरुषश्रेष्ठ शुचिः पुण्यफलो भव || १-४४-१४
pitaamahaanaam sarveShaam kuruShva salilakriyaam | svasti te astu gamiShyaami svam lokam gaMyataam nR^ipa || 1-44-15
Oh, phenomenal one, you may always take dip-baths in the holy water of Ganga and oh, persona grata, thereby get purified of sins and thus let your merit be fructified. [1-44-14]
पितामहानां सर्वेषां कुरुष्व सलिलक्रियाम् | स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि स्वं लोकं गम्यतां नृप || १-४४-१५
iti evam uktvaa deveshaH sarvaloka pitaamahaH | yathaa aagatam tathaa agacChat deva lokam mahaayashaaH || 1-44-16
'You may now perform water-oblations to your forefathers with the water of Ganga, let there be wellbeing to you, and oh, king, here I go to my abode and you too may depart to yours.' Thus Brahma said to Bhageeratha. [1-44-15]
इत्येवमुक्त्वा देवेशः सर्वलोकपितामहः | यथागतं तथागच्छद्देवलोकं महायशाः || १-४४-१६
bhagiirathaH tu raajarShiH kR^itvaa salilam uttamam | yathaakramam yathaanyaayam saagaraaNaam mahaayashaaH || 1-44-17 kR^itodakaH shucii raajaa svapuram pravivesha ha | samR^iddhaartho narashreShTha svaraajyam prashashaasa ha ||1-44-18
On saying in this way, the forefather of all the worlds, and the great glorious lord of all gods, namely Brahma, went away to his empyrean world as he has came. [1-44-16]
भगीरथस्तु राजर्षिः कृत्वा सलिलमुत्तमम् | यथाक्रमं यथान्यायं सागराणां महायशाः || १-४४-१७ कृतोदकः शुची राजा स्वपुरं प्रविवेश ह | समृद्धार्थो नरश्रेष्ठ स्वराज्यं प्रशशास ह ||१-४४-१८
pramumoda ca lokaH tam nR^ipam aasaadya raaghava | naShTashokaH samR^iddhaartho babhuuva vigatajvaraH || 1-44-19
On according those best water-oblations that endow superior realms to the souls of sons of Sagara, according to precedency and the rationale of scriptures, and even on offering water-oblations to other manes that kingly-sage and greatly renowned Bhageeratha is sanctified, and then only that king re-entered his own city, indeed when his purpose is completely achieved, and oh, outstanding man Rama, thus that king Bhageeratha ruled his kingdom well. [1-44-17, 18]
प्रमुमोद च लोकस्तं नृपमासाद्य राघव | नष्टशोकः समृद्धार्थो बभूव विगतज्वरः || १-४४-१९
dhanyam yashasyam aayuShyam putryam svargyam atha api ca | yaH shraavayati vipreShu kshatriyeShu itereShu ca || 1-44-21 priiyante pitaraH tasya priiyante daivataani
On regaining him as their king the subjects of the kingdom are overjoyed, and oh, Raghava, that king Bhageeratha too is relieved of his febrility as his purpose is achieved and he is happy when devoid of haunting grief of getting Ganga to earth. [1-44-19]
एष ते राम गंगाया विस्तरोऽभिहितो मया | स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते संध्याकालोऽतिवर्तते || १-४४-२०
idam aaKyanam aayushyam gaMgaa avataraNam shubham || 1-44-22 yaH shruNoti ca kaakutstha sarvaan kaamaan avaapnuyaat | sarve paapaaH praNashyanti aayuH kiirtiH ca var.hdhate || 1-44-23
Oh, Rama, this way I described to you about 'The Decent of Ganga' in detail, thus you be blest and prosperous, and as the visceral time is elapsing no more questions from you for now, and let us meditate on Gayatri. But listen to the fruits of listening the legend of ganga avataraNa, 'The Descent of Ganga' [1-44-20]
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुत्र्यं स्वर्ग्यमथापि च | यः श्रावयति विप्रेषु क्षत्रियेष्वितरेषु च || १-४४-२१ प्रीयन्ते पितरस्तस्य प्रीयन्ते दैवतानि च |
This legend is conducive to achieve prosperity, fame, longevity, progeny and even heaven, and he who narrates this legend to others, whether he is from Brahmans or from Kshatriya-s, or for that matter of fact from any other class, his manes will be satisfied, and gods too will be gladdened. [1-44-21, 22a]
इदमाख़्यनमायुष्यं गंगावतरणं शुभम् || १-४४-२२ यः श्रुणोति च काकुत्स्थ सर्वान् कामानवाप्नुयात् | सर्वे पापाः प्रणश्यन्ति आयुः कीर्तिश्च वर्धते || १-४४-२३
"Oh, Rama of Kakutstha-s, he who listens to this auspicious legend named 'The Descent of Gang,' which is an endower of longevity, all his wishes are achieved, all his sins are obliterated, and his reputation and longevity are also enhanced." Thus Vishvamitra concluded the episode of 'The Descent of Ganga.' [1-44-22b, 23]
