१.४२.१
देवदेवे गते तस्मिन्सोऽङ्गुष्ठाग्रनिपीडिताम् ।
कृत्वा वसुमतीं राम संवत्सरमुपासत ॥
कृत्वा वसुमतीं राम संवत्सरमुपासत ॥
Summary
AI
O Rāma, after the God of gods (Brahmā) departed, King Bhagīratha performed penance for a year, keeping the earth pressed down with only the tip of his big toe.
M N Dutt
When that god of gods had gone away, Bhagiratha, O Rāma, pressing the earth with his thumb, spent a year in adoring Siva.
१.४२.२
अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः ।
उमापतिः पशुपती राजानमिदमब्रवीत् ॥
उमापतिः पशुपती राजानमिदमब्रवीत् ॥
Summary
AI
Then, when the year was complete, Śiva (Umāpati, Paśupati), who is worshipped by all the worlds, spoke these words to the King.
M N Dutt
And when the yea was complete, Uma's lord, Pasupati, worshipped of all the worlds, spoke to the king, saying,
१.४२.३
प्रीतस्तेऽहं नरश्रेष्ठ करिष्यामि तव प्रियम् ।
शिरसा धारयिष्यामि शैलराजसुतामहम् ॥
शिरसा धारयिष्यामि शैलराजसुतामहम् ॥
Summary
AI
"O best of men, I am pleased with you and shall do what is dear to you. I shall sustain the daughter of the King of Mountains (Gaṅgā) upon my head."
M N Dutt
O foremost of men, I am well pleased with you: I will do what will before your welfare. I will hold the Mountain's daughter on my head.
१.४२.४
ततो हैमवती ज्येष्ठा सर्वलोकनमस्कृता ।
तदा सातिमहद्रूपं कृत्वा वेगं च दुःसहम् ।
आकाशादपतद्राम शिवे शिवशिरस्युत ॥
तदा सातिमहद्रूपं कृत्वा वेगं च दुःसहम् ।
आकाशादपतद्राम शिवे शिवशिरस्युत ॥
Summary
AI
O Rāma, then the eldest daughter of Himavat, revered by all the worlds, assuming an immense form and unbearable speed, fell from the sky onto the auspicious head of Śiva.
M N Dutt
Then, O Rāma. that one bowed to by all creatures, the elder daughter of Himavat, assuming an exceedingly mighty shape, with irresistible impetus precipitated herself from the welkin upon Siva's gracious head.
१.४२.५
नैव सा निर्गमं लेभे जटामण्डलमोहिता ।
तत्रैवाबभ्रमद्देवी संवत्सरगणान्बहून् ॥
तत्रैवाबभ्रमद्देवी संवत्सरगणान्बहून् ॥
Summary
AI
Bewildered within the mass of matted hair, she did not find an exit. The goddess wandered there for many groups of years.
१.४२.६
अनेन तोषितश्चासीदत्यर्थं रघुनन्दन ।
विससर्ज ततो गङ्गां हरो बिन्दुसरः प्रति ॥
विससर्ज ततो गङ्गां हरो बिन्दुसरः प्रति ॥
Summary
AI
O descendant of Raghu, being greatly pleased by Bhagīratha's penance, Śiva then released Gaṅgā toward the Bindusaras lake.
१.४२.७
गगनाच्छंकरशिरस्ततो धरणिमागता ।
व्यसर्पत जलं तत्र तीव्रशब्दपुरस्कृतम् ॥
व्यसर्पत जलं तत्र तीव्रशब्दपुरस्कृतम् ॥
Summary
AI
Descending from the sky to Śiva’s head and then to the earth, the water spread forth preceded by a tumultuous roar.
१.४२.८
ततो देवर्षिगन्धर्वा यक्षाः सिद्धगणास्तथा ।
व्यलोकयन्त ते तत्र गगनाद्गां गतां तदा ॥
व्यलोकयन्त ते तत्र गगनाद्गां गतां तदा ॥
Summary
AI
Then, the gods, sages, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, and hosts of Siddhas watched as she descended from the sky to the earth.
M N Dutt
Then celestials and saints and Gandharvas and Yakşas and Siddhas mounted on excellent elephants and horses and cars resembling cities, looked on Gangă descending upon earth.
१.४२.९
विमानैर्नगराकारैर्हयैर्गजवरैस्तथा ।
पारिप्लवगताश्चापि देवतास्तत्र विष्ठिताः ॥
पारिप्लवगताश्चापि देवतास्तत्र विष्ठिताः ॥
Summary
AI
Seated in celestial chariots large as cities, and on horses and great elephants, the deities stationed themselves there, moving to and fro.
१.४२.१०
तदद्भुततमं लोके गङ्गापतनमुत्तमम् ।
दिदृक्षवो देवगणाः समेयुरमितौजसः ॥
दिदृक्षवो देवगणाः समेयुरमितौजसः ॥
Summary
AI
Desiring to witness that most wondrous and sublime descent of Gaṅgā upon the world, the immensely powerful hosts of gods assembled.
M N Dutt
And the celestials stationed on cars were struck with surprise; and all creatures marvelled at the excellent descent of Gangā.
१.४२.११
संपतद्भिः सुरगणैस्तेषां चाभरणौजसा ।
शतादित्यमिवाभाति गगनं गततोयदम् ॥
शतादित्यमिवाभाति गगनं गततोयदम् ॥
Summary
AI
With the descending hosts of gods and the brilliance of their ornaments, the cloudless sky shone as if illuminated by a hundred suns.
M N Dutt
And eager to witness the spectacle, celestial hosts of immeasurable energy thither and the effulgence of their ornaments, the firmament free from clouds, shone as if with an hundred suns.
१.४२.१२
शिंशुमारोरगगणैर्मीनैरपि च चञ्चलैः ।
विद्युद्भिरिव विक्षिप्तैराकाशमभवत्तदा ॥
विद्युद्भिरिव विक्षिप्तैराकाशमभवत्तदा ॥
Summary
AI
With schools of porpoises, serpents, and darting fish, the sky then appeared as if filled with scattered flashes of lightning.
१.४२.१३
पाण्डुरैः सलिलोत्पीडैः कीर्यमाणैः सहस्रधा ।
शारदाभ्रैरिवाकीर्णं गगनं हंससंप्लवैः ॥
शारदाभ्रैरिवाकीर्णं गगनं हंससंप्लवैः ॥
Summary
AI
With white sprays of water scattered in thousands of ways, the sky seemed filled with autumnal clouds and flocks of swimming swans.
M N Dutt
And the sky was graced with fast-fleeting porpoises and serpents and fishes resembling playing lightning; and the welkin scattered with pale foam-flakes by thousands, appeared as if it was scattered with autumnal clouds swarming with cranes.
१.४२.१४
क्वचिद्द्रुततरं याति कुटिलं क्वचिदायतम् ।
विनतं क्वचिदुद्धूतं क्वचिद्याति शनैः शनैः ॥
विनतं क्वचिदुद्धूतं क्वचिद्याति शनैः शनैः ॥
Summary
AI
In some places she flowed very swiftly, in some crookedly, in others straight; here she moved downward, there she surged upward, and elsewhere she flowed slowly.
M N Dutt
And the river proceeded sometimes rapidly, and sometimes awry, and sometimes in volumes and sometimes sloping, and sometimes ascending and sometimes languidly; and sometimes water clashed with water.
१.४२.१५
सलिलेनैव सलिलं क्वचिदभ्याहतं पुनः ।
मुहुरूर्ध्वपथं गत्वा पपात वसुधां पुनः ॥
मुहुरूर्ध्वपथं गत्वा पपात वसुधां पुनः ॥
Summary
AI
In some places water was struck again by water, and after repeatedly rising upward, it fell back to the earth.
१.४२.१६
तच्छंकरशिरोभ्रष्टं भ्रष्टं भूमितले पुनः ।
व्यरोचत तदा तोयं निर्मलं गतकल्मषम् ॥
व्यरोचत तदा तोयं निर्मलं गतकल्मषम् ॥
Summary
AI
Then that water, having fallen from Śiva’s head and then onto the surface of the earth, shone brightly, pure and free from all impurities.
M N Dutt
Sometimes ascending an upland, it descended it no a dell. And the pellucid and pure water first descending upon Śankara's head, and thence on to the earth, appeared exceedingly beautiful.
१.४२.१७
तत्रर्षिगणगन्धर्वा वसुधातलवासिनः ।
भवाङ्गपतितं तोयं पवित्रमिति पस्पृशुः ॥
भवाङ्गपतितं तोयं पवित्रमिति पस्पृशुः ॥
Summary
AI
There, the sages and Gandharvas living on the earth touched that water, considering it sacred because it had fallen from the body of Śiva (Bhava).
M N Dutt
And there the saints and the Gandharvas, as well as the inhabitants of the earth, touched the sacred water flowing from Bhava's body.
१.४२.१८
शापात्प्रपतिता ये च गगनाद्वसुधातलम् ।
कृत्वा तत्राभिषेकं ते बभूवुर्गतकल्मषाः ॥
कृत्वा तत्राभिषेकं ते बभूवुर्गतकल्मषाः ॥
Summary
AI
And those who had fallen from the sky to the earth due to a curse became free from their sins after bathing in those waters.
M N Dutt
And those that had fallen from the sky to the earth in consequence of some curse of other, having bathed there, and thereby having their sins washed an removed by that sanctifying water, again ascended the sky and entered the celestial regions.
१.४२.१९
धूपपापाः पुनस्तेन तोयेनाथ सुभास्वता ।
पुनराकाशमाविश्य स्वाल्लोकान्प्रतिपेदिरे ॥
पुनराकाशमाविश्य स्वाल्लोकान्प्रतिपेदिरे ॥
Summary
AI
Having their sins washed away by that brilliantly shining water, they re-entered the sky and regained their own celestial realms.
M N Dutt
And those that had fallen from the sky to the earth in consequence of some curse of other, having bathed there, and thereby having their sins washed an removed by that sanctifying water, again ascended the sky and entered the celestial regions.
१.४२.२०
मुमुदे मुदितो लोकस्तेन तोयेन भास्वता ।
कृताभिषेको गङ्गायां बभूव विगतक्लमः ॥
कृताभिषेको गङ्गायां बभूव विगतक्लमः ॥
Summary
AI
The world rejoiced, gladdened by those radiant waters; and everyone, having bathed in the Gaṅgā, became free from exhaustion.
M N Dutt
And through the agency of that shining water, all beings, feeling delight, rejoiced, and having bathed in Gangā, became cleansed from sin.
१.४२.२१
भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षिर्दिव्यं स्यन्दनमास्थितः ।
प्रायादग्रे महातेजास्तं गङ्गा पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात् ॥
प्रायादग्रे महातेजास्तं गङ्गा पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात् ॥
Summary
AI
The highly effulgent royal sage Bhagīratha, seated upon a divine chariot, proceeded ahead, while Gaṅgā followed behind him.
M N Dutt
And stationed on an excellent car that mighty king, the royal saint Bhagiratha, went first, and Gangā went at his back.
१.४२.२२
देवाः सर्षिगणाः सर्वे दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः ।
गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवराः सकिंनरमहोरगाः ॥
गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवराः सकिंनरमहोरगाः ॥
Summary
AI
All the gods, together with assemblies of sages, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, the foremost of Gandharvas and Yakṣas, along with Kinnaras and great serpents joined the descent.
M N Dutt
The gods, and the saints, and the Daityas, and the Dānavas, and the Rākşasas, and the foremost of Gandharvas and Yaksas, and the Kinnaras, and the mighty Uragas, and the Serpents, and the Apsaras, O Rāma, and the acquatic animals in a body following Bhagirahta's car, with glad hearts went in the wake of Gangā.
१.४२.२३
सर्वाश्चाप्सरसो राम भगीरथरथानुगाः ।
गङ्गामन्वगमन्प्रीताः सर्वे जलचराश्च ये ॥
गङ्गामन्वगमन्प्रीताः सर्वे जलचराश्च ये ॥
Summary
AI
O Rāma, all the Apsarās and all the aquatic creatures followed Gaṅgā with great joy, trailing behind the path of Bhagīratha's chariot.
M N Dutt
The gods, and the saints, and the Daityas, and the Dānavas, and the Rākşasas, and the foremost of Gandharvas and Yaksas, and the Kinnaras, and the mighty Uragas, and the Serpents, and the Apsaras, O Rāma, and the acquatic animals in a body following Bhagirahta's car, with glad hearts went in the wake of Gangā.
१.४२.२४
यतो भगीरथो राजा ततो गङ्गा यशस्विनी ।
जगाम सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वपापविनाशिनी ॥
जगाम सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वपापविनाशिनी ॥
Summary
AI
Wherever King Bhagīratha led the way, there followed the illustrious Gaṅgā, the most excellent of rivers and the destroyer of all sins.
M N Dutt
Whither soever king Bhagiratha went, the famous Gangā, foremost of streams, capable of destroying all sins, went.
॥ इति बालकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥
Other texts to read
About
Sanskrit Sahitya is a free, open-access digital library of classical Sanskrit literature with AI-powered tools and translations.