Bhagiratha's Triumph and the Fruits of the Tale

Shloka 1 (bala.44.1)

स गत्वा सागरं राजा गंगयानुगतस्तदा। प्रविवेश तलं भूमेर्यत्र ते भस्मसात्कृताः ॥ १-४४-१ ॥

sa gatvā sāgaraṃ rājā gaṃgayānugatastadā| praviveśa talaṃ bhūmeryatra te bhasmasātkṛtāḥ || 1-44-1 ||

That king, having reached the great sea-pit, followed then by Ganga, entered into the depths of the earth, to the very place where they had been reduced to ashes.

Shloka 2 (bala.44.2)

भस्मन्यथाप्लुते राम गंगायाः सलिलेन वै। सर्वलोकप्रभुर्ब्रह्मा राजानमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १-४४-२ ॥

bhasmanyathāplute rāma gaṃgāyāḥ salilena vai| sarvalokaprabhurbrahmā rājānamidamabravīt || 1-44-2 ||

When the ashes, O Rama, had been flooded by the waters of Ganga, Brahma, lord of all the worlds, then spoke thus to the king:

Shloka 3 (bala.44.3)

तारिता नरशार्दूल दिवं याताश्च देववत्। षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि सगरस्य महात्मनः ॥ १-४४-३ ॥

tāritā naraśārdūla divaṃ yātāśca devavat| ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi sagarasya mahātmanaḥ || 1-44-3 ||

"They are delivered, O tiger among men, and have gone to heaven like gods — those sixty thousand sons of the great-souled Sagara."

Shloka 4 (bala.44.4)

सागरस्य जलं लोके यावत् स्थास्यति पार्थिव। सगरस्यात्मजाः सर्वे दिवि स्थास्यन्ति देववत् ॥ १-४४-४ ॥

sāgarasya jalaṃ loke yāvat sthāsyati pārthiva| sagarasyātmajāḥ sarve divi sthāsyanti devavat || 1-44-4 ||

"As long as the ocean's waters endure in this world, O king, so long shall all the sons of Sagara abide in heaven, like gods."

Shloka 5 (bala.44.5)

इयं च दुहिता ज्येष्ठा तव गंगा भविष्यति। त्वत्कृतेन च नाम्नाथ लोके स्थास्यति विश्रुता ॥ १-४४-५ ॥

iyaṃ ca duhitā jyeṣṭhā tava gaṃgā bhaviṣyati| tvatkṛtena ca nāmnātha loke sthāsyati viśrutā || 1-44-5 ||

"And this Ganga shall henceforth be your eldest daughter; and, called by a name after your own deed, she shall remain renowned throughout the world."

Shloka 6 (bala.44.6)

गंगा त्रिपथगा नाम दिव्या भागीरथीति च। त्रीन्पथो भावयन्तीति तस्मत्त्रिपथगा स्मृता ॥ १-४४-६ ॥

gaṃgā tripathagā nāma divyā bhāgīrathīti ca| trīnpatho bhāvayantīti tasmattripathagā smṛtā || 1-44-6 ||

"This heavenly Ganga shall be called Tripathaga, 'she who courses the three paths,' and also Bhagirathi; and since she sanctifies the three worlds, she shall be remembered by the name Tripathaga."

Shloka 7 (bala.44.7)

पितामहानां सर्वेषां त्वमत्र मनुजाधिप। कुरुष्व सलिलं राजन् प्रतिज्ञामपवर्जय ॥ १-४४-७ ॥

pitāmahānāṃ sarveṣāṃ tvamatra manujādhipa| kuruṣva salilaṃ rājan pratijñāmapavarjaya || 1-44-7 ||

"Now, O lord of men, perform here the water-rite for all your forefathers, O king, and so discharge your pledge."

Shloka 8 (bala.44.8)

पूर्वकेण हि ते राजंस्तेनातियशसा तदा। धर्मिणां प्रवरेणाथ नैष प्राप्तो मनोरथः ॥ १-४४-८ ॥

pūrvakeṇa hi te rājaṃstenātiyaśasā tadā| dharmiṇāṃ pravareṇātha naiṣa prāpto manorathaḥ || 1-44-8 ||

"For, O king, even that most glorious ancestor of yours, foremost among the righteous, could not attain this desire in his own time."

Shloka 9 (bala.44.9)

तथैवांशुमता वत्स लोकेऽप्रतिमतेजसा। गङ्गां प्रार्थयता नेतुं प्रतिज्ञा नापवर्जिता ॥ १-४४-९ ॥

tathaivāṃśumatā vatsa loke'pratimatejasā| gaṅgāṃ prārthayatā netuṃ pratijñā nāpavarjitā || 1-44-9 ||

"Likewise, O child, Amshuman, unrivalled in splendor in this world, prayed to bring Ganga down, yet even he could not fulfill that vow."

Shloka 10 (bala.44.10)

राजर्षिणा गुणवता महर्षिसमतेजसा। मत्तुल्यतपसा चैव क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितेन च ॥ १-४४-१० ॥

rājarṣiṇā guṇavatā maharṣisamatejasā| mattulyatapasā caiva kṣatradharme sthitena ca || 1-44-10 ||

"Nor could that royal sage — virtuous, splendid as a great seer, equal to me in austerity, and steadfast in the duty of a Kshatriya —

Shloka 11 (bala.44.11)

दिलीपेन महाभाग तव पित्रातितेजसा। पुनर्न शङ्किता नेतुं गङ्गां प्रार्थयतानघ ॥ १-४४-११ ॥

dilīpena mahābhāga tava pitrātitejasā| punarna śaṅkitā netuṃ gaṅgāṃ prārthayatānagha || 1-44-11 ||

— your father Dilipa, O sinless one, greatly fortunate and exceedingly splendid — though he too prayed to bring Ganga down, could not accomplish it."

Shloka 12 (bala.44.12)

सा त्वया समतिक्रान्ता प्रतिज्ञा पुरुषर्षभ। प्राप्तोऽसि परमं लोके यशः परमसंमतम् ॥ १-४४-१२ ॥

sā tvayā samatikrāntā pratijñā puruṣarṣabha| prāpto'si paramaṃ loke yaśaḥ paramasaṃmatam || 1-44-12 ||

"That vow has now been accomplished by you, O bull among men; and you have won the highest renown in the world, held in the greatest esteem by all."

Shloka 13 (bala.44.13)

तच्च गंगावतरणं त्वया कृतमरिन्दम। अनेन च भवान् प्राप्तो धर्मस्यायतनं महत् ॥ १-४४-१३ ॥

tacca gaṃgāvataraṇaṃ tvayā kṛtamarindama| anena ca bhavān prāpto dharmasyāyatanaṃ mahat || 1-44-13 ||

"This Descent of Ganga has been achieved by you, O subduer of foes; and through it you have won a great and lasting foundation of merit."

Shloka 14 (bala.44.14)

प्लावयस्व त्वमात्मानं नरोत्तम सदोचिते। सलिले पुरुषश्रेष्ठ शुचिः पुण्यफलो भव ॥ १-४४-१४ ॥

plāvayasva tvamātmānaṃ narottama sadocite| salile puruṣaśreṣṭha śuciḥ puṇyaphalo bhava || 1-44-14 ||

"Bathe yourself, O best of men, always in these consecrated waters, O foremost of men; be purified, and let your merit bear its fruit."

Shloka 15 (bala.44.15)

पितामहानां सर्वेषां कुरुष्व सलिलक्रियाम्। स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि स्वं लोकं गम्यतां नृप ॥ १-४४-१५ ॥

pitāmahānāṃ sarveṣāṃ kuruṣva salilakriyām| svasti te'stu gamiṣyāmi svaṃ lokaṃ gamyatāṃ nṛpa || 1-44-15 ||

"Perform the water-rite for all your forefathers. May good fortune attend you; I now take my leave — and you too, O king, may return to your own realm."

Shloka 16 (bala.44.16)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा देवेशः सर्वलोकपितामहः। यथागतं तथागच्छद्देवलोकं महायशाः ॥ १-४४-१६ ॥

ityevamuktvā deveśaḥ sarvalokapitāmahaḥ| yathāgataṃ tathāgacchaddevalokaṃ mahāyaśāḥ || 1-44-16 ||

Having spoken thus, the lord of the gods, the Grandsire of all the worlds, greatly renowned, returned to the world of the gods as he had come.

Shloka 17 (bala.44.17)

भगीरथस्तु राजर्षिः कृत्वा सलिलमुत्तमम्। यथाक्रमं यथान्यायं सागराणां महायशाः ॥ १-४४-१७ ॥

bhagīrathastu rājarṣiḥ kṛtvā salilamuttamam| yathākramaṃ yathānyāyaṃ sāgarāṇāṃ mahāyaśāḥ || 1-44-17 ||

But Bhagiratha, the greatly renowned royal sage, having offered, in due order and by right observance, that excellent water-oblation for the sons of Sagara —

Shloka 18 (bala.44.18)

कृतोदकः शुची राजा स्वपुरं प्रविवेश ह। समृद्धार्थो नरश्रेष्ठ स्वराज्यं प्रशशास ह ॥ १-४४-१८ ॥

kṛtodakaḥ śucī rājā svapuraṃ praviveśa ha| samṛddhārtho naraśreṣṭha svarājyaṃ praśaśāsa ha || 1-44-18 ||

— having performed the rite and being made pure, that king entered his own city once more; and, O best of men, his purpose accomplished, he ruled well over his own kingdom.

Shloka 19 (bala.44.19)

प्रमुमोद च लोकस्तं नृपमासाद्य राघव। नष्टशोकः समृद्धार्थो बभूव विगतज्वरः ॥ १-४४-१९ ॥

pramumoda ca lokastaṃ nṛpamāsādya rāghava| naṣṭaśokaḥ samṛddhārtho babhūva vigatajvaraḥ || 1-44-19 ||

And the people, O Raghava, rejoiced greatly to have their king again; and he, his grief now ended and his purpose fulfilled, was rid of every torment.

Shloka 20 (bala.44.20)

एष ते राम गंगाया विस्तरोऽभिहितो मया। स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते संध्याकालोऽतिवर्तते ॥ १-४४-२० ॥

eṣa te rāma gaṃgāyā vistaro'bhihito mayā| svasti prāpnuhi bhadraṃ te saṃdhyākālo'tivartate || 1-44-20 ||

"This, O Rama, is the full account of Ganga that I have related to you. May you fare well and prosper — the hour of the evening rite is now passing."

Shloka 21 (bala.44.21)

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुत्र्यं स्वर्ग्यमथापि च। यः श्रावयति विप्रेषु क्षत्रियेष्वितरेषु च ॥ १-४४-२१ ॥

dhanyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ putryaṃ svargyamathāpi ca| yaḥ śrāvayati vipreṣu kṣatriyeṣvitareṣu ca || 1-44-21 ||

"This tale bestows prosperity, fame, long life, progeny, and even heaven; and whoever recounts it — among brahmins, kshatriyas, or others —

Shloka 22 (bala.44.22)

प्रीयन्ते पितरस्तस्य प्रीयन्ते दैवतानि च। इदमाख़्यनमायुष्यं गंगावतरणं शुभम् ॥ १-४४-२२ ॥

prīyante pitarastasya prīyante daivatāni ca| idamākhyanamāyuṣyaṃ gaṃgāvataraṇaṃ śubham || 1-44-22 ||

— his forefathers are gratified, and the gods too are gratified. This auspicious tale, which grants long life, is the story of Ganga's descent."

Shloka 23 (bala.44.23)

यः श्रुणोति च काकुत्स्थ सर्वान् कामानवाप्नुयात्। सर्वे पापाः प्रणश्यन्ति आयुः कीर्तिश्च वर्धते ॥ १-४४-२३ ॥

yaḥ śruṇoti ca kākutstha sarvān kāmānavāpnuyāt| sarve pāpāḥ praṇaśyanti āyuḥ kīrtiśca vardhate || 1-44-23 ||

"And, O scion of Kakutstha, whoever hears it shall obtain all his desires; all his sins shall be destroyed, and his life and his fame shall grow."