srivalmikiramayanam - balakanda - sarga 41 to 43

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

( Translation and Commentary by Scholar,   Sreeman Brahmasree Desiraju Hanumantharao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasree K M K Murthy ji )

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

Sree Valmiki Ramayana

courtesy from

Sree Brahmasri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasri K M K Murthy ji

Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 41

Introduction

Amshuman's search for horse reveals that Kapila rendered his paternal-uncles to ashes. When he wanted to offer water oblation as obsequies to their souls he did not find water. Then Garuda, the Eagle-vehicle of Vishnu and maternal uncle of Amshuman advises him to get River Ganga onto earth whereby the souls are cleansed and they go to heaven. Amshuman reports the same to King Sagara, but Sagara not finding any way to get River Ganga onto earth departs to heaven at the end of his time.

putraan cira gataan j~naatvaa sagaro raghuna.ndana |
naptaaram abraviit raajaa diipyamaanam sva tejasaa || 1-41-1

"On observing that his sons have gone long time back in search of ritual-horse, oh, Rama, king Sagara spoke this to his grandson, Amshuman, who is radiant with his own self-resplendence." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about Sagara. [1-41-1]

shuuraH ca kR^ita vidyaH ca puurvaiH tulyo asi tejasaa |
pitR^iNaam gatim anvicCha yena ca ashvo apahaaritaH || 1-41-2

" 'You are brave one and completed your education in warfare, such as you are, you are a coequal to your paternal-uncles in magnificence, thus you search the course of your paternal uncles, also him by whom the horse is stolen.' Thus King Sagara started speaking to his grandson Amshuman. [1-41-2]

antar bhaumaani sattvaani viiryavanti mahaanti ca |
teSaam tvam pratighaata artham sa asim gR^ihNiiSva kaarmukam || 1-41-3

" 'The living beings in netherworlds of earth are intrepid and they are extraordinary also, hence you take your bow along with your sword to retaliate them in the event of their attacking you. [1-41-3]

abhivaadya abhivaadyaan tvam hatvaa vighna karaan api |
siddhaarthaH sa.mnivartasva mama yaj~nasya paaragaH || 1-41-4

" 'On saluting them that are worthy for salutations, and on eliminating them that are the causer of obstructions, you shall achieve your purpose of tracking the ritual-horse, and thus you comeback safely and let my Vedic-ritual be crossed over to the other shore of mortality by you.' Thus king Sagara told his grandson Amshuman. [1-41-4]

evam ukto a.mshumaan samyak sagareNa mahaatmanaa |
dhanur aadaaya khaDgam ca jagaama laghuvikramaH || 1-41-5

"When the great-souled king Sagara has thoroughly said in this way, that adroitly agile Amshuman proceeded wielding a bow and a sword. [1-41-5]

sa khaatam pitR^ibhiH maargam antar bhaumam mahaatmabhiH |
praapadyata narashreSTha tena raaj~naa abhicoditaH || 1-41-6

"Motivated by the King Sagara, oh, Rama, the best one among men, Amshuman progressed on the walkway that was hollowed out by his great-souled paternal-uncles inside the earth. [1-41-6]

deva daanava rakSobhiH pishaaca pataga uragaiH |
puujyamaanam mahaatejaa dishaa gajam apashyata || 1-41-7

"And he that resplendent Amshuman beheld one of the four directional elephant of the earth which is being venerated by gods, monsters, demons, imps, vultures and serpents. [1-41-7]

sa tam pradakSiNam kR^itvaa pR^iSTvaa caiva niraamayam |
pitR^iin sa paripapracCha vaaji hartaaram eva ca || 1-41-8

On circumambulating that elephant in supplication, and even on enquiring after its well-being, he that Amshuman has enquired in detail with it for his paternal-uncles and even about the robber of the ritual-horse. [1-41-8]

dishaa gajaH tu tat shrutvaa pratyuvaaca mahaamatiH |
aasama.nja kR^itaarthaH tvam saha ashvaH shiighram eSyasi || 1-41-9

"On hearing that enquiry of Amshuman that directional elephant with great perception replied on its part saying, 'oh Amshuman, son of Asamanja, on achieving your mission you will return expeditiously along with the horse. [1-41-9]

tasya tad vacanam shrutvaa sarvaan eva dishaa gajaan |
yathaa kramam yathaa nyaayam praSTum samupacakrame || 1-41-10

"On hearing that word of that directional elephant he departed from there, and on sequentially reaching other directional elephants that are abiding in other directions of earth, he commenced to ask the same enquiry which he made with the first, according to the positioning of elephants in directions, and according to the established procedures of their venerability. [1-41-10]

taiH ca sarvaiH dishaa paalaiH vaakyaj~naiH vaakyakovidaiH |
puujitaH sa hayaH caiva gantaa asi iti abhicoditaH || 1-41-11

.

"All the elephants that safeguard the directions of earth which have the faculties of articulation and eloquence have adored Amshuman and motivated him by saying, 'you will be going from here taking the horse.' [1-41-11]

teSaam tat vacanam shrutvaa jagaama laghuvikramaH |
bhasma raashii kR^itaa yatra pitaraH tasya saagaraaH || 1-41-12

"On hearing that common blessing of all the directional-elephants, he that nimble-footed Amshuman has gone to the place where his paternal-uncles, sons of Sagara, were rendered as mounds of ashes. [1-41-12]

sa duHkha vasham aapannaH tu asama.nja sutaH tadaa |
cukrosha parama aartaH tu vadhaat teSaam suduHkhitaH || 1-41-13

"But he on whom the control of anguish has chanced for not physically seeing his paternal-uncles, that son of Asamanja then wept, as he is highly agonised and extremely anguished at their destruction. [1-41-13]

yaj~niyam ca hayam tatra carantam aviduurataH |
dadarsha puruSavyaaghro duHkha shoka samanvitaH || 1-41-14

"That tigerly-man Amshuman who is overwhelmed by agony and anguish, also beheld there the horse of Vedic-ritual that is grazing nearby. [1-41-14]

sa teSaam raaja putraaNaam kartu kaamo jala kriyaam |
sa jalaartham mahaatejaa na ca apashyat jala aashayam || 1-41-15

"When he that great resplendent Amshuman wanted to offer obsequial waters to the departed sons of Sagara and searched for water he has not found any fount of water. [1-41-15]

visaarya nipuNaam dR^iSTim tato apashyat khaga adhipam |
pitR^iNaam maatulam raama suparNam anila upamam || 1-41-16

"Spanning his expert glances, oh, Rama, he then saw the rapid-winged king of birds, namely Garuda, the Eagle-vehicle of Vishnu, who is the maternal uncle of his father and other paternal-uncles, and whose flight will be similar to that of the Wind-god. [1-41-16]

sa ca enam abraviit vaakyam vainateyo mahaabalaH |
maa shucaH puruSavyaaghra vadho ayam loka sammataH || 1-41-17

"That great-mighty son of Lady Vinata, namely Garuda, also spoke this word to Amshuman, 'do not bemoan, oh, tigerly-man, this eradication of your paternal-uncles is worthwhile to the worlds. [1-41-17]

kapilena aprameyeNa dagdhaa hi ime mahaabalaaH |
salilam na ar.hhasi praaj~na daatum eSaam hi laukikam || 1-41-18

.

" 'In fact, Kapila, the Imponderable Sage, has burnt down those great-mighty paternal-uncles of yours, oh, observant Amshuman, as such it will not be apt of you to offer the mundane obsequial water-oblations to them, indeed. [1-41-18]

ga.ngaa himavato jyeSThaa duhitaa puruSarSabha |
tasyaam kuru mahaabaaho pitR^INaam tu jala kriyaam || 1-41-19

" 'Oh, best one among men, River Ganga is the elder daughter of Himavanta, and oh, dextrous one, you have to offer water-oblation to the departed paternal-uncles of yours in her waters, namely the holy waters of River Ganga. [1-41-19]

bhasma raashii kR^itaan etaan paavayet loka kaa.ntayaa |
tayaa klinnam idam bhasma ga.ngayaa loka kaantayaa |
SaSTim putra sahasraaNi svarga lokam gamiSyati || 1-41-20

" 'World purifier River Ganga will drift them who are rendered as mounds of ashes to heaven, and when she who is much adored by all worlds drenches this ash, that River Ganga herself will lead the sixty-thousand sons of Sagara to heaven. [1-41-20]

nir.hgacCha ca ashvam mahaabhaaga sa.mgR^ihya puruSarSabha |
yaj~nam paitaamaham viira nirvartayitum arhasi || 1-41-21

" 'Oh, great fortunate one, oh, best one among men, you may proceed from here with the horse, oh, brave one, it will be apt of you to carry out the Vedic-ritual of your grandfather.' Thus Garuda said to Amshuman. [1-41-21]

suparNa vacanam shrutvaa saH a.mshumaan ativiiryavaan |
tvaritam hayam aadaaya punar aayaat mahaayashaaH || 1-41-22

"On hearing the words of that great-winged eagle, Garuda, he that highly brave and well-renowned Amshuman swiftly took the horse, and returned to the ritual place of his grandfather, king Sagara. [1-41-22]

tato raajaanam aasaadya diikSitam raghuna.ndana |
nyavedayat yathaa vR^ittam suparNa vacanam tathaa || 1-41-23

"Then on reaching the King Sagara, who is under the vow of the ritual, oh, Rama, Amshuman described what all has happened and even the words of Garuda. [1-41-23]

tat shrutvaa ghora sa.mkaasham vaakyam a.mshumato nR^ipaH |
yaj~nam nirvartayaamaasa yathaa kalpam yathaa vidhi || 1-41-24

"On hearing those unendurable words from Amshuman, the king Sagara firstly completed the Vedic-ritual scripturally and procedurally. [1-41-24]

sva puram ca agamat shriimaan iSTa yaj~no mahiipatiH |
ga.ngaayaaH ca aagame raajaa nishcayam na adhyagacChata || 1-41-25

"On completing the Vedic-ritual King Sagara arrived at his capital, but that king could not arrive at a decision about the arrival of Ganga to the earth. [1-41-25]

agatvaa nishcayam raajaa kaalena mahataa mahaan |
tri.mshat varSa sahasraaNi raajyam kR^itvaa divam gataH || 1-41-26

.

"That great king Sagara could not get at any resolve in getting Ganga to earth even after a long time, and on ruling kingdom for thirty-thousand years he went to heaven." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about the ancestors of Rama. [1-41-26]

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe eka catvaari.mshaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 41st chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 42

Introduction

Bhageeratha's effort for bringing Ganga to earth is fulfilled. Amshuman and his son Dileepa could not make any effort to bring the divine river to earth. But Bhageeratha, the son of Dileepa, staunch at heart tries earnestly to get her onto earth. Brahma agreeing for this descent of Ganga designates lord Shiva to bear the burden of the onrush of Ganga, because the earth cannot sustain it

kaaladharmam gate raama sagare prakR^itii janaaH |
raajaanam rocayaamaasur amshumantam sudhaarmikam || 1-42-1

"When King Sagara passed away owing to the irrefutable virtue of Time, the ministers and subjects of that kingdom are predisposed towards the highly honourable Amshuman to become their king and they enthroned him accordingly." Thus Vishvamitra continued narration about the predecessors of Rama. [1-42-1]

sa raajaa sumahaan aasiit a.mshumaan raghuna.ndana |
tasya putro mahaan aasiit diliipa iti vishrutaH || 1-42-2

"He that Amshuman turned out to be a very great king, and oh, Rama of Raghu's dynasty, he begot a marvellous son who is renowned as Dileepa. [1-42-2]

tasmai raajyam samaadishya diliipe raghuna.ndana |
himavat shikhare ramye tapaH tepe sudaaruNam || 1-42-3

"Assigning the kingdom to Dileepa, oh, Rama of Raghu's dynasty, Amshuman undertook very stern ascesis on a pleasant peak of Himalayas desiring the descent of River Ganga to earth. [1-42-3]

dvaa tri.mshat sahasraam varSaaNi sumahaa yashaaH |
tapovana gato raajaa svargam lebhe tapodhanaH || 1-42-4

"On practising ascesis in ascetic-woods for thirty-two thousand years that highly renowned king Amshuman achieved heaven as he acquired only the wealth of practising the ascesis. [1-42-4]

Instead of achieving reward of ascesis in the form of descent of River Ganga, he could achieve only his personal merit of his penance, namely an abode in heaven.

diliipaH tu mahaatejaaH shrutvaa paitaamaham vadham |
duHkha upahatayaa buddhyaa nishcayam na adhyagacChata || 1-42-5

"The great resplendent Dileepa on hearing the elimination of his grandfathers, the sixty thousand sons of Sagara at the hand of sage Kapila, and with a mind that is marred by the plight of his father Amshuman in absolving the souls of Sagara's sons, he that Dileepa could not arrive at any decision concerning the descent of Ganga. [1-42-5]

katham ga.ngaa avataraNam katham teSaa.m jalakriyaa |
taarayeyam katham ca etaan iti ci.ntaaparo abhavat || 1-42-6

"Dileepa became worried as to how River Ganga is to be alighted onto earth from heaven, how water-oblations are to be offered for the souls of Sagara's sons, and how to cross them, the souls, over this mortal world. [1-42-6]

tasya ci.ntayato nityam dharmeNa vidita aatmanaH |
putro bhagiiratho naama jaj~ne parama dhaarmikaH ||1-42-7

.

"To him who is self-mortified and who is always thinking righteously about the alight of Ganga onto earth, to such a Dileepa a most-virtuous son is born who is renowned by his name Bhageeratha. [1-42-7]

diliipaH tu mahaatejaa yaj~naiH bahubhiH iSTavaan |
tri.mshat varSa sahasraaNi raajaa raajyam akaarayat || 1-42-8

.

"That great-resplendent king Dileepa on his part performed numerous Vedic-rituals, and he ruled the kingdom for thirty thousand years - to the delight of each of his subjects, but could not find a way to fetch Ganga. [1-42-8]

agatvaa nishcayam raajaa teSaam uddharaNam prati |
vyaadhinaa nara shaarduula kaala dharmam upeyivaan || 1-42-9

"Oh, tigerly-man Rama, that king Dileepa by not attaining any choice towards the uplifting the souls of his grandparents to heaven by bringing Ganga to earth, he took to illness, and he attained the ultimate virtue of Time, namely the demise. [1-42-9]

indralokam gato raajaa sva ar.hjitena eva karmaNaa |
rajye bhagiiratham putram abhiSicya nararSabhaH || 1-42-10

"That best one among men, namely king Dileepa, on anointing his son Bhageeratha in the kingdom went to the abode of Indra, namely the heaven, only by his self-acquired merits of deeds. [1-42-10]

bhagiirathaH tu raajarSiH dhaarmiko raghuna.ndana |
anapatyo mahaarajaaH prajaa kaamaH sa ca prajaaH || 1-42-11

"Oh, Rama, the legatee of Raghu, but on his part that self-righteous and kingly-sage Bhageeratha is childless, and that great king longed-for offspring. [1-42-11]

ma.ntriShu aadhaaya tat rajyam ga~Nga avataraNe rataH|
tapo diirgham samaatiSThat gokarNe raghuna.ndana || 1-42-12
uurdhva baahuH pa.nca tapaa maasa aahaaro jiteindriyaH |

"Interested in the alighting of River Ganga on earth, oh, Rama, the descendent of Raghu, king Bhageeratha delegated his kingdom to the custody of his ministers and people and firmed up himself in sustained asceticism on Mt. Gokarna in Himalayas, and he practise ascesis standing amid five-fires, upraising his hands, with a monthly sustenance and with his sense conquered. [1-42-12, 13a]

The five-fires are panca agni-s the four earthly fires in four corners of directions and the sun's fire overhead.

tasya varSa sahasraaNi ghore tapasi tiSThataH || 1-42-13
atiitaani mahabaho tasya raaj~no mahaatmanaH |
supriito bhagavaan brahmaa prajaanaam patiH iishvaraH || 1-42-14

"Thousands of years have rolled by while Bhageeratha stood practising his severe ascesis, oh, dextrous Rama, and then the lord and master of all beings, namely god Brahma, is well pleased with that great-souled king's ascesis. [1-42-13b, 14]

tataH sura gaNaiH saardham upaagamya pitaamahaH |
bhagiiratham mahaatmaanam tapyamaanam atha abraviit || 1-42-15

"Forefather Brahma then arrived along with assemblages of gods, and spoke this way to the great-souled Bhageeratha who is deep in the practise of ascesis. [1-42-15]

bhagiiratha mahaaraaja priitaH te aham janaadhipa |
tapasaa ca sutaptena varam varaya suvrata || 1-42-16

" 'Oh, great king Bhageeratha, oh, lord of the people, I am delighted with the perfectly conducted ascesis of yours, hence oh, truly committed one, you may beseech for a boon. [1-42-16]

tam uvaaca mahaatejaaH sarvaloka pitaamaham |
bhagiiratho mahaabaahuH kR^ita a.njalipuTaH sthitaH || 1-42-17

"That great resplendent and highly fortunate king Bhageeratha then remaining with suppliantly adjoined palm fold spoke to him who is the Forefather of all worlds, namely Brahma. [1-42-17]

yadi me bhagavaan priito yadi asti tapasaH phalam |
sagarasya aatmajaaH sarve mattaH salilam aapnuyuH || 1-42-18

" 'Oh, god, if you are satisfied with my ascesis, and if there is any fruition to the ascesis of mine, let all the sons of Sagara get water oblations through me. [1-42-18]

gangaayaaH salila klinne bhasmani eSaam mahaatmanaam |
svargam gacCheyur atya.ntam sarve me prapitaamahaaH || 1-42-19

" 'While the ashes of these great souls are drenched with the waters of Ganga, let all of those great-grandfathers of mine depart to heaven, eternally. [1-42-19]

deva yaace ha sa.ntatyai na avasiidet kulam ca naH |
ikSvaakuuNaam kule deva eSa me astu varaH paraH || 1-42-20

" 'Oh, god, I indeed pray for offspring in our Ikshvaku dynasty, let not our dynasty dwindle as I am issueless, and oh, god, let this be the other boon to me. [1-42-20]

ukta vaakyam tu raajaanam sarvaloka pitaamahaH |
pratyuvaaca shubhaam vaaNiim madhuram madhura akSaraam || 1-42-21

"The Forefather of all the worlds, Brahma, then replied the king who has spoken in that way, in an auspicious tongue that is sweet-sounding and sweetly worded, as well. [1-42-21]

manoratho mahaan eSa bhagiiratha mahaaratha |
evam bhavatu bhadram te ikSvaaku kula vardhana || 1-42-22

" 'Oh, top-speeded chariot-rider Bhageeratha, this aspiration of yours is sublime, and oh, the furtherer of Ikshvaku dynasty, so be it, let safeness betide you. [1-42-22]

iyam haimavatii jyeSThaa ga.ngaa himavataH sutaa |
taam vai dhaarayitum raajan haraH tatra niyujyataam || 1-42-23

" 'This Ganga is the one with snow-broth, the elder daughter of Himavanta, and oh, king Bhageeratha, god Shiva alone is capable to sustain her force in the course of her alighting onto earth, and in fact, he is to be commissioned for that purpose. [1-42-23]

ga.ngaayaaH patanam raajan pR^ithivii na sahiSyate |
taam vai dhaarayitum raajan na anyam pashyaami shuulinaH || 1-42-24

" 'Oh, king Bhageeratha, the earth cannot endure the downfall of Ganga and to sustain Ganga, oh, king, indeed I do not behold none other than the Trident-wielder, god Shiva.' Thus Brahma spoke to Bhageeratha. [1-42-24]

tam evam uktvaa raajaanam ga.ngaam ca aabhaaSya lokakR^it |
jagaama tridivam devaiH sarvaiH saha marut gaNaiH || 1-42-25

Speaking this way to the king Bhageeratha and informally greeting Ganga also, that Creator of Worlds, Brahma, left for heaven along with all the groups of gods and Wind-gods." Thus Vishvamitra continued narration about the arrival of River Ganga to earth. [1-42-25]

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe dvi catvaari.mshaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 42nd chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 43

Introduction

Ganga descends to earth by the extraordinary effort of Bhageeratha. Shiva agrees to the alighting of Ganga on His head and from where she is released into a lake called Bindusarovar, and from there she flows in seven courses. On land Bhageeratha ushers her up to netherworld dug by his ancestors where heaps of ashes of his grandparents are there, and she enters accordingly to inundate those mounds of ashes according salvation to the souls.

deva deve gate tasmin so a.nguSTha 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]

Bhageeratha stood on one big-toe with an unwavering intent and bodily movement, and with his hands upraised in prayer for a period of one year by day and night, sustaining himself on mere air, and thus his yogic concentration increased and that alone pressurised the earth.

atha sa.mvatsare 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]

priitaH te aham narashreSTha kariSyaami tava priyam |
shirasaa dhaarayiSyaami 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]

tato haimavatii jyeSThaa 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]

acintayaH ca saa devii ga.nga parama dur.hdharaa ||1-43-5
vishaami aham hi paataalam strotasaa gR^ihya sha.nkaram |

"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]

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]

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]

saa katha.mcit mahiim ga.ntum na ashak.hnot yatnam aasthitaa ||1-43-8
na eva saa nirgamam lebhe jaTaa maNDala a.ntataH |

"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]

tatra eva aaba.mbhramat devii sa.mvatsara 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]

sa tena toShitaH ca asiit atya.ntam raghuna.mdana || 1-43-10
visasarja tato ga.ngaam 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]

tasyam visR^iujyamaanaayaam sapta srota.msi jaj~nire || 1-43-11
hlaadinii paavanii caiva nalinii ca tathaa eva ca |
tisraH praaciim disham jagmuH ga.ngaaH 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]

suchakshuH ca eva siitaa ca sindhuH ca eva mahaanadii |
tisraH etaa disham jagmuH pratiichiim tu shubha udakaaH ||1-43-13

"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]

saptamii ca anvagaat taasam bhagiiratha ratham tadaa |
bhagiiratho api rajar.hSi divyam sya.ndanam aasthitaH || 1-43-14
praayaat agre mahaatejaa ga.nga tam ca api anuvrajat |

"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]

gaganaat sha.nkara shiraH tato dharaNim aagataa || 1-43-15
asarpata jalam tatra tiivra shabda puraskR^itam |

"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]

The River Ganga is also called as tri patha gaa 'she courses in three ways...' of which one kind of thinking is that she flowed from Himalayas to heaven, from heaven to Shiva's head and from there to earth. In the above context also, she is said to have the three-way-flow, i.e., one is eastward flow, second westward flow and the third is southward flow as led by Bhageeratha. The westward river Sindhu is the Indus and the eastward Nalini, which is now called as river Brahmaputra, while Ganga proper courses a little to south to move towards the ocean.

matsya kacChapa sa.nghaiH ca shishumaara gaNaiH tathaa || 1-43-16
patadbhiH patitaiH ca eva vyarocata vasu.mdharaa |

"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]

tato deva R^iSi ga.ndharvaa yakSa siddha gaNaaH tathaa || 1-43-17
vyalokayanta te tatra gaganaat gaam gataam tadaa |

"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]

vimaanaiH nagara aakaaraiH hayaiH gaja varaiH tathaa ||1-43-18
paariplava gataaH ca api devataaH tatra viSThitaaH |

.

"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]

tat adbhutatamam loke ga.ngaa avataram uttamam ||1-43-19
didR^ikSavo deva gaNaaH samiiyuH amita ojasaH |

"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]

sa.mpatadbhiH sura gaNaiH teSaam ca aabharaNa ojasaa || 1-43-20
shata aadityam iva aabhaati gaganam gata toyadam |

"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]

shi.mshumaara uraga gaNaiH miinaiH api ca ca.ncalaiH || 1-43-21
vidyudbhiH iva vikSiptaiH aakaasham abhavat tadaa |

"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]

paaNDuraiH salila utpiiDaiH kiiryamaaNaiH sahasradhaa ||1-43-22
shaarada abhraiH iva aakriiNam gaganam ha.msa sa.mplavaiH |

.

"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]

kvacit drutataram yaati kuTilam kvacit aayatam ||1-43-23
vinatam kvacit uddhuutam kvacit yaati shanaiH shanaiH |

"Somewhere Ganga is coursing precipitately, elsewhere sinuously, somewhere else staightly, elsewhere sloppily, somewhere gushingly, and somewhere else her cruise is leisurely and tardily. [1-43-23b, 24a]

Vividly

"Somewhere Ganga is coursing precipitately in declivities, elsewhere sinuously on zigzag lands, somewhere else staightly 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.

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]

tat sha.mkara shiro bhraSTam bhraSTam bhuumi tale punaH ||1-43-25
vyarocata tadaa toyam nirmalam gata kalmaSam |

.

"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]

tatra R^iSi gaNa gandharvaa vasudhaa tala vaasinaH 1-43-26
bhava a.nga 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]

shaapaat prapatitaa ye ca gaganaat vasudhaa talam ||1-43-27
kR^itvaa tatra abhiSekam te babhuuvuH gata kalmaSaaH |

"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]

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]

mumude mudito lokaH tena toyena bhaasvataa || 1-43-29
kR^ita abhiSeko ga.ngaayaam babhuuva gata kalmaSaH |

"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]

bhagiiratho raajarSiH divyam sya.ndanam aasthitaH ||1-43-30
praayaat agre mahaaraajaaH tam ga.ngaa pR^iSThato 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]

This verse is almost similar to the verse No. 14 above. But here, the continuous actions of both the leader and the led are implied with ellipses - 'in this way', and 'continuously.'

devaaH sa R^iSi gaNaaH sarve daitya daanava raakSasaaH || 1-43-31
gandharva yakSa pravaraaH sa ki.nnara mahoragaaH |
sarpaaH ca apsaraso raama bhagiiratha ratha anugaaH || 1-43-32
ga.ngaam 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]

yato bhagiiratho raajaa tato ga.ngaa yashasvinii || 1-43-33
jagaama saritaam shreSThaa sarva paapa praNaashinii |

.

"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]

tato hi yajamaanasya jahnoH adbhuta karmaNaH ||1-43-34
ga.nga sa.mplaavayaamaasa yaj~na vaaTam mahatmanaH |

.

"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]

tasayaa valepanam j~natva kR^iddho jahnuH ca raaghava || 1-43-35
apibat tu jalam sarvam ga.ngayaaH parama adbhutam |

"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]

tato devaaH sa ga.ngharva R^iSayaH ca su vismitaaH || 1-43-36
puujayanti mahatmanam jahnum puruSha sattamam |
ga.ngam ca api nayanti sma duhitR^itve mahaatmanaH || 1-43-37

"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]

tataH tuSTaH mahaatejaaH shrotraabhyaam asR^iujat prabhuH |
tasmaat jahnu sutaa ga.nga procyate jaahnavii iti ca || 1-43-38

"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]

jagaama ca punaH ga.nga bhagiiratha ratha anugaa |
saagaram ca api sa.mpraptaa saa sarit pravaraa tadaa ||1-43-39
rasaatalam upaagacChat siddhyartham tasya karmaNaH |

"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]

Some take the word saagaram as the netherworld dug by the sons of Sagara and omit the mention of her ocean-bound travel.

bhagiiratho api rajaarSi ga.ngam aadaaya yatnataH || 1-43-40
pitamahaan bhasma krutam apashyat gata chetanaH |

"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]

atha tat bhasmanaam raashim ga.nga salilam uttamam |
plaavayat puuta paapmaanaH svargam praptaa raghu uttama ||1-43-41

.

"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]

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe tri catvaarimshaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 43rd chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

(I Humbly bow to the  lotus feet of both of them

for the collection)