Bala Kanda, Sarga 42

Meaning

Sagara having met his end (which is the law of Time, according to which one who is born must die sooner or later when one has played one’s allotted role), O Rāma, the people desired the highly pious Aṁśumān to be their ruler. (1)

Meaning

The said Aṁśumān, O scion of Raghu, proved to be a great monarch. His son, widely known by the name of Dilīpa, was equally great. (2)

Meaning

Having entrusted the kingship to the said Dilīpa, O scion of Raghu, Aṁśumān practised the severest form of askesis (for bringing down the Gaṅgā to the terrestrial plane) on a delightful summit of the Himālayas. (3)

Meaning

Having continued for thirty-two lakhs of years in a grove intended for austerities alone, the highly illustrious king, rich in asceticism, eventually attained heaven only and not the desired grace of the holy Gaṅgā. (4)

Meaning

Hearing of the unnatural death of his grand-uncles, the exceptionally glorious Dilīpa could not arrive at any decision regarding the method of bringing the Gaṅgā down to the terrestrial plane due to his judgment being clouded by sorrow. (5)

Meaning

He felt anxious as to how the Gaṅgā should be made to descend to the terrestrial plane, how water could be offered to them and as to how he should be able to redeem their departed souls. (6)

Meaning

While the king, who was celebrated for his righteousness, was thus plunged in thought every moment, a most pious son, Bhagīratha by name, was born to him. (7)

Meaning

Dilīpa, for his part, who was exceptionally glorious, propitiated the Lord through many sacrifices. The king reigned for thirty thousand years. (8)

Meaning

Failing to arrive at any decision on the question of deliverance of his forbears, the king, O tiger among men, met his end, which is the law of Time, through illness. (9)

Meaning

Having installed his son, Bhagīratha, on the throne, the king, who was a jewel among men, ascended to paradise, the realm of Indra, through merit earned by his own self. (10)

Meaning

Emperor Bhagīratha, a pious royal sage, was issueless and as such desirous of progeny, O scion of Raghu ! Having entrusted the people as well as their rulership to his ministers, intent as he was on the descent of the Gaṅgā to the terrestrial plane, he practised prolonged askesis on Mount Gokarṇa, a summit of the Himālayas, O delight of the Raghus ! (11-12)

Meaning

With uplifted arms and senses fully controlled he exposed himself to five fires (placing himself in the midst of four fires, one in each quarter with the fifth in the shape of the sun overhead) and partook of food only once a month. A thousand years elapsed even as he remained engaged in severe asceticism, O mighty-armed one! The almighty Brahmā, the creator, the lord and ruler of all created beings, got much pleased with that high-souled king. (13-14)

Meaning

Calling with hosts of gods on the high-souled Bhagīratha, who had been practising austerities, Brahmā (the progenitor of the entire creation) thereupon forthwith spoke to him as follows : (15)

Meaning

“I am pleased with the askesis duly practised by you, O great king, the ruler of people ! Therefore, ask of me a boon of your choice, O king of noble vows !” (16)

Meaning

Standing with folded hands the exceptionally glorious and mighty-armed Bhagīratha submitted as follows to Brahmā, the progenitor of all the worlds : (17)

Meaning

“If the lord is pleased with me and if there is any reward for asceticism, let all the sons of Sagara receive water from me. (18)

Meaning

“When the ashes of these princes of gigantic body get soaked with the waters of the Gaṅgā, all my aforesaid grand-uncles bid fair to attain the everlasting heaven. (19)

Meaning

“Born in the line of Ikṣwāku, O glorious one, I ask for a male progeny so that our race may not get extinct. Let this be treated as another boon, O lord !” (20)

Meaning

Brahmā, the progenitor of all the worlds, thereupon answered the king, who had uttered the aforesaid prayer, in the following benignant and agreeable speech, full of sweet expressions : (21)

Meaning

“Great is this ambition of yours, O Bhagīratha, a great car-warrior as you are ! May it be realized ! May success attend on you, O promoter of Ikṣwāku’s race ! (22)

Meaning

“Here is the river Gaṅgā, the elder daughter of Himavān, the deity presiding over the Himālayas, which emanates from the Himālayas. Let Lord Śiva alone be invoked to support the Gaṅgā when it descends on earth, O king ! (23)

Meaning

“The earth, O monarch, will not be able to sustain the velocity of the descent of the Gaṅgā. And I do not perceive, O king, anyone, other than Lord Śiva, the Wielder of a trident, capable of sustaining it”. (24)

Meaning

Having thus spoken to the aforesaid king and instructed Gaṅgā as well to oblige Bhagīratha when the time comes, Brahmā, the maker of the universe, rose to Brahmaloka with all the gods including the (forty-nine) wind-gods. (25)