Bala Kanda, Sarga 42

कालधर्मं गते राम सगरे प्रकृतीजना:। राजानं रोचयामासुरंशुमन्तं सुधार्मिकम्।।1.42.1।।

kāladharmaṃ gate rāma sagare prakṛtījanā:| rājānaṃ rocayāmāsuraṃśumantaṃ sudhārmikam

"O Rama when Sagara died, the subjects installed the highly virtuous Anshuman as king.

स राजा सुमहानासीदंशुमान् रघुनन्दन । तस्य पुत्रो महानासीद्दिलीप इति विश्रुत:।।1.42.2।।

sa rājā sumahānāsīdaṃśumān raghunandana | tasya putro mahānāsīddilīpa iti viśruta:

O descendnt of the Raghus that Anshuman became a very great monarch. He had a great son, Dilipa who became famous.

तस्मिन् राज्यं समावेश्य दिलीपे रघुनन्दन। हिमवच्छिखरे पुण्ये तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्।।1.42.3।।

tasmin rājyaṃ samāveśya dilīpe raghunandana| himavacchikhare puṇye tapastepe sudāruṇam

O Delight of the Raghus having vested the kingdom with Dilipa, Anshuman performed rigid penance on the sacred peak of the Himavat mountain.

द्वात्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि वर्षाणि सुमहायशा:। तपोवनं गतो राम स्वर्गं लेभे तपोधन:।।1.42.4।।

dvātriṃśacca sahasrāṇi varṣāṇi sumahāyaśā:| tapovanaṃ gato rāma svargaṃ lebhe tapodhana:

O Rama highly renowned Anshuman, having lived for thirtytwo thousand years in the tapovana, turned an ascetic and attained heaven (without accomplishing his objective).

दिलीपस्तु महातेजाश्श्रुत्वा पैतामहं वधम्। दु:खोपहतया बुद्ध्या निश्चयं नाध्यगच्छत।।1.42.5।।

dilīpastu mahātejāśśrutvā paitāmahaṃ vadham| du:khopahatayā buddhyā niścayaṃ nādhyagacchata

When exceedingly brilliant Dilipa heard about the death of his grandfathers, he was overtaken by grief but could not arrive at any conclusion with his intellect (regarding means of bringing down the sacred river).

कथं गङ्गावतरणं कथं तेषां जलक्रिया। तारयेयं कथं चैतानिति चिन्तापरोऽभवत्।।1.42.6।।

kathaṃ gaṅgāvataraṇaṃ kathaṃ teṣāṃ jalakriyā| tārayeyaṃ kathaṃ caitāniti cintāparo'bhavat

How to bring about the descent of Ganga? How to perform funeral rites of the ancestors with Ganga water? How to liberate them Thus Dilipa was constantly engaged in such thoughts.

तस्य चिन्तयतो नित्यं धर्मेण विदितात्मन:। पुत्रो भगीरथो नाम जज्ञे परमधार्मिक:।।1.42.7।।

tasya cintayato nityaṃ dharmeṇa viditātmana:| putro bhagīratho nāma jajñe paramadhārmika:

As Dilipa known for his knowledge of the soul constantly reflected righteously on (this matter of Ganga), a highly virtuous son named Bhagiratha was born to him.

दिलीपस्तु महातेजा यज्ञैर्बहुभिरिष्टवान्। त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि राजा राज्यमकारयत्।।1.42.8।।

dilīpastu mahātejā yajñairbahubhiriṣṭavān| triṃśadvarṣasahasrāṇi rājā rājyamakārayat

Most brilliant king Dilipa ruled the kingdom for thirty thousand years performing many sacrifices.

अगत्वा निश्चयं राजा तेषामुद्धरणं प्रति । व्याधिना नरशार्दूल कालधर्ममुपेयिवान्।।1.42.9।।

agatvā niścayaṃ rājā teṣāmuddharaṇaṃ prati | vyādhinā naraśārdūla kāladharmamupeyivān

O Tiger among men king Dilipa was unable to arrive at a conclusion regarding the salvation of his ancestors.He was affected by illness and died.

इन्द्रलोकं गतो राजा स्वार्जितेनैव कर्मणा। राज्ये भगीरथं पुत्रमभिषिच्य नरर्षभ:।।1.42.10।।

indralokaṃ gato rājā svārjitenaiva karmaṇā| rājye bhagīrathaṃ putramabhiṣicya nararṣabha:

The king (Dilipa) performed the coronation of his son Bhagiratha and reached the region of Indra as a reward for virtuous acts done by him.

भगीरथस्तु राजर्षिर्धार्मिको रघुनन्दन। अनपत्यो महातेजा: प्रजाकामस्स चाप्रज:।।1.42.11।।

bhagīrathastu rājarṣirdhārmiko raghunandana| anapatyo mahātejā: prajākāmassa cāpraja:

O delight of the Raghus righteous Bhagiratha who was highly lustrous rajarshi was without sons. He was desirous of progeny but did not beget children.

मन्त्रिष्वाधाय तद्राज्यं गङ्गावतरणे रत:। स तपो दीर्घमातिष्ठद्गोकर्णे रघुनन्दन।।1.42.12।। ऊर्ध्वबाहु: पञ्चतपा मासाहारो जितेन्द्रिय:।

mantriṣvādhāya tadrājyaṃ gaṅgāvataraṇe rata:| sa tapo dīrghamātiṣṭhadgokarṇe raghunandana ūrdhvabāhu: pañcatapā māsāhāro jitendriya:|

O son of the Raghus (Rama), Bhagiratha, with a determination to bring down Ganga entrusted the kingdom to his ministers and went to a sacred place known as Gokarna. There with arms uplifted surrounded by four fires, partaking food once a month, with his senses controlled, carried out panchatapa for a number of years.

तस्य वर्षसहस्राणि घोरे तपसि तिष्ठत:।।1.42.13।। अतीतानि महाबाहो तस्य राज्ञो महात्मन:। सुप्रीतो भगवान् ब्रह्मा प्रजानां पतिरीश्वर:।।1.42.14।।

tasya varṣasahasrāṇi ghore tapasi tiṣṭhata: atītāni mahābāho tasya rājño mahātmana:| suprīto bhagavān brahmā prajānāṃ patirīśvara:

O mightyarmed, (Rama) Bhagiratha continued in that state for a thousand years amidst rigid austerities. Lord of all creatures, Brahma was highly pleased with that illustrious king.

तस्य वर्षसहस्राणि घोरे तपसि तिष्ठत:।।1.42.13।। अतीतानि महाबाहो तस्य राज्ञो महात्मन:। सुप्रीतो भगवान् ब्रह्मा प्रजानां पतिरीश्वर:।।1.42.14।।

tasya varṣasahasrāṇi ghore tapasi tiṣṭhata: atītāni mahābāho tasya rājño mahātmana:| suprīto bhagavān brahmā prajānāṃ patirīśvara:

O mightyarmed, (Rama) Bhagiratha continued in that state for a thousand years amidst rigid austerities. Lord of all creatures, Brahma was highly pleased with that illustrious king.

ततस्सुरगणैस्सार्धमुपागम्य पितामह:। भगीरथं महात्मानं तप्यमानमथाब्रवीत्।।1.42.15।।

tatassuragaṇaissārdhamupāgamya pitāmaha:| bhagīrathaṃ mahātmānaṃ tapyamānamathābravīt

Thereafter, the Grandsire arrived with the gods and spoke to the noble Bhagiratha engaged in austerities.

भगीरथ महाभाग प्रीतस्तेऽहं जनेश्वर। तपसा च सुतप्तेन वरं वरय सुव्रत।।1.42.16।।

bhagīratha mahābhāga prītaste'haṃ janeśvara| tapasā ca sutaptena varaṃ varaya suvrata

'O distinguished one O mighty monarch O Bhagiratha of excellent vows I am pleased with your welldisciplined austerities. Ask for a boon'.

तमुवाच महातेजा: सर्वलोकपितामहम्। भगीरथो महाभाग: कृताञ्जलिरुपस्थित:।।1.42.17।।

tamuvāca mahātejā: sarvalokapitāmaham| bhagīratho mahābhāga: kṛtāñjalirupasthita:

Brilliant, glorious Bhagiratha, stood before the Grandsire of all the worlds with folded palms and spoke":

यदि मे भगवन् प्रीतो यद्यस्ति तपस: फलम्। सगरस्यात्मजास्सर्वे मत्तस्सलिलमाप्नुयु:।।1.42.18।।

yadi me bhagavan prīto yadyasti tapasa: phalam| sagarasyātmajāssarve mattassalilamāpnuyu:

'O Lord if you are pleased with my austerities and if they are worthy of a reward, grant me the boon whereby all the sons of Sagara will receive from me funeral rites with the waters (of Ganga)'.

गङ्गायास्सलिलक्लिन्ने भस्मन्येषां महात्मनाम्। स्वर्गं गच्छेयुरत्यन्तं सर्वे मे प्रपितामहा:।।1.42.19।।

gaṅgāyāssalilaklinne bhasmanyeṣāṃ mahātmanām| svargaṃ gaccheyuratyantaṃ sarve me prapitāmahā:

'The ashes of these eminent uncles of my grandfather, immersed by the waters of Ganga may ultimately go to heaven'.

देया च सन्ततिर्देव नावसीदेत्कुलं च न:। इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले देव एष मेऽस्तु वर:पर:।।1.42.20।।

deyā ca santatirdeva nāvasīdetkulaṃ ca na:| ikṣvākūṇāṃ kule deva eṣa me'stu vara:para:

'O Lord let the progeny be perpuated in our race of the Ikshvakus. Let not that dynasty be terminated with me. This is another boon I seek'.

उक्तवाक्यं तु राजानं सर्वलोकपितामह:। प्रत्युवाच शुभां वाणीं मधुरां मधुराक्षराम्।।1.42.21।।

uktavākyaṃ tu rājānaṃ sarvalokapitāmaha:| pratyuvāca śubhāṃ vāṇīṃ madhurāṃ madhurākṣarām

To this the Grandsire of all the worlds replied with a sweet voice full of good wishes and sweet words.

मनोरथो महानेष भगीरथ महारथ। एवं भवतु भद्रं ते इक्ष्वाकुकुलवर्धन।।1.42.22।।

manoratho mahāneṣa bhagīratha mahāratha| evaṃ bhavatu bhadraṃ te ikṣvākukulavardhana

'O Great charioteer Bhagiratha, your desire is great. O Perpetuator of dynasty of the Ikshvakus, let your wish be fulfilled. Prosperity to you'.

इयं हैमवती गङ्गा ज्येष्ठा हिमवतस्सुता। तां वै धारयितुं शक्तो हरस्तत्र नियुज्यताम्।।1.42.23।।

iyaṃ haimavatī gaṅgā jyeṣṭhā himavatassutā| tāṃ vai dhārayituṃ śakto harastatra niyujyatām

'This Hymavati (Ganga) is Himavat's eldest daughter and only lord Siva is capable to hold (the force of her descent to earth). Therefore let Siva be entreated'.

गङ्गाया: पतनं राजन् पृथिवी न सहिष्यति। तां वै धारयितुं वीर नान्यं पश्यामि शूलिन:।।1.42.24।।

gaṅgāyā: patanaṃ rājan pṛthivī na sahiṣyati| tāṃ vai dhārayituṃ vīra nānyaṃ paśyāmi śūlina:

'O King Ganga's descent cannot be sustained by earth. O Hero I do not see any other person to hold her than the wielder of the trident (Siva)'.

तमेवमुक्त्वा राजानं गङ्गां चाभाष्य लोककृत्। जगाम त्रिदिवं देवस्सहदेवैर्मरुद्गणै:।।1.42.25।।

tamevamuktvā rājānaṃ gaṅgāṃ cābhāṣya lokakṛt| jagāma tridivaṃ devassahadevairmarudgaṇai:

The Creator of the worlds having thus addressed the king and conversing with Ganga went towards heaven along with devatas and maruts". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the fortysecond sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.