Sloka & Translation

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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.]

dēvadēvē gatē tasmin sō.ṅguṣṭhāgranipīḍitām.

kṛtvā vasumatīṅ rāma saṅvatsaramupāsata৷৷1.43.1৷৷


rāma O! Rama, tasmin dēvadēvē when that god of gods, Brahma, gatē had departed, sa: he, vasumatīm earth, aṅguṣṭhāgranipīḍitām pressing with the tip of his great toe, kṛtvā having made, saṅvatsaram for one year, upāsata 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.
atha saṅvatsarē pūrṇē sarvalōkanamaskṛta:.

umāpati: paśupatī rājānamidamabravīt৷৷1.43.2৷৷


atha thereafter, saṅvatsarē when one year, pūrṇē was completed, sarvalōkanamaskṛta: he, worshipped by all in all worlds, umāpati: husband of Uma, paśupati: Iswara, rājānam addressing king, idam these words, abravīt said.

After one full year was completed, Iswara who is worshipped by all in all the worlds said to king Bhagiratha:
prītastē.haṅ naraśrēṣṭha! kariṣyāmi tava priyam.

śirasā dhārayiṣyāmi śailarājasutāmaham৷৷1.43.3৷৷


naraśrēṣṭha O! Best among men, aham I, tē with you, prīta: pleased, tava to you, priyam dear, kariṣyāmi I shall do, aham I, śailarājasutām daughter of the king of mountains, śirasā with my head, dhārayiṣyāmi 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.
tatō haimavatī jyēṣṭhā sarvalōkanamaskṛtā.

tadā sātimahadrūpaṅ kṛtvā vēgaṅ ca dussaham৷৷1.43.4৷৷

ākāśādapatadrāma ! śivē śivaśirasyuta.


rāma O! Rama, tata: thereafter, haimavatī daughter of Himvat, sarvalōkanamaskṛtā adored by all worlds, jyēṣṭhā eldest (gaṅgā Ganga), tadā then, ati mahat mighty, rūpaṅ form, dassaham unbearable, vēgaṅ speed, kṛtvā having assumed, ākāśāt from the sky, śivē on the auspicious, śivaśirasi on the head of Siva, apatat uta 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.
acintayacca sā dēvī gaṅgā paramadurdharā৷৷1.43.5৷৷

viśāmyahaṅ hi pātālaṅ srōtasā gṛhya śaṅkaram.


paramadurdharā extremely difficult to contain, sā dēvī that goddess, gaṅgā Ganga, acintayacca also thought over, aham I, srōtasā by my flow, śaṅkaram Siva, gṛhya seizing, pātālam lower regions of earth, viśāmi 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.
tasyāvalēpanaṅ jñātvā kruddhastu bhagavān hara:৷৷1.43.6৷৷

tirōbhāvayituṅ buddhiṅ cakrē trinayanastadā.


trinayana: three-eyed, bhagavān worshipful, hara: Iswara, tasyā: her, avalēpanam proud intentions, jñātvā having come to know, tadā then, tirōbhāvayitum to send her back, buddhim determination, cakrē made.

Then the three-eyed Lord Siva, aware of her proud intentions applied his intelligence to conceal her.
sā tasmin patitā puṇyā puṇyē rudrasya mūrdhani৷৷1.43.7৷৷

himavatpratimē rāma! jaṭāmaṇḍalagahvarē.


rāma O! Rama, sā puṇyā that sacred river Ganga, himavatpratimē resembling Himavat mountain, jaṭāmaṇḍalagahvarē cave of the locks of hair, tasmin on that, rudrasya Siva's, puṇyē sacred, mūrdhani head, patitā 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.
sā kathañcinmahīṅ gantuṅ nāśaknōdyatnamāsthitā৷৷1.43.8৷৷

naiva nirgamanaṅ lēbhē jaṭāmaṇḍalamōhitā.


sā that Ganga, yatnam effort, āsthitā having put in, kathañcit by any means, mahīm earth, gantum to reach, na aśaknōt was not poweful, jaṭāmaṇḍalamōhitā enveloped by matted locks of hair, nirgamanam exit, na lēbhē did not obtain.

Trapped in the matted locks, she (Ganga) could not come out. With all her efforts she could not reach the earth.
tatraivābambhramaddēvī saṅvatsaragaṇān bahūn৷৷1.43.9৷৷

tāmapaśyanpunastatra tapa: paramamāsthita:.


dēvī Ganga, bahūn many, saṅvatsaragaṇān for a number of years, tatraiva there alone, abambhramat went round and round, tām that Ganga, apaśyan without seeing, puna: again, tatra there, paramam great, tapa: austerities, āsthita: adopted.

There the golden Ganga wandered about for many years. Bhagiratha not finding Ganga, once again resorted to great penance.
anēna tōṣitaścābhūdatyarthaṅ raghunandana৷৷1.43.10৷৷

visasarja tatō gaṅgāṅ harō bindusara: prati.


raghunandana O! Rama, anēna by this penance, hara: Iswara, atyartham immensely, tōṣita: abhūt was gratified, tata: afterwards, gaṅgām Ganga, bindusara: prati forming Bindusara, visasarja 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.
tasyāṅ visṛjyamānāyāṅ saptasrōtāṅsi jajñirē৷৷1.43.11৷৷

hlādinī pāvanī caiva nalinī ca tathā.parā.

tisra: prācīṅ diśaṅ jagmu: gaṅgāśśivajalāśśubhā:৷৷1.43.12৷৷


tasyām when that Ganga, visṛjyamānāyām was being released, sapta seven, srōtāṅsi streams, jajñirē were born, hlādinī Hladini, pāvanī Pavani, tathā and, aparā another, nalinī ca Nalini, śivajalā: possessing auspicious waters, tisra: three, śubhā: auspicious, gaṅgā: streams of Ganga, prācīm diśaṅ eastwards, jagmu: 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.
sucakṣuścaiva sītā ca sindhuścaiva mahānadī.

tisrastvētā diśaṅ jagmu: pratīcīṅ tu śubhōdakā:৷৷1.43.13৷৷


sucakṣu: Suchakshu, sītā ca Sita, sindhu: called Sindhu, mahānadī ca a great river, śubhōdakā: having auspicious waters, ētā: tisra: these three, pratīcīṅ diśam westwards, jagmu: had gone

Auspicious Suchakshu, Sita and a great river Sindhu, these three great rivers flowed westwards.
saptamī cānvagāttāsāṅ bhagīrathamathō nṛpam.

bhagīrathō.pi rājarṣirdivyaṅ syandanamāsthita:৷৷1.43.14৷৷

prāyādagrē mahātējā gaṅgā taṅ cāpyanuvrajat.


athaḥ downwards, tāsām among them, saptamī seventh, bhagīratham Bhagiratha, nṛpam king, anvagāt followed, mahātējāḥ most brilliant, rājarṣi: royal sage, bhagīrathō.pi Bhagiratha also, divyam divine, syandanam chariot, āsthita: mounting, agrē prāyāt marched forward, gaṅgā ca Ganga, anuvrajat followed.

The seventh stream among them followed Bhagiratha. The most brilliant rajarshi Bhagiratha also mounting on divine chariot raced forward and Ganga followed him.
gaganācchaṅkaraśirastatō dharaṇimāśritā৷৷1.43.15 ৷৷

vyasarpata jalaṅ tatra tīvraśabdapuraskṛtam.


gaganāt from sky, śaṅkaraśira: on the head of Shankara, tata: from there, dharaṇim earth, āśritā resorted, tatra there, jalam waters, tīvraśabdapuraskṛtam culminating in intense sounds, vyasarpata 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.
matsyakacchapasaṅghaiśca śiṅśumāragaṇaistadā৷৷1.43.16৷৷

patadbhi: patitaiścānyairvyarōcata vasundharā.


tadā then, vasundharā earth, patitai: by the fallen, patadbhiśca by the falling, matsyakacchapasaṅghaiśca by shoals of fish, turtles, śiṅśumāragaṇaiśca by multitudes of sea animals, anyai: by other animals, vyarōcata shone.

Then the earth looked bright with the fallen and falling shoals of fish, turtles and multitudes of other sea-animals.
tatō dēvarṣigandharvā yakṣasiddhagaṇāstadā৷৷1.43.17৷৷

vyalōkayanta tē tatra gaganādgāṅ gatāṅ tathā.


tata: then, dēvarṣigandharvā: devarshis, gandharvas, yakṣa: yakshas, tē siddhagaṇā: those hosts of siddhas, tadā then, tathā in that way, gaganāt from the sky, gām the earth, gatām reached, vyalōkayanta 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.
vimānairnagarākārairhayairgajavaraistadā৷৷1.43.18৷৷

pāriplavagataiścāpi dēvatāstatra viṣṭhitā:.


tadā then, dēvatā: devatas, nagarākārai: as large as cities, vimānai: aerial chariots, pāriplavagatai: in restless movements, hayai: by horses, gajavarai: by excellent elephants, tatra there, viṣṭhitā: 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).
tadadbhutatamaṅ lōkē gaṅgāpatanamuttamam৷৷1.43.19৷৷

didṛkṣavō dēvagaṇā: samīyuramitaujasa:.


lōkē In this world, adbhutatamaṅ most wonderful, uttamam great, gaṅgāpatanam descent of Ganga, didṛkṣava: desirous of witnessing, amitaujasa: beings with great lustre, dēvagaṇā: hosts of devatas, samīyu: arrived.

Gods with great lustre arrived to witness the most wonderful, grand descent of Ganga.
sampatadbhissuragaṇaistēṣāṅ cābharaṇaujasā৷৷1.43.20৷৷

śatādityamivābhāti gaganaṅ gatatōyadam.


gatatōyadam devoid of clouds, gaganam sky, sampatadbhi: by those arriving with speed, suragaṇai: by multitudes of devatas, tēṣām ābharaṇaujasā with the effulgence of their ornaments, śatādityamiva hundred suns, ābhāti 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.
śiṅśumārōragagaṇairmīnairapi ca cañcalai:৷৷1.43.21৷৷

vidyudbhiriva vikṣiptamākāśamabhavattadā.


tadā then, śiṅśumārōragagaṇai: by multitudes of sea animals and serpents, cañcalai: which had fickle movements, mīnairapi ca with the fish also, ākāśam the sky, vidyudbhiḥ with flashes of lightening, vikṣiptamiva as if scattered, abhavat became.

The sky strewn with lightnings appeared as if it was inhabited by sea-animals, serpents and fishes fickle.
pāṇḍaraissalilōtpīḍai: kīryamāṇaissahasradhā৷৷1.43.22৷৷

śāradābhrairivākīrṇaṅ gaganaṅ haṅsasamplavai:.


sahasradhā in thousand ways, kīryamāṇai: scattered, pāṇḍarai: by the white, salilōtpīḍai: foams of water, gaganam sky, haṅsasamplavai: with flocks of swans, śāradābhrai: by autumnal clouds, akīrṇamiva 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.
kvaciddrutataraṅ yāti kuṭilaṅ kvacidāyatam৷৷1.43.23৷৷

vinataṅ kvaciduddhūtaṅ kvacidyāti śanaiśśanai:.


kvacit at some places, drutataram very rapidly, yāti it was flowing, kvacit at some other places, kuṭilam yāti flowing in curved ways, kvacit at some other places, āyatam it was wide, kvacit at some places, vinatam inclined, kvacit at some places, udhdūtam was rising high, kvacit at some places, śanai: śanai: very slowly, yāti flowing.

Ganga was flowing now rapid, now slow, now wide, now meandering, now low, now high.
salilēnaiva salilaṅ kvacidabhyāhataṅ puna:৷৷1.43.24৷৷

muhurūrdhvamukhaṅ gatvā papāta vasudhātalam.


kvacit at some places, salilam water, salilēnaiva with waters alone, abhyāhatam was dashing against, muhu: repeatedly, ūrdhvamukham upwards, gatvā having gone, puna: again, vasudhātalam on the ground, papāta fell down.

Sometimes waves dashed against waves. They rose repeatedly upwards and fell down on the ground.
tacchaṅkaraśirōbhraṣṭaṅ bhraṣṭaṅ bhūmitalē puna:৷৷1.43.25৷৷

vyarōcata tadā tōyaṅ nirmalaṅ gatakalmaṣam.


śaṅkaraśirōbhraṣṭam descended on the Shankara's head, puna: again, bhūmitalē on the earth, bhraṣṭam fallen, gatakalmaṣam freed from impurities, nirmalam pure, tat tōyam those waters, tadā then, vyarōcata 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.
tatra dēvarṣigandharvā vasudhātalavāsina:৷৷1.43.26৷৷

bhavāṅgapatitaṅ tōyaṅ pavitramiti paspṛśu:.


tatra there, dēvarṣigandharvā: devatas, rishis and gandharvas, vasudhātalavasina: those living on the earth, bhavāṅgapatitam fallen from the body of Siva, tōyam waters, pavitramiti sacred, paspṛśu: touched.

Considering the waters fallen from the head of Siva sacred, devatas, rishis and gandharvas and those living on earth touched it (with reverence).
śāpātprapatitā yē ca gaganādvasudhātalam৷৷1.43.27৷৷

kṛtvā tatrābhiṣēkaṅ tē babhūvurgatakalmaṣā:.


yē ca those, śāpāt due to the curse, gaganāt from the sky, vasudhātalam earth, prapatitā: had fallen, tē they, tatra there, abhiṣēkam bath, kṛtvā having taken, gatakalmaṣā: babhūvu: 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).
dhūtapāpā: punastēna tōyēnātha subhāsvatā৷৷1.43.28৷৷

punarākāśamāviśya svān lōkān pratipēdirē.


tēna by that, subhāsvatā excellently shining, tōyēna waters, dhūtapāpā: cleansed of their sins, puna: again, ākāśam sky, āviśya having entered, atha thereafter, puna: again, svān their own, lōkān celestial worlds, pratipēdirē attained.

Cleansed of their sins by the sparkling waters, they ascended through the sky once
again to their own (celestial) worlds.
mumudē muditō lōkastēna tōyēna bhāsvatā৷৷1.43.29৷৷

kṛtābhiṣēkō gaṅgāyāṅ babhūva vigataklama:.


lōka: people, bhāsvatā by the shining, tēna that, tōyēna by waters, mumudē rejoiced, mudita: pleased, gaṅgāyām in that Ganga, kṛtābhiṣēka: having performed bath, vigataklama: babhūva 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.
bhagīrathō.pi rājārṣirdivyaṅ syandanamāsthita:.

prāyādagrē mahātējāstaṅ gaṅgā pṛṣṭhatō.nvagāt৷৷1.43.30.


mahātējā: most brilliant, rājarṣi: royal sage, bhagīrathō.pi Bhagiratha also, divyam divine, syandanam chariot, āsthita: mounting, agrē prāyāt marched forward, gaṅgā ca Ganga, tam him, pṛṣṭhata: from behind, anvagāt followed.

Most brilliant rajarshi Bhagiratha also mounting the divine chariot moved forward and Ganga followed him.
dēvāssarṣigaṇā: sarvē daityadānavarākṣasā:৷৷1.43.31৷৷

gandharvayakṣapravarāssakinnaramahōragā:.

sarvāścāpsarasō rāma bhagīratharathānugām৷৷1.43.32৷৷

gaṅgāmanvagaman prītāssarvē jalacarāśca yē.


rāma O! Rama, sarṣigaṇā: with hosts of Saints, dēvā: devatas, sarvē all, daityadānavarākṣasā: daityas, danavas, rakshasas, sakinnaramahōragā: with kinnaras, serpents, gandharvayakṣapravarā: foremost of gandharvas, yakshas, sarvā: all, apsarasa: apsaras, bhagīratharathānugām following the chariot of Bhagiratha, gaṅgām Ganga, anvagaman followed, yē jalacarāśca those acquatic creatures, sarvē 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.
yatō bhagīrathō rājā tatō gaṅgāyaśasvinī৷৷1.43.33৷৷

jagāma saritāṅ śrēṣṭhā sarvapāpapraṇāśinī.


rājā king, bhagīratha: Bhagiratha, yata: wherever, yaśasvinī renowned, saritāṅ śrēṣṭhā foremost of rivers, sarvapāpapraṇāśinī destroyer of all sins, gaṅgā Ganga, tata: in the same direction, jagāma flowed.

Ganga, famous and foremost of rivers, destroyer of all sins, flowed in the direction king Bhagiratha moved.
tatō hi yajamānasya jahnōradbhutakarmaṇa:৷৷1.43.34৷৷

gaṅgā samplāvayāmāsa yajñavāṭaṅ mahātmana:.


tata: subsequently, gaṅgā Ganga, yajamānasya of the performer of sacrifice, adbhutakarmaṇa: of great deeds, mahātmana: of the eminent, jahnō: of sage Jahnu, yajñavāṭam sacrificial ground, samplāvayāmāsa 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.
tasyāvalēpanaṅ jñātvā kruddhō yajvā tu rāghava!৷৷1.43.35৷৷

apibacca jalaṅ sarvaṅ gaṅgāyā: paramādbhutam.


rāghava O! Rama, yajvā the performer of the sacrifice, sage Jahnu, tasyā: her, avalēpanam pride, jñātvā having known, krudhda: furious with anger, gaṅgāyā: Ganga's, sarvam entire, jalam waters, paramādbhutam astonishingly, apibat 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.
tatō dēvāssagandharvā ṛṣayaśca suvismitā:৷৷1.43.36৷৷

pūjayanti mahātmānaṅ jahnuṅ puruṣasattamam.

gaṅgāṅ cāpi nayanti sma duhitṛtvē mahātmana:৷৷1.43.37৷৷


tata: afterwards, sagandharvā: along with gandharvas, dēvā: devatas, ṛṣayaśca rishis, suvismitā: highly amazed, puruṣasattamam best amog men, mahātmānam eminent, jahnum sage Jahnu, pūjayanti worshipped, gaṅgāṅ ca Ganga also, mahātmana: illustrious Juhnu's, duhitṛtvē as daughter, nayanti 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.
tatastuṣṭō mahātējāśśrōtrābhyāmasṛjat puna:৷৷1.43.38৷৷

tasmājjahnusutā gaṅgā prōcyatē jāhnavītica.


tata: thence, tuṣṭa: highly pleased, mahātējā: highly lustrous Jahnu, puna: again, śrōtrābhyām from both his ears, asṛjat released, tasmāt therefore, gaṅgā Ganga, jahnusutā daughter of Jahnu, jāhnavīti Jahnavi, prōcyatē is being called.

The brilliant (Jahnu) was pleased. He released her through both his both ears. Hence Ganga is called Jahnavi, daughter of Jahnu.
jagāma ca punargaṅgā bhagīratharathānugā.

sāgaraṅ cāpi samprāptā sā saritpravarā tadā৷৷1.43.39৷৷

rasātalamupāgacchatsiddhyarthaṅ tasya karmaṇa:.


gaṅgā Ganga, puna: again, bhagīratharathānugā following the chariot of Bhagiratha, jagāma had proceeded, tadā then, sā she, saritpravarā best among rivers, Ganga, sāgaram ocean, samprāptā api having reached also, tasya karmaṇa: of his desires, siddhyartham forfulfillment, rasātalam nether regions, upāgacchat 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).
bhagīrathō.pi rājarṣi: gaṅgāmādāya yatnata:.

pitāmahān bhasmakṛtānapaśyaddīnacētana:৷৷1.43.40৷৷


rājarṣi: royal saint, bhagīrathō.pi Bhagiratha also, yatnata: with supreme efforts, gaṅgām Ganga, ādāya having brought, dīnacētana: with grieved mind, bhasmakṛtān reduced to ashes, pitāmahān grand fathers, apaśyat beheld.

Rajarshi Bhagiratha, having brought Ganga with supreme efforts, saw with a sad heart his grandfathers reduced to ashes.
atha tadbhasmanāṅ rāśiṅ gaṅgāsalilamuttamam.

plāvayaddhūtapāpmānassvargaṅ prāptā raghūttama!৷৷1.43.41৷৷


raghūttama O! Rama, atha thereafter, uttamam excellent, gaṅgāsalilam waters of Ganga, tat bhasmanām those ashes, rāśim heap, plāvayat inundated, dhūtapāpā: purged of sins, svargam heaven, prāptā: 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).
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē tricatvāriṅśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the fortythird sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.