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[Pleased with the austerities of Bhagiratha, Siva holds Ganga on his head during her descent and releases in Bindu lake--Ganga branches into seven streams--following Bhagiratha, Ganga reaches the nether world and delivers the souls of Sagara's sons.]

देवदेवे गते तस्मिन् सोऽङ्गुष्ठाग्रनिपीडिताम्।

कृत्वा वसुमतीं राम संवत्सरमुपासत।।1.43.1।।


राम O Rama, तस्मिन् देवदेवे when that god of gods, Brahma, गते had departed, स: he, वसुमतीम् earth, अङ्गुष्ठाग्रनिपीडिताम् pressing with the tip of his great toe, कृत्वा having made, संवत्सरम् for one year, उपासत meditated upon.

"O Rama when that God of the gods (Brahma) departed, Bhagiratha, pressing the earth with the tip of his big toe (standing supported by the big toe) penanced (meditated upon Siva) for one year.
अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे सर्वलोकनमस्कृत:।

उमापति: पशुपती राजानमिदमब्रवीत्।।1.43.2।।


अथ thereafter, संवत्सरे when one year, पूर्णे was completed, सर्वलोकनमस्कृत: he, worshipped by all in all worlds, उमापति: husband of Uma, पशुपति: Iswara, राजानम् addressing king, इदम् these words, अब्रवीत् said.

After one full year was completed, Iswara who is worshipped by all in all the worlds said to king Bhagiratha:
प्रीतस्तेऽहं नरश्रेष्ठ करिष्यामि तव प्रियम्।

शिरसा धारयिष्यामि शैलराजसुतामहम्।।1.43.3।।


नरश्रेष्ठ O Best among men, अहम् I, ते with you, प्रीत: pleased, तव to you, प्रियम् dear, करिष्यामि I shall do, अहम् I, शैलराजसुताम् daughter of the king of mountains, शिरसा with my head, धारयिष्यामि will hold.

"O Best of men I am pleased with your devotion. I will hold Ganga on my head, the daughter of the king of mountains (to reduce the force of her descent). I shall do your wish.
ततो हैमवती ज्येष्ठा सर्वलोकनमस्कृता।

तदा सातिमहद्रूपं कृत्वा वेगं च दुस्सहम्।।1.43.4।।

आकाशादपतद्राम शिवे शिवशिरस्युत।


राम O Rama, तत: thereafter, हैमवती daughter of Himvat, सर्वलोकनमस्कृता adored by all worlds, ज्येष्ठा eldest (गङ्गा Ganga), तदा then, अति महत् mighty, रूपं form, दस्सहम् unbearable, वेगं speed, कृत्वा having assumed, आकाशात् from the sky, शिवे on the auspicious, शिवशिरसि on the head of Siva, अपतत् उत fell down.

Then Ganga, the eldest daughter of Himavat who is adored by all the worlds, assuming the form of a mighty river descended from the sky with unbearable speed on the auspicious head of Siva.
अचिन्तयच्च सा देवी गङ्गा परमदुर्धरा।।1.43.5।।

विशाम्यहं हि पातालं स्रोतसा गृह्य शङ्करम्।


परमदुर्धरा extremely difficult to contain, सा देवी that goddess, गङ्गा Ganga, अचिन्तयच्च also thought over, अहम् I, स्रोतसा by my flow, शङ्करम् Siva, गृह्य seizing, पातालम् lower regions of earth, विशामि I shall enter.

"Goddess Ganga, extremely difficult to contain, thought that seizing Siva with her flow she would enter the lower regions of the earth.
तस्यावलेपनं ज्ञात्वा क्रुद्धस्तु भगवान् हर:।।1.43.6।।

तिरोभावयितुं बुद्धिं चक्रे त्रिनयनस्तदा।


त्रिनयन: threeeyed, भगवान् worshipful, हर: Iswara, तस्या: her, अवलेपनम् proud intentions, ज्ञात्वा having come to know, तदा then, तिरोभावयितुम् to send her back, बुद्धिम् determination, चक्रे made.

Then the threeeyed Lord Siva, aware of her proud intentions applied his intelligence to conceal her.
सा तस्मिन् पतिता पुण्या पुण्ये रुद्रस्य मूर्धनि।।1.43.7।।

हिमवत्प्रतिमे राम जटामण्डलगह्वरे।


राम O Rama, सा पुण्या that sacred river Ganga, हिमवत्प्रतिमे resembling Himavat mountain, जटामण्डलगह्वरे cave of the locks of hair, तस्मिन् on that, रुद्रस्य Siva's, पुण्ये sacred, मूर्धनि head, पतिता fell.

O Rama that sacred river (Ganga), descended on to the depths of the matted locks on the holy head of Siva resembling the mount Himavan.
सा कथञ्चिन्महीं गन्तुं नाशक्नोद्यत्नमास्थिता।।1.43.8।।

नैव निर्गमनं लेभे जटामण्डलमोहिता।


सा that Ganga, यत्नम् effort, आस्थिता having put in, कथञ्चित् by any means, महीम् earth, गन्तुम् to reach, न अशक्नोत् was not poweful, जटामण्डलमोहिता enveloped by matted locks of hair, निर्गमनम् exit, न लेभे did not obtain.

Trapped in the matted locks, she (Ganga) could not come out. With all her efforts she could not reach the earth.
तत्रैवाबम्भ्रमद्देवी संवत्सरगणान् बहून्।।1.43.9।।

तामपश्यन्पुनस्तत्र तप: परममास्थित:।


देवी Ganga, बहून् many, संवत्सरगणान् for a number of years, तत्रैव there alone, अबम्भ्रमत् went round and round, ताम् that Ganga, अपश्यन् without seeing, पुन: again, तत्र there, परमम् great, तप: austerities, आस्थित: adopted.

There the golden Ganga wandered about for many years. Bhagiratha not finding Ganga, once again resorted to great penance.
अनेन तोषितश्चाभूदत्यर्थं रघुनन्दन।।1.43.10।।

विससर्ज ततो गङ्गां हरो बिन्दुसर: प्रति।


रघुनन्दन O Rama, अनेन by this penance, हर: Iswara, अत्यर्थम् immensely, तोषित: अभूत् was gratified, तत: afterwards, गङ्गाम् Ganga, बिन्दुसर: प्रति forming Bindusara, विससर्ज released (drop by drop).

O Son of the Raghus (Rama) Siva was immensely pleased with the penace and thereafter released Ganga (drop by drop) forming Bindusara.
तस्यां विसृज्यमानायां सप्तस्रोतांसि जज्ञिरे।।1.43.11।।

ह्लादिनी पावनी चैव नलिनी च तथाऽपरा।

तिस्र: प्राचीं दिशं जग्मु: गङ्गाश्शिवजलाश्शुभा:।।1.43.12।।


तस्याम् when that Ganga, विसृज्यमानायाम् was being released, सप्त seven, स्रोतांसि streams, जज्ञिरे were born, ह्लादिनी Hladini, पावनी Pavani, तथा and, अपरा another, नलिनी च Nalini, शिवजला: possessing auspicious waters, तिस्र: three, शुभा: auspicious, गङ्गा: streams of Ganga, प्राचीम् दिशं eastwards, जग्मु: had flowed.

As she (Ganga) was released, she branched out into seven streams. Three streams
known as Hladini, Pavani and Nalini having auspicious waters and conferring prosperity flowed eastwards.
सुचक्षुश्चैव सीता च सिन्धुश्चैव महानदी।

तिस्रस्त्वेता दिशं जग्मु: प्रतीचीं तु शुभोदका:।।1.43.13।।


सुचक्षु: Suchakshu, सीता च Sita, सिन्धु: called Sindhu, महानदी च a great river, शुभोदका: having auspicious waters, एता: तिस्र: these three, प्रतीचीं दिशम् westwards, जग्मु: had gone

Auspicious Suchakshu, Sita and a great river Sindhu, these three great rivers flowed westwards.
सप्तमी चान्वगात्तासां भगीरथमथो नृपम्।

भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षिर्दिव्यं स्यन्दनमास्थित:।।1.43.14।।

प्रायादग्रे महातेजा गङ्गा तं चाप्यनुव्रजत्।


अथः downwards, तासाम् among them, सप्तमी seventh, भगीरथम् Bhagiratha, नृपम् king, अन्वगात् followed, महातेजाः most brilliant, राजर्षि: royal sage, भगीरथोऽपि Bhagiratha also, दिव्यम् divine, स्यन्दनम् chariot, आस्थित: mounting, अग्रे प्रायात् marched forward, गङ्गा च Ganga, अनुव्रजत् followed.

The seventh stream among them followed Bhagiratha. The most brilliant rajarshi Bhagiratha also mounting on divine chariot raced forward and Ganga followed him.
गगनाच्छङ्करशिरस्ततो धरणिमाश्रिता।।1.43.15 ।।

व्यसर्पत जलं तत्र तीव्रशब्दपुरस्कृतम्।


गगनात् from sky, शङ्करशिर: on the head of Shankara, तत: from there, धरणिम् earth, आश्रिता resorted, तत्र there, जलम् waters, तीव्रशब्दपुरस्कृतम् culminating in intense sounds, व्यसर्पत had flown.

From the sky on to the head of Shankara and thence Ganga resorted to the earth. There it flowed forward with a roaring sound.
मत्स्यकच्छपसङ्घैश्च शिंशुमारगणैस्तदा।।1.43.16।।

पतद्भि: पतितैश्चान्यैर्व्यरोचत वसुन्धरा।


तदा then, वसुन्धरा earth, पतितै: by the fallen, पतद्भिश्च by the falling, मत्स्यकच्छपसङ्घैश्च by shoals of fish, turtles, शिंशुमारगणैश्च by multitudes of sea animals, अन्यै: by other animals, व्यरोचत shone.

Then the earth looked bright with the fallen and falling shoals of fish, turtles and multitudes of other seaanimals.
ततो देवर्षिगन्धर्वा यक्षसिद्धगणास्तदा।।1.43.17।।

व्यलोकयन्त ते तत्र गगनाद्गां गतां तथा।


तत: then, देवर्षिगन्धर्वा: devarshis, gandharvas, यक्ष: yakshas, ते सिद्धगणा: those hosts of siddhas, तदा then, तथा in that way, गगनात् from the sky, गाम् the earth, गताम् reached, व्यलोकयन्त looked on with astonishment.

Then devarshis, gandharvas, yakshas and hosts of siddhas looked on with astonishment at Ganga falling from the sky and descending on the earth.
विमानैर्नगराकारैर्हयैर्गजवरैस्तदा।।1.43.18।।

पारिप्लवगतैश्चापि देवतास्तत्र विष्ठिता:।


तदा then, देवता: devatas, नगराकारै: as large as cities, विमानै: aerial chariots, पारिप्लवगतै: in restless movements, हयै: by horses, गजवरै: by excellent elephants, तत्र there, विष्ठिता: were stationed.

Then, gods in a state of excitement in their aerial chariots as large as cities, on horses and on big elephants were stationed there (in the sky).
तदद्भुततमं लोके गङ्गापतनमुत्तमम्।।1.43.19।।

दिदृक्षवो देवगणा: समीयुरमितौजस:।


लोके In this world, अद्भुततमं most wonderful, उत्तमम् great, गङ्गापतनम् descent of Ganga, दिदृक्षव: desirous of witnessing, अमितौजस: beings with great lustre, देवगणा: hosts of devatas, समीयु: arrived.

Gods with great lustre arrived to witness the most wonderful, grand descent of Ganga.
सम्पतद्भिस्सुरगणैस्तेषां चाभरणौजसा।।1.43.20।।

शतादित्यमिवाभाति गगनं गततोयदम्।


गततोयदम् devoid of clouds, गगनम् sky, सम्पतद्भि: by those arriving with speed, सुरगणै: by multitudes of devatas, तेषाम् आभरणौजसा with the effulgence of their ornaments, शतादित्यमिव hundred suns, आभाति shines (at that moment).

The cloudless sky shone with the radiance of the ornaments of the gods alighting speedily to witness Ganga. It appeared as though the sky was filled with a hundred Suns.
शिंशुमारोरगगणैर्मीनैरपि च चञ्चलै:।।1.43.21।।

विद्युद्भिरिव विक्षिप्तमाकाशमभवत्तदा।


तदा then, शिंशुमारोरगगणै: by multitudes of sea animals and serpents, चञ्चलै: which had fickle movements, मीनैरपि च with the fish also, आकाशम् the sky, विद्युद्भिः with flashes of lightening, विक्षिप्तमिव as if scattered, अभवत् became.

The sky strewn with lightnings appeared as if it was inhabited by seaanimals, serpents and fishes fickle.
पाण्डरैस्सलिलोत्पीडै: कीर्यमाणैस्सहस्रधा।।1.43.22।।

शारदाभ्रैरिवाकीर्णं गगनं हंससम्प्लवै:।


सहस्रधा in thousand ways, कीर्यमाणै: scattered, पाण्डरै: by the white, सलिलोत्पीडै: foams of water, गगनम् sky, हंससम्प्लवै: with flocks of swans, शारदाभ्रै: by autumnal clouds, अकीर्णमिव as if spread over.

White foams of water were scattered in a thousand ways. It appeared as if the sky was spread over with autumnal clouds flocks of swans.
क्वचिद्द्रुततरं याति कुटिलं क्वचिदायतम्।।1.43.23।।

विनतं क्वचिदुद्धूतं क्वचिद्याति शनैश्शनै:।


क्वचित् at some places, द्रुततरम् very rapidly, याति it was flowing, क्वचित् at some other places, कुटिलम् याति flowing in curved ways, क्वचित् at some other places, आयतम् it was wide, क्वचित् at some places, विनतम् inclined, क्वचित् at some places, उध्दूतम् was rising high, क्वचित् at some places, शनै: शनै: very slowly, याति flowing.

Ganga was flowing now rapid, now slow, now wide, now meandering, now low, now high.
सलिलेनैव सलिलं क्वचिदभ्याहतं पुन:।।1.43.24।।

मुहुरूर्ध्वमुखं गत्वा पपात वसुधातलम्।


क्वचित् at some places, सलिलम् water, सलिलेनैव with waters alone, अभ्याहतम् was dashing against, मुहु: repeatedly, ऊर्ध्वमुखम् upwards, गत्वा having gone, पुन: again, वसुधातलम् on the ground, पपात fell down.

Sometimes waves dashed against waves. They rose repeatedly upwards and fell down on the ground.
तच्छङ्करशिरोभ्रष्टं भ्रष्टं भूमितले पुन:।।1.43.25।।

व्यरोचत तदा तोयं निर्मलं गतकल्मषम्।


शङ्करशिरोभ्रष्टम् descended on the Shankara's head, पुन: again, भूमितले on the earth, भ्रष्टम् fallen, गतकल्मषम् freed from impurities, निर्मलम् pure, तत् तोयम् those waters, तदा then, व्यरोचत looked splendid.

The waters of Ganga descended on Shankara's head and from there to the earth. Freed from all impurities, the waters looked pure and clean.
तत्र देवर्षिगन्धर्वा वसुधातलवासिन:।।1.43.26।।

भवाङ्गपतितं तोयं पवित्रमिति पस्पृशु:।


तत्र there, देवर्षिगन्धर्वा: devatas, rishis and gandharvas, वसुधातलवसिन: those living on the earth, भवाङ्गपतितम् fallen from the body of Siva, तोयम् waters, पवित्रमिति sacred, पस्पृशु: touched.

Considering the waters fallen from the head of Siva sacred, devatas, rishis and gandharvas and those living on earth touched it (with reverence).
शापात्प्रपतिता ये च गगनाद्वसुधातलम्।।1.43.27।।

कृत्वा तत्राभिषेकं ते बभूवुर्गतकल्मषा:।


ये च those, शापात् due to the curse, गगनात् from the sky, वसुधातलम् earth, प्रपतिता: had fallen, ते they, तत्र there, अभिषेकम् bath, कृत्वा having taken, गतकल्मषा: बभूवु: were absolved of their sins.

Those cursed to fall from heaven to earth were absolved of their sins after bathing there (in the waters of Ganga).
धूतपापा: पुनस्तेन तोयेनाथ सुभास्वता।।1.43.28।।

पुनराकाशमाविश्य स्वान् लोकान् प्रतिपेदिरे।


तेन by that, सुभास्वता excellently shining, तोयेन waters, धूतपापा: cleansed of their sins, पुन: again, आकाशम् sky, आविश्य having entered, अथ thereafter, पुन: again, स्वान् their own, लोकान् celestial worlds, प्रतिपेदिरे attained.

Cleansed of their sins by the sparkling waters, they ascended through the sky once
again to their own (celestial) worlds.
मुमुदे मुदितो लोकस्तेन तोयेन भास्वता।।1.43.29।।

कृताभिषेको गङ्गायां बभूव विगतक्लम:।


लोक: people, भास्वता by the shining, तेन that, तोयेन by waters, मुमुदे rejoiced, मुदित: pleased, गङ्गायाम् in that Ganga, कृताभिषेक: having performed bath, विगतक्लम: बभूव were removed of fatigue.

People rejoiced at the sight of those shining waters. They were happy to have a dip in Ganga and their fatigue was gone.
भगीरथोऽपि राजार्षिर्दिव्यं स्यन्दनमास्थित:।

प्रायादग्रे महातेजास्तं गङ्गा पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात्।।1.43.30।


महातेजा: most brilliant, राजर्षि: royal sage, भगीरथोऽपि Bhagiratha also, दिव्यम् divine, स्यन्दनम् chariot, आस्थित: mounting, अग्रे प्रायात् marched forward, गङ्गा च Ganga, तम् him, पृष्ठत: from behind, अन्वगात् followed.

Most brilliant rajarshi Bhagiratha also mounting the divine chariot moved forward and Ganga followed him.
देवास्सर्षिगणा: सर्वे दैत्यदानवराक्षसा:।।1.43.31।।

गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवरास्सकिन्नरमहोरगा:।

सर्वाश्चाप्सरसो राम भगीरथरथानुगाम्।।1.43.32।।

गङ्गामन्वगमन् प्रीतास्सर्वे जलचराश्च ये।


राम O Rama, सर्षिगणा: with hosts of Saints, देवा: devatas, सर्वे all, दैत्यदानवराक्षसा: daityas, danavas, rakshasas, सकिन्नरमहोरगा: with kinnaras, serpents, गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवरा: foremost of gandharvas, yakshas, सर्वा: all, अप्सरस: apsaras, भगीरथरथानुगाम् following the chariot of Bhagiratha, गङ्गाम् Ganga, अन्वगमन् followed, ये जलचराश्च those acquatic creatures, सर्वे all (followed ).

O Rama besides acquatic beings, rishis, devatas, daityas, danavas, rakshasas along with kinnaras, serpents, foremost of gandharvas, yakshas and apsaras all followed the chariot of Bhagiratha. They were happy to follow Ganga.
यतो भगीरथो राजा ततो गङ्गायशस्विनी।।1.43.33।।

जगाम सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी।


राजा king, भगीरथ: Bhagiratha, यत: wherever, यशस्विनी renowned, सरितां श्रेष्ठा foremost of rivers, सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी destroyer of all sins, गङ्गा Ganga, तत: in the same direction, जगाम flowed.

Ganga, famous and foremost of rivers, destroyer of all sins, flowed in the direction king Bhagiratha moved.
ततो हि यजमानस्य जह्नोरद्भुतकर्मण:।।1.43.34।।

गङ्गा सम्प्लावयामास यज्ञवाटं महात्मन:।


तत: subsequently, गङ्गा Ganga, यजमानस्य of the performer of sacrifice, अद्भुतकर्मण: of great deeds, महात्मन: of the eminent, जह्नो: of sage Jahnu, यज्ञवाटम् sacrificial ground, सम्प्लावयामास inundated.

Then while Ganga was flowing, it inundated the sacrificial ground of the great sage Jahnu. Jahnu who used to work wonders was performing a sacrifice.
तस्यावलेपनं ज्ञात्वा क्रुद्धो यज्वा तु राघव।।1.43.35।।

अपिबच्च जलं सर्वं गङ्गाया: परमाद्भुतम्।


राघव O Rama, यज्वा the performer of the sacrifice, sage Jahnu, तस्या: her, अवलेपनम् pride, ज्ञात्वा having known, क्रुध्द: furious with anger, गङ्गाया: Ganga's, सर्वम् entire, जलम् waters, परमाद्भुतम् astonishingly, अपिबत् drank.

O Descendant of the Raghu dynasty sage Jahnu who was performing the sacrifice, observed her pride and grew furious. And astonishingly drank the entire waters of Ganga.
ततो देवास्सगन्धर्वा ऋषयश्च सुविस्मिता:।।1.43.36।।

पूजयन्ति महात्मानं जह्नुं पुरुषसत्तमम्।

गङ्गां चापि नयन्ति स्म दुहितृत्वे महात्मन:।।1.43.37।।


तत: afterwards, सगन्धर्वा: along with gandharvas, देवा: devatas, ऋषयश्च rishis, सुविस्मिता: highly amazed, पुरुषसत्तमम् best amog men, महात्मानम् eminent, जह्नुम् sage Jahnu, पूजयन्ति worshipped, गङ्गां च Ganga also, महात्मन: illustrious Juhnu's, दुहितृत्वे as daughter, नयन्ति considered.

Devatas, rishis and gandharvas stood amazed (at this act). They worshipped the magnanimous Jahnu, noblest among men. The devatas entreated the illustrious Jahnu to treat Ganga as his daughter.
ततस्तुष्टो महातेजाश्श्रोत्राभ्यामसृजत् पुन:।।1.43.38।।

तस्माज्जह्नुसुता गङ्गा प्रोच्यते जाह्नवीतिच।


तत: thence, तुष्ट: highly pleased, महातेजा: highly lustrous Jahnu, पुन: again, श्रोत्राभ्याम् from both his ears, असृजत् released, तस्मात् therefore, गङ्गा Ganga, जह्नुसुता daughter of Jahnu, जाह्नवीति Jahnavi, प्रोच्यते is being called.

The brilliant (Jahnu) was pleased. He released her through both his both ears. Hence Ganga is called Jahnavi, daughter of Jahnu.
जगाम च पुनर्गङ्गा भगीरथरथानुगा।

सागरं चापि सम्प्राप्ता सा सरित्प्रवरा तदा।।1.43.39।।

रसातलमुपागच्छत्सिद्ध्यर्थं तस्य कर्मण:।


गङ्गा Ganga, पुन: again, भगीरथरथानुगा following the chariot of Bhagiratha, जगाम had proceeded, तदा then, सा she, सरित्प्रवरा best among rivers, Ganga, सागरम् ocean, सम्प्राप्ता अपि having reached also, तस्य कर्मण: of his desires, सिद्ध्यर्थम् forfulfillment, रसातलम् nether regions, उपागच्छत् reached.

Ganga, best among rivers, following the chariot of Bhagiratha, reached the ocean. She entered the nether regions of the earth in order to fulfil his mission (salvation of the sons of Sagara).
भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षि: गङ्गामादाय यत्नत:।

पितामहान् भस्मकृतानपश्यद्दीनचेतन:।।1.43.40।।


राजर्षि: royal saint, भगीरथोऽपि Bhagiratha also, यत्नत: with supreme efforts, गङ्गाम् Ganga, आदाय having brought, दीनचेतन: with grieved mind, भस्मकृतान् reduced to ashes, पितामहान् grand fathers, अपश्यत् beheld.

Rajarshi Bhagiratha, having brought Ganga with supreme efforts, saw with a sad heart his grandfathers reduced to ashes.
अथ तद्भस्मनां राशिं गङ्गासलिलमुत्तमम्।

प्लावयद्धूतपाप्मानस्स्वर्गं प्राप्ता रघूत्तम।।1.43.41।।


रघूत्तम O Rama, अथ thereafter, उत्तमम् excellent, गङ्गासलिलम् waters of Ganga, तत् भस्मनाम् those ashes, राशिम् heap, प्लावयत् inundated, धूतपापा: purged of sins, स्वर्गम् heaven, प्राप्ता: obtained.

O Best of the Raghus thereafter the holy waters of Ganga inundated those heaps of ashes and the sons of Sagara, purged of their sins, reached heaven" (said Viswamitra).
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे त्रिचत्वारिंशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the fortythird sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.