Bala Kanda, Sarga 43

देवदेवे गते तस्मिन् सोऽङ्गुष्ठाग्रनिपीडिताम्। कृत्वा वसुमतीं राम संवत्सरमुपासत।।1.43.1।।

devadeve gate tasmin so'ṅguṣṭhāgranipīḍitām| kṛtvā vasumatīṃ rāma saṃvatsaramupāsata

"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.

अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे सर्वलोकनमस्कृत:। उमापति: पशुपती राजानमिदमब्रवीत्।।1.43.2।।

atha saṃvatsare pūrṇe sarvalokanamaskṛta:| umāpati: paśupatī rājānamidamabravīt

After one full year was completed, Iswara who is worshipped by all in all the worlds said to king Bhagiratha:

प्रीतस्तेऽहं नरश्रेष्ठ करिष्यामि तव प्रियम्। शिरसा धारयिष्यामि शैलराजसुतामहम्।।1.43.3।।

prītaste'haṃ naraśreṣṭha kariṣyāmi tava priyam| śirasā dhārayiṣyāmi śailarājasutāmaham

"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.

ततो हैमवती ज्येष्ठा सर्वलोकनमस्कृता। तदा सातिमहद्रूपं कृत्वा वेगं च दुस्सहम्।।1.43.4।। आकाशादपतद्राम शिवे शिवशिरस्युत।

tato haimavatī jyeṣṭhā sarvalokanamaskṛtā| tadā sātimahadrūpaṃ kṛtvā vegaṃ ca dussaham ākāśādapatadrāma śive śivaśirasyuta|

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.

अचिन्तयच्च सा देवी गङ्गा परमदुर्धरा।।1.43.5।। विशाम्यहं हि पातालं स्रोतसा गृह्य शङ्करम्।

acintayacca sā devī gaṅgā paramadurdharā viśāmyahaṃ hi pātālaṃ srotasā gṛhya śaṅkaram|

"Goddess Ganga, extremely difficult to contain, thought that seizing Siva with her flow she would enter the lower regions of the earth.

तस्यावलेपनं ज्ञात्वा क्रुद्धस्तु भगवान् हर:।।1.43.6।। तिरोभावयितुं बुद्धिं चक्रे त्रिनयनस्तदा।

tasyāvalepanaṃ jñātvā kruddhastu bhagavān hara: tirobhāvayituṃ buddhiṃ cakre trinayanastadā|

Then the threeeyed Lord Siva, aware of her proud intentions applied his intelligence to conceal her.

सा तस्मिन् पतिता पुण्या पुण्ये रुद्रस्य मूर्धनि।।1.43.7।। हिमवत्प्रतिमे राम जटामण्डलगह्वरे।

sā tasmin patitā puṇyā puṇye rudrasya mūrdhani himavatpratime rāma jaṭāmaṇḍalagahvare|

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.

सा कथञ्चिन्महीं गन्तुं नाशक्नोद्यत्नमास्थिता।।1.43.8।। नैव निर्गमनं लेभे जटामण्डलमोहिता।

sā kathañcinmahīṃ gantuṃ nāśaknodyatnamāsthitā naiva nirgamanaṃ lebhe jaṭāmaṇḍalamohitā|

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

तत्रैवाबम्भ्रमद्देवी संवत्सरगणान् बहून्।।1.43.9।। तामपश्यन्पुनस्तत्र तप: परममास्थित:।

tatraivābambhramaddevī saṃvatsaragaṇān bahūn tāmapaśyanpunastatra tapa: paramamāsthita:|

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

अनेन तोषितश्चाभूदत्यर्थं रघुनन्दन।।1.43.10।। विससर्ज ततो गङ्गां हरो बिन्दुसर: प्रति।

anena toṣitaścābhūdatyarthaṃ raghunandana visasarja tato gaṅgāṃ haro bindusara: prati|

O Son of the Raghus (Rama) Siva was immensely pleased with the penace and thereafter released Ganga (drop by drop) forming Bindusara.

तस्यां विसृज्यमानायां सप्तस्रोतांसि जज्ञिरे।।1.43.11।। ह्लादिनी पावनी चैव नलिनी च तथाऽपरा। तिस्र: प्राचीं दिशं जग्मु: गङ्गाश्शिवजलाश्शुभा:।।1.43.12।।

tasyāṃ visṛjyamānāyāṃ saptasrotāṃsi jajñire hlādinī pāvanī caiva nalinī ca tathā'parā| tisra: prācīṃ diśaṃ jagmu: gaṅgāśśivajalāśśubhā:

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.

तस्यां विसृज्यमानायां सप्तस्रोतांसि जज्ञिरे।।1.43.11।। ह्लादिनी पावनी चैव नलिनी च तथाऽपरा। तिस्र: प्राचीं दिशं जग्मु: गङ्गाश्शिवजलाश्शुभा:।।1.43.12।।

tasyāṃ visṛjyamānāyāṃ saptasrotāṃsi jajñire hlādinī pāvanī caiva nalinī ca tathā'parā| tisra: prācīṃ diśaṃ jagmu: gaṅgāśśivajalāśśubhā:

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.

सुचक्षुश्चैव सीता च सिन्धुश्चैव महानदी। तिस्रस्त्वेता दिशं जग्मु: प्रतीचीं तु शुभोदका:।।1.43.13।।

sucakṣuścaiva sītā ca sindhuścaiva mahānadī| tisrastvetā diśaṃ jagmu: pratīcīṃ tu śubhodakā:

Auspicious Suchakshu, Sita and a great river Sindhu, these three great rivers flowed westwards.

सप्तमी चान्वगात्तासां भगीरथमथो नृपम्। भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षिर्दिव्यं स्यन्दनमास्थित:।।1.43.14।। प्रायादग्रे महातेजा गङ्गा तं चाप्यनुव्रजत्।

saptamī cānvagāttāsāṃ bhagīrathamatho nṛpam| bhagīratho'pi rājarṣirdivyaṃ syandanamāsthita: prāyādagre mahātejā gaṅgā taṃ cāpyanuvrajat|

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

गगनाच्छङ्करशिरस्ततो धरणिमाश्रिता।।1.43.15 ।। व्यसर्पत जलं तत्र तीव्रशब्दपुरस्कृतम्।

gaganācchaṅkaraśirastato dharaṇimāśritā vyasarpata jalaṃ tatra tīvraśabdapuraskṛtam|

From the sky on to the head of Shankara and thence Ganga resorted to the earth. There it flowed forward with a roaring sound.

मत्स्यकच्छपसङ्घैश्च शिंशुमारगणैस्तदा।।1.43.16।। पतद्भि: पतितैश्चान्यैर्व्यरोचत वसुन्धरा।

matsyakacchapasaṅghaiśca śiṃśumāragaṇaistadā patadbhi: patitaiścānyairvyarocata vasundharā|

Then the earth looked bright with the fallen and falling shoals of fish, turtles and multitudes of other seaanimals.

ततो देवर्षिगन्धर्वा यक्षसिद्धगणास्तदा।।1.43.17।। व्यलोकयन्त ते तत्र गगनाद्गां गतां तथा।

tato devarṣigandharvā yakṣasiddhagaṇāstadā vyalokayanta te tatra gaganādgāṃ gatāṃ tathā|

Then devarshis, gandharvas, yakshas and hosts of siddhas looked on with astonishment at Ganga falling from the sky and descending on the earth.

विमानैर्नगराकारैर्हयैर्गजवरैस्तदा।।1.43.18।। पारिप्लवगतैश्चापि देवतास्तत्र विष्ठिता:।

vimānairnagarākārairhayairgajavaraistadā pāriplavagataiścāpi devatāstatra viṣṭhitā:|

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).

तदद्भुततमं लोके गङ्गापतनमुत्तमम्।।1.43.19।। दिदृक्षवो देवगणा: समीयुरमितौजस:।

tadadbhutatamaṃ loke gaṅgāpatanamuttamam didṛkṣavo devagaṇā: samīyuramitaujasa:|

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

सम्पतद्भिस्सुरगणैस्तेषां चाभरणौजसा।।1.43.20।। शतादित्यमिवाभाति गगनं गततोयदम्।

sampatadbhissuragaṇaisteṣāṃ cābharaṇaujasā śatādityamivābhāti gaganaṃ gatatoyadam|

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.

शिंशुमारोरगगणैर्मीनैरपि च चञ्चलै:।।1.43.21।। विद्युद्भिरिव विक्षिप्तमाकाशमभवत्तदा।

śiṃśumāroragagaṇairmīnairapi ca cañcalai: vidyudbhiriva vikṣiptamākāśamabhavattadā|

The sky strewn with lightnings appeared as if it was inhabited by seaanimals, serpents and fishes fickle.

पाण्डरैस्सलिलोत्पीडै: कीर्यमाणैस्सहस्रधा।।1.43.22।। शारदाभ्रैरिवाकीर्णं गगनं हंससम्प्लवै:।

pāṇḍaraissalilotpīḍai: kīryamāṇaissahasradhā śāradābhrairivākīrṇaṃ gaganaṃ haṃsasamplavai:|

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.

क्वचिद्द्रुततरं याति कुटिलं क्वचिदायतम्।।1.43.23।। विनतं क्वचिदुद्धूतं क्वचिद्याति शनैश्शनै:।

kvaciddrutataraṃ yāti kuṭilaṃ kvacidāyatam vinataṃ kvaciduddhūtaṃ kvacidyāti śanaiśśanai:|

Ganga was flowing now rapid, now slow, now wide, now meandering, now low, now high.

सलिलेनैव सलिलं क्वचिदभ्याहतं पुन:।।1.43.24।। मुहुरूर्ध्वमुखं गत्वा पपात वसुधातलम्।

salilenaiva salilaṃ kvacidabhyāhataṃ puna: muhurūrdhvamukhaṃ gatvā papāta vasudhātalam|

Sometimes waves dashed against waves. They rose repeatedly upwards and fell down on the ground.

तच्छङ्करशिरोभ्रष्टं भ्रष्टं भूमितले पुन:।।1.43.25।। व्यरोचत तदा तोयं निर्मलं गतकल्मषम्।

tacchaṅkaraśirobhraṣṭaṃ bhraṣṭaṃ bhūmitale puna: vyarocata tadā toyaṃ nirmalaṃ gatakalmaṣam|

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.

तत्र देवर्षिगन्धर्वा वसुधातलवासिन:।।1.43.26।। भवाङ्गपतितं तोयं पवित्रमिति पस्पृशु:।

tatra devarṣigandharvā vasudhātalavāsina: bhavāṅgapatitaṃ toyaṃ pavitramiti paspṛśu:|

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

शापात्प्रपतिता ये च गगनाद्वसुधातलम्।।1.43.27।। कृत्वा तत्राभिषेकं ते बभूवुर्गतकल्मषा:।

śāpātprapatitā ye ca gaganādvasudhātalam kṛtvā tatrābhiṣekaṃ te babhūvurgatakalmaṣā:|

Those cursed to fall from heaven to earth were absolved of their sins after bathing there (in the waters of Ganga).

धूतपापा: पुनस्तेन तोयेनाथ सुभास्वता।।1.43.28।। पुनराकाशमाविश्य स्वान् लोकान् प्रतिपेदिरे।

dhūtapāpā: punastena toyenātha subhāsvatā punarākāśamāviśya svān lokān pratipedire|

Cleansed of their sins by the sparkling waters, they ascended through the sky once again to their own (celestial) worlds.

मुमुदे मुदितो लोकस्तेन तोयेन भास्वता।।1.43.29।। कृताभिषेको गङ्गायां बभूव विगतक्लम:।

mumude mudito lokastena toyena bhāsvatā kṛtābhiṣeko gaṅgāyāṃ babhūva vigataklama:|

People rejoiced at the sight of those shining waters. They were happy to have a dip in Ganga and their fatigue was gone.

भगीरथोऽपि राजार्षिर्दिव्यं स्यन्दनमास्थित:। प्रायादग्रे महातेजास्तं गङ्गा पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात्।।1.43.30।

bhagīratho'pi rājārṣirdivyaṃ syandanamāsthita:| prāyādagre mahātejāstaṃ gaṅgā pṛṣṭhato'nvagāt||1.43.30|

Most brilliant rajarshi Bhagiratha also mounting the divine chariot moved forward and Ganga followed him.

देवास्सर्षिगणा: सर्वे दैत्यदानवराक्षसा:।।1.43.31।। गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवरास्सकिन्नरमहोरगा:। सर्वाश्चाप्सरसो राम भगीरथरथानुगाम्।।1.43.32।। गङ्गामन्वगमन् प्रीतास्सर्वे जलचराश्च ये।

devāssarṣigaṇā: sarve daityadānavarākṣasā: gandharvayakṣapravarāssakinnaramahoragā:| sarvāścāpsaraso rāma bhagīratharathānugām gaṅgāmanvagaman prītāssarve jalacarāśca ye|

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.

देवास्सर्षिगणा: सर्वे दैत्यदानवराक्षसा:।।1.43.31।। गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवरास्सकिन्नरमहोरगा:। सर्वाश्चाप्सरसो राम भगीरथरथानुगाम्।।1.43.32।। गङ्गामन्वगमन् प्रीतास्सर्वे जलचराश्च ये।

devāssarṣigaṇā: sarve daityadānavarākṣasā: gandharvayakṣapravarāssakinnaramahoragā:| sarvāścāpsaraso rāma bhagīratharathānugām gaṅgāmanvagaman prītāssarve jalacarāśca ye|

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.

यतो भगीरथो राजा ततो गङ्गायशस्विनी।।1.43.33।। जगाम सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी।

yato bhagīratho rājā tato gaṅgāyaśasvinī jagāma saritāṃ śreṣṭhā sarvapāpapraṇāśinī|

Ganga, famous and foremost of rivers, destroyer of all sins, flowed in the direction king Bhagiratha moved.

ततो हि यजमानस्य जह्नोरद्भुतकर्मण:।।1.43.34।। गङ्गा सम्प्लावयामास यज्ञवाटं महात्मन:।

tato hi yajamānasya jahnoradbhutakarmaṇa: gaṅgā samplāvayāmāsa yajñavāṭaṃ mahātmana:|

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.

तस्यावलेपनं ज्ञात्वा क्रुद्धो यज्वा तु राघव।।1.43.35।। अपिबच्च जलं सर्वं गङ्गाया: परमाद्भुतम्।

tasyāvalepanaṃ jñātvā kruddho yajvā tu rāghava apibacca jalaṃ sarvaṃ gaṅgāyā: paramādbhutam|

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.

ततो देवास्सगन्धर्वा ऋषयश्च सुविस्मिता:।।1.43.36।। पूजयन्ति महात्मानं जह्नुं पुरुषसत्तमम्। गङ्गां चापि नयन्ति स्म दुहितृत्वे महात्मन:।।1.43.37।।

tato devāssagandharvā ṛṣayaśca suvismitā: pūjayanti mahātmānaṃ jahnuṃ puruṣasattamam| gaṅgāṃ cāpi nayanti sma duhitṛtve mahātmana:

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.

ततो देवास्सगन्धर्वा ऋषयश्च सुविस्मिता:।।1.43.36।। पूजयन्ति महात्मानं जह्नुं पुरुषसत्तमम्। गङ्गां चापि नयन्ति स्म दुहितृत्वे महात्मन:।।1.43.37।।

tato devāssagandharvā ṛṣayaśca suvismitā: pūjayanti mahātmānaṃ jahnuṃ puruṣasattamam| gaṅgāṃ cāpi nayanti sma duhitṛtve mahātmana:

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.

ततस्तुष्टो महातेजाश्श्रोत्राभ्यामसृजत् पुन:।।1.43.38।। तस्माज्जह्नुसुता गङ्गा प्रोच्यते जाह्नवीतिच।

tatastuṣṭo mahātejāśśrotrābhyāmasṛjat puna: tasmājjahnusutā gaṅgā procyate jāhnavītica|

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

जगाम च पुनर्गङ्गा भगीरथरथानुगा। सागरं चापि सम्प्राप्ता सा सरित्प्रवरा तदा।।1.43.39।। रसातलमुपागच्छत्सिद्ध्यर्थं तस्य कर्मण:।

jagāma ca punargaṅgā bhagīratharathānugā| sāgaraṃ cāpi samprāptā sā saritpravarā tadā rasātalamupāgacchatsiddhyarthaṃ tasya karmaṇa:|

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).

भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षि: गङ्गामादाय यत्नत:। पितामहान् भस्मकृतानपश्यद्दीनचेतन:।।1.43.40।।

bhagīratho'pi rājarṣi: gaṅgāmādāya yatnata:| pitāmahān bhasmakṛtānapaśyaddīnacetana:

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

अथ तद्भस्मनां राशिं गङ्गासलिलमुत्तमम्। प्लावयद्धूतपाप्मानस्स्वर्गं प्राप्ता रघूत्तम।।1.43.41।।

atha tadbhasmanāṃ rāśiṃ gaṅgāsalilamuttamam| plāvayaddhūtapāpmānassvargaṃ prāptā raghūttama

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). इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे त्रिचत्वारिंशस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the fortythird sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.