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[King Bhagiratha performs funeral rites of his ancestors.]

sa gatvā sāgaraṅ rājā gaṅgayā.nugatastadā .

pravivēśa talaṅ bhūmēryatra tē bhasmasātkṛtā:৷৷1.44.1৷৷


sa: rājā that king, tadā then, gaṅgayā by Ganga, anugata: followed by, sāgaram ocean, gatvā having gone, yatra where, tē they (sons of Sagara), bhasmasāt into ashes, kṛtā: had been made, bhūmē: earth's, talam lower regions, pravivēśa entered.

Thereupon that king followed by Ganga reached the ocean and entered the lower regions of the earth where the sons of Sagara were found reduced to ashes.
bhasmanyathā.plutē rāma gaṅgāyāssalilēna vai.

sarvalōkaprabhurbrahmā rājānamidamabravīt৷৷1.44.2৷৷


atha then, bhasmani when the ashes, gaṅgāyā: Ganga's, salilēna with waters, āplutē were inundated, sarvalōkaprabhu: lord of the world, brahmā Brahma, rājānam addressing the king, idam abravīt spoke these words.

After the ashes were inundated by the waters of Ganga, Brahma, lord of the world, appeared before king Bhagiratha and said:
tāritā naraśārdūla divaṅ yātāśca dēvavat.

ṣaṣṭhi: putrasahasrāṇi sagarasya mahātmana:৷৷1.44.3৷৷


naraśārdūla O! Best among men, mahātmana: of the illustrious, sagarasya Sagara's, ṣaṣṭi: sixty putrasahasrāṇi thousand sons, tāritā: were liberated, dēvavat like devatas, divam towards heaven, yātā: had gone.

"O Tiger among men! sixty thousand sons of illustrious Sagara having been liberated, had gone towards heaven like devatas.
sāgarasya jalaṅ lōkē yāvatsthāsyati pārthiva!.

sagarasyātmajāstāvatsvargē sthāsyanti dēvavat৷৷1.44.4৷৷


pārthiva O! King, sāgarasya ocean's, jalam waters, lōkē in this world, yāvat as long as, sthāsyati remain, tāvat till such time, sagarasya ātmajā: sons of Sagara, dēvavat like devatas, svargē in heavens, sthāsyanti will stay.

O King! as long as the waters in the ocean exist in this world, shall the sons of Sagara, live in heavens like gods.
iyaṅ ca duhitā jyēṣṭhā tava gaṅgā bhaviṣyati .

tvatkṛtēna ca nāmnā.tha lōkē sthāsyati viśrutā৷৷1.44.5৷৷


iyam this, gaṅgā Ganga, tava your, jyēṣṭhā eldest, duhitā daughter, bhaviṣyati will become, atha from now onwards, tvatkṛtēna formed out of your, nāmnā name, lōkē in this world, viśrutā well-known, sthāsyati will stay on.

This Ganga will become your eldest daughter and from now on she will be well-known in this world (as Bhagirathi) after your name.
gaṅgā tripathagā rājan divyā bhāgīrathīti ca.

trīn pathō bhāvayantīti tatastripathagā smṛtā৷৷1.44.6৷৷


rājan O! King, divyā divine, gaṅgā Ganga, tripathagā known as Tripathaga, bhāgīrathīti ca also as Bhagirathi, trīn in three, patha: paths, bhāvayantī iti since she covers by flowing and purifying, tata: therefore, tripathagā Tripathaga, smṛtā has been known as.

O King! divine Ganga will be called Tripathaga as well as Bhagirathi. Since she flows in the three worlds (heaven, earth and the lower world: Patala), she will be known as
Tripathaga.
pitāmahānāṅ sarvēṣāṅ tvamatra manujādhipa! .

kuruṣva salilaṅ rājan! pratijñāmapavarjaya৷৷1.44.7৷৷


manujādhipa! O! Lord of men, rājan O! King, tvam you, atra here, sarvēṣām for all, pitāmahānām ancestors, salilaṅ offerings with waters, kuruṣva perform, pratijñām your vow, apavarjaya fulfil.

O Lord of men! O King! you may offer the waters of Ganga here to all your ancestors and thereby fulfil your vow.
pūrvakēṇa hi tē rājaṅstēnātiyaśasā tadā.

dharmiṇāṅ pravarēṇāpi naiṣa prāptō manōratha:৷৷1.44.8৷৷


rājan O! King, tē your, pūrvakēṇa ancestor, atiyaśasā by the highly renowned, dharmiṇām among righteous ones, pravarēṇā foremost, tēnāpi even by him, tadā then, ēṣa: this, manōratha: desire, na prāpta: was not obtained.

O King! by the highly renowned ancestors of yours, the foremost among righteous ones (even Sagara) this desire has not been fulfilled.
tathaivāṅśumatā tāta! lōkē.pratimatējasā.

gaṅgāṅ prārthayatānētuṅ pratijñā nāpavarjitā৷৷1.44.9৷৷


tāta O! Child, tathaiva similarly, lōkē in this world, apratimatējasā by the one possessing unparalleled prowess, gaṅgām Ganga, ānētum for bringing, prārthayatā cherished, aṅśumatā by Anshuman's, pratijñā vow, nāpavarjitā could not be completed.

O Child! similarly though Anshuman possessed unparalleled prowess in this world his prayer to Ganga, his vow could not be fulfilled.
rājarṣiṇā guṇavatā maharṣisamatējasā.

mattulyatapasā caiva kṣatradharmasthitēna ca৷৷1.44.10৷৷

dilīpēna mahābhāga! tava pitrā.ti tējasā.

punarna śaṅkitā.nētuṅ gaṅgāṅ prārthayatā.nagha!৷৷1.44.11৷৷


anagha O! Sinless one, mahābhāga O! Blessed one, rājārṣiṇā by the royal saint, guṇavatā virtuous, maharṣisamatējasā possessing the splendour of a maharshi, mattulyatapasā equal to me in austerities, kṣatradharmasthitēna abiding in the duties of a Kshatriya, atitējasā by the highly lustrous, gaṅgām Ganga, prārthayatā beseeching, tava your, pitrā by father, dilīpēna by Dilipa, mahābhāga O! Distinguished one, ānētuṅ puna: for bringing, na śaṅkitā it was not made possible.

O Sinless one (Bhagiratha)! O Distinguished one! on the part of Dilipa brilliant your father who had the virtuous of a rajarshi, who was equal to a maharshi in splendour, and to me in austerities and abiding to the duties of a kshatriya it was even not possible to bring Ganga through prayer.
sā tvayā samanukrāntā pratijñā puruṣarṣabha!.

prāptō.si paramaṅ lōkē yaśa: paramasammatam৷৷1.44.12৷৷


puruṣarṣabha O! Best among men, sā pratijñā that vow, tvayā by you, samanukrāntā has been kept up, lōkē in this world, paramasammatam highly acceptable, paramam supreme, yaśa: fame, prāpta: asi you have obtained.

O Best among men! you have fulfilled that vow. You have achieved supreme renown
and reverence in this world.
yacca gaṅgāvataraṇaṅ tvayā kṛtamarindama.

anēna ca bhavān prāptō dharmasyāyatanaṅ mahat৷৷1.44.13৷৷


arindama O! Destroyer of enemies, tvayā by you, yat since, gaṅgāvataraṇam descent of Ganga, kṛtam has been materialised, anēna by this, bhavān you, dharmasya of dharma, mahat great, āyatanam sacred place, prāpta: have obtained.

O Destroyer of enemies! by bringing about the descent of Ganga, you have secured a great abode in dharma.
plāvayasva tvamātmānaṅ narōttama! sadōcitē.

salilē puruṣavyāghra! śuci: puṇyaphalō bhava৷৷1.44.14৷৷


narōttama O! Best among men, puruṣavyāghra O! Tiger among men, ucitē in a befitting, salilē waters, sadā always, tvam you, ātmānam yourself, plāvayasva take bath by dipping and floating later, śuci: purifying yourself, puṇyaphala: bhava acquire holiness.

O Best among men! O Tiger among men! take a dip in the eternally sacred waters, purify yourself and acquire holiness.
pitāmahānāṅ sarvēṣāṅ kuruṣva salilakriyām.

svasti tē.stu gamiṣyāmi svaṅ lōkaṅ gamyatāṅ nṛpa!৷৷1.44.15৷৷


sarvēṣāṅ for all, pitāmahānām forefathers, salilakriyām rites with waters, kuruṣva perform, tē to you, svasti safety, gamiṣyāmi I shall go, nṛpa O! King, svaṅ lōkam towards your region, gamyatām you shall go.

O King! perform the rites of all your forefathers with the waters (of Ganga), farewell. I shall return to my world (now). Go back, O King" (said Grandsire)!
bhagīrathō.pi rājarṣi: kṛtvā salilamuttamam.

yathākramaṅ yathānyāyaṅ sāgarāṇāṅ mahāyaśā:৷৷1.44.17৷৷

kṛtōdakaśśucī rājā svapuraṅ pravivēśa ha.

samṛddhārthō raghuśrēṣṭha svarājyaṅ praśaśāsa ha৷৷1.44.18৷৷


rājarṣi: royal saint, mahāyaśā: highly famous, rājā king, bhagīrathō.pi Bhagiratha also, yathākramam following proper order, yathānyāyam following the tradition, sāgarāṇām for the sons of Sagara, uttamam highest, salilam rites with sacred water, kṛtvā having performed, kṛtōdaka: having performed ablutions, śuci: a purified man, svapuram his own city, pravivēśa ha entered, raghuśrēṣṭha O! Rama, samṛddhārtha: having fulfilled his desire, svarājyam his kingdom, praśaśāsa ha ruled.

The illustrious rajarshi Bhagiratha, performed the rites of offering the sacred water of Ganga, in accordance with proper order and tradition for the sons of Sagara. Purified with the ablutions entered his own city." O Best of the Raghus! his desire thus fulfilled he continued to rule the kingdom thereafter".
pramumōda ha lōkastaṅ nṛpamāsādya rāghava!.

naṣṭaśōkassamṛddhārthō babhūva vigatajvara:৷৷1.44.19৷৷


rāghava O! Rama, tam him, nṛpam as king, āsādya having obtained, lōka: the world, pramumōda rejoiced, samṛddhārtha: having achieved his desire, vigatajvara: freed from mental afflictions, naṣṭaśōka: with his sorrows mitigated, babhūva became.

"O Best of the Raghus! the world rejoiced having Bhagiratha as king. With his purpose achieved, he was freed from all mental afflictions and sorrows and thereafter lived happily.
ēṣa tē rāma gaṅgāyā vistarō.bhihitō mayā.

svasti prāpnuhi bhadraṅ tē saṅdhyākālō.tivartatē৷৷1.44.20৷৷


rāma O! Rama, gaṅgāyā: Ganga's, ēṣa: this, vistara: detailed story, mayā by me, tē to you, abhihita: has been mentioned, svasti well-being to you, prāpnuhi you may receive, tē to you, bhadram prosperity, saṅdhyākāla: evening time (proper for doing ablutions ), ativartatē is passing by.

O Rama! I have related you the story of Ganga in detail. Evening time is passing by (and we shall perform the ablutions) farewell.
dhanyaṅ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṅ putryaṅ svargyamatīva ca.

yaśśrāvayati viprēṣu kṣatriyēṣvitarēṣu ca৷৷1.44.21৷৷

prīyantē pitarastasya prīyantē daivatāni ca.


dhanyam conferring prosperity, yaśasyam brings fame, āyuṣyam confers longevity, putryam is capable of leading to progeny, atīva very much, svargyam leading to heaven, ya: this story, viprēṣu for brahmins, kṣatriyēṣu Kshatriyas, itarēṣu ca others also, śrāvayati relates, tasya his, pitara: forefathers, prīyantē would be pleased, daivatāni ca devatas also, prīyantē will be pleased.

He will be blessed with fame, longevity, progeny and (after death) heaven brahmins One who recites this story of Ganga to the kshatriyas and others, the gods and his forefathers would be pleased with him.
idamākhyānamavyagrō gaṅgāvataraṇaṅ śubham৷৷1.44.22৷৷

yaśśṛṇōti ca kākutstha sarvān kāmānavāpnuyāt.

sarvē pāpā: praṇaśyanti āyu: kīrtiśca vardhatē৷৷1.44.23৷৷


kākutstha O! Rama, idam this, śubham sacred, gaṅgāvataraṇam relating to the descent of Ganga, ākhyānam story, ya: who, avyagra: with concentration of mind, śṛṇōti listens, sarvān all, kāmān desires, avāpnuyāt he may obtain, sarvē all, pāpā: sins, praṇaśyanti are destroyed, āyu: longevity, kīrtiśca fame also, vardhatē will increase.

O Son of the Kakusthas! whosoever listens to this auspicious story relating to the descent of Ganga with concentration, all his desires will be achieved, his sins will be destroyed and his longevity and fame will increase".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē catuścatvāriṅśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the fortyfourth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.