Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

स गत्वा सागरम् राजा गंगया अनुगतस् तदा
प्रविवेश तलम् भूमेः यत्र ते भस्मसात् कृताः

sa gatvā sāgaram rājā gaṃgayā anugatas tadā
praviveśa talam bhūmeḥ yatra te bhasmasāt kṛtāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"King Bhageeratha followed by Ganga has gone to the ocean-like ditch which is dredged up by the sons of Sagara, and entered the subterranean of earth where the sons of Sagara are rendered to ashes." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about the Descent of Ganga. [1-44-1]

VERSE 2

भस्मनि अथ आप्लुते राम गंगाइआः सलिलेन वै
सर्व लोक प्रभुः ब्रह्मा राजानम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

bhasmani atha āplute rāma gaṃgāiāḥ salilena vai
sarva loka prabhuḥ brahmā rājānam idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"While the waters of Ganga are inundating those ashes, oh, Rama, then Brahma, the lord of all worlds, indeed spoke this to the king Bhageeratha. [1-44-2]

VERSE 3

तारिता नरशार्दूल दिवम् याताः च देववत्
षष्टिः पुत्र सहस्राणि सगरस्य महात्मनः

tāritā naraśārdūla divam yātāḥ ca devavat
ṣaṣṭiḥ putra sahasrāṇi sagarasya mahātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

nara śārdūla = oh, tigerly: man - Bhageeratha | mahātmanaḥ sagarasya: of great-souled, of Sagara | ṣaṣṭiḥ putra sahasrāṇi = sikṣty, sons, thousands: sixty thousand sons | tāritā = are crossed over: the sea of mortality | deva vat = gods like: as good as, gods | divam yātāḥ ca: to heaven, they transited, also. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, tigerly-man Bhageeratha, the sixty thousands sons of great souled Sagara have crossed over the sea of mortality, and on a par with the gods they have also transited to heaven. [1-44-3]

VERSE 4

सागरस्य जलम् लोके यावत् स्थास्यति पार्थिव
सगरस्य आत्मजाः सर्वे दिवि स्थास्यन्ति देववत्

sāgarasya jalam loke yāvat sthāsyati pārthiva
sagarasya ātmajāḥ sarve divi sthāsyanti devavat

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

" 'As long as the water of the ocean abides in the world, oh, king, so long the sons of Sagara will abide in heaven like gods. [1-44-4]

VERSE 5

इयम् च दुहिता ज्येष्ठा तव गंगा भविष्यति
त्वत् कृतेन च नाम्ना अथ लोके स्थास्यति विश्रुता

iyam ca duhitā jyeṣṭhā tava gaṃgā bhaviṣyati
tvat kṛtena ca nāmnā atha loke sthāsyati viśrutā

SYNONYMS

iyam gangā ca: this, Ganga, also | tava jyeṣṭhā duhitā bhaviṣyati: your, elder, daughter, she becomes | atha: hereafter | tvat kṛtena = by you, done dīd: associated with your action of bringing her to earth | nāmna ca: by [her] name, also | loke viśrutā sthāsyati: in world, renowned, she will remain. |

TRANSLATION

" 'This Ganga will become your eldest daughter and hereafter she will remain renowned in the world with the name associated with your deed of bringing her onto earth. [1-44-5]

PURPORT

Otherwise, 'by your fatherhood she will be called Bhaageerathi and your names becomes her surname.'

VERSE 6

गंगा त्रिपथगा नाम दिव्या भागीरथी इति च
त्रीन् पथो भावयन्ति इति तस्मत् त्रिपथगा स्मृता

gaṃgā tripathagā nāma divyā bhāgīrathī iti ca
trīn patho bhāvayanti iti tasmat tripathagā smṛtā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

" 'Henceforth heavenly Ganga will be renowned as 'Triple-path-cruiser' and 'Bhaageerathi,' as well, and as this river is sanctifying three worlds, namely, svarga, bhuu, paataala loka -s, 'heaven, earth and netherworld' she will be remembered as the traveller on triple path. [1-44-6]

VERSE 7

पितामहानाम् सर्वेषाम् त्वम् अत्र मनुजाधिप
कुरुष्व सलिलम् राजन् प्रतिज्ञाम् अपवर्जय

pitāmahānām sarveṣām tvam atra manujādhipa
kuruṣva salilam rājan pratijñām apavarjaya

SYNONYMS

manuja adhipa rājan: = people's, lord, oh, king | tvam: you | atra = therein: in Ganga's water | sarveṣām pitāmahānām: to all of, to [your] forefathers | salilam kuruṣva = vater: libation, you make - offer water oblation | pratijñām: [your] pledge | apa varjaya = aside, cast: remove by fulfilling your requiescat. |

TRANSLATION

" 'You may now offer water-oblations to all of your forefathers in the waters of Ganga, oh, king, the lord of people, thus you may fulfil and do away with the pledge of your requiescat. [1-44-7]

VERSE 8

पूर्वकेण हि ते राजन् तेन अतियशसा तदा
धर्मिणाम् प्रवरेण अथ न एष प्राप्तो मनोरथः

pūrvakeṇa hi te rājan tena atiyaśasā tadā
dharmiṇām pravareṇa atha na eṣa prāpto manorathaḥ

SYNONYMS

rājan: oh, king | te pūrvakeṇa: by your, ancestor | ati yaśasā: highly, glorious one | dharmiṇām pravareṇa = among righteous ones, best one: viz., Sagara | tena atha [api]: by him, it is, [even, even by him] | tadā eṣa manorathaḥ = at that time: in his lifetime, this, aspiration | na prāptaḥ: not, been achieved |

TRANSLATION

" 'Your ancestor Sagara is a highly glorious one and a best one among righteous persons, oh, king, even then he has not achieved this aspiration of alighting Ganga in his lifetime, but you have achieved it. [1-44-8]

VERSE 9

तथैव अंशुमता वत्स लोके अप्रतिम तेजसा
गंगाम् प्रार्थयता नेतुम् प्रतिज्ञा न अपवर्जिता

tathaiva aṃśumatā vatsa loke apratima tejasā
gaṃgām prārthayatā netum pratijñā na apavarjitā

SYNONYMS

vatsa: oh, son | tathā eva: like that | loke a pratima tejasā: in world, not, equal, one by his resplendence | gangām ānetum prārthayata: Ganga, to lead forth, one who prayed for | amśumatā = by āmśuman: your grandfather | pratijñā na apavarjitā = vov, not, cast aside: dispense with the vow - fulfilled. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Like that, your grandfather Amshuman, who is unequalled in his resplendence in this world and who had been praying for the descent of Ganga, he also could not dispense with this vow on fulfilling it. [1-44-9]

VERSE 10

राजर्षिणा गुणवता महर्षि सम तेजसा
मत् तुल्य तपसा चैव क्षत्र धर्म स्थितेन च

rājarṣiṇā guṇavatā maharṣi sama tejasā
mat tulya tapasā caiva kṣatra dharma sthitena ca

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, impeccable Bhageeratha, even by the kingly-sage Dileepa whose resplendence is kindred to great sages, who is equal to me in his ascesis, who is abided by the observances of ruling Kshatriya class, even by such a highly fortunate and highly resplendent father of yours it was impossible to bring Ganga in his turn, even though he had been supplicating for the descent of Ganga throughout his lifetime. [1-44-10, 11]

PURPORT

The content of verse 10 at times will be attributed to verse 9, viz., to Amshuman, rather than to Dileepa.

VERSE 12

सा त्वया समतिक्रान्ता प्रतिज्ञा पुरुषर्षभ
प्राप्तो असि परमम् लोके यशः परम संमतम्

sā tvayā samatikrāntā pratijñā puruṣarṣabha
prāpto asi paramam loke yaśaḥ parama saṃmatam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

" 'But, you have accomplished that pledge, oh, the best one among men, and in the world you have achieved highest renown which is highly adorable by all. [1-44-12]

VERSE 13

तत् च गंगा अवतरणम् त्वया कृतम् अरिन्दम
अनेन च भवान् प्राप्तो धर्मस्य आयतनम् महत्

tat ca gaṃgā avataraṇam tvayā kṛtam arindama
anena ca bhavān prāpto dharmasya āyatanam mahat

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

" 'That 'Descent of Ganga' is perfected by you, oh, enemy-represser, and by this you have acquired a genuine basis for righteousness in this world, and thereby a base for yourself in my world, namely Abode of Brahma. [1-44-13]

VERSE 14

प्लावयस्व त्वम् आत्मानम् नरोत्तम सदा उचिते
सलिले पुरुषश्रेष्ठ शुचिः पुण्यफलो भव

plāvayasva tvam ātmānam narottama sadā ucite
salile puruṣaśreṣṭha śuciḥ puṇyaphalo bhava

SYNONYMS

nara uttama = oh, best among men: oh, phenomenal one | puruṣa śreṣṭha = oh, best among men: oh, persona grata | ucite salile = in coicest: holy, waters - of Ganga | sadā: always | ātmānam tvam plāvayasva = yourself, you, dip: drench, take dip-baths | śuciḥ: become purified | puṇya phalaḥ bhava: merit, be fructified, you become. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, phenomenal one, you may always take dip-baths in the holy water of Ganga and oh, persona grata, thereby get purified of sins and thus let your merit be fructified. [1-44-14]

PURPORT

The waters of other rivers have a blemish called rajasvala doSa 'the blemish of menstruation.' When the sun is in Leo-Cancer, i.e., during monsoon, and when new waters come in, it is as good as menstruation for the ladies called, the rivers. But Ganga is beyond these taboos because it is perennial, hence her is sanctifying. Some more details are given in endnote of this chapter.

VERSE 15

पितामहानाम् सर्वेषाम् कुरुष्व सलिलक्रियाम्
स्वस्ति ते अस्तु गमिष्यामि स्वम् लोकम् गंयताम् नृप

pitāmahānām sarveṣām kuruṣva salilakriyām
svasti te astu gamiṣyāmi svam lokam gaṃyatām nṛpa

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

" 'You may now perform water-oblations to your forefathers with the water of Ganga, let there be wellbeing to you, and oh, king, here I go to my abode and you too may depart to yours.' Thus Brahma said to Bhageeratha. [1-44-15]

VERSE 16

इति एवम् उक्त्वा देवेशः सर्वलोक पितामहः
यथा आगतम् तथा अगच्छत् देव लोकम् महायशाः

iti evam uktvā deveśaḥ sarvaloka pitāmahaḥ
yathā āgatam tathā agacchat deva lokam mahāyaśāḥ

SYNONYMS

sarva loka pitā mahaḥ: for all, worlds, forefather | mahāyaśāḥ deva īśaḥ = great glorious, gods, lord of: Brahma | iti evam uktvā: thus, this way, on saying | yathā āgatam tathā: as came in, like that | deva lokam agacchat: to empyrean, world, went away. |

TRANSLATION

"On saying in this way, the forefather of all the worlds, and the great glorious lord of all gods, namely Brahma, went away to his empyrean world as he has came. [1-44-16]

VERSE 17

भगीरथः तु राजर्षिः कृत्वा सलिलम् उत्तमम्
यथाक्रमम् यथान्यायम् सागराणाम् महायशाः

bhagīrathaḥ tu rājarṣiḥ kṛtvā salilam uttamam
yathākramam yathānyāyam sāgarāṇām mahāyaśāḥ

SYNONYMS

rājaṛṣiḥ: kingly-sage | mahāyaśāḥ: greatly renowned one | rājā: king | bhagīrathaḥ api: Bhageeratha, even | yathā kramam yathā nyāyam: as per, regularity [according to precedency,] as per, rationale of scriptures | sāgarāṇām = for ṣagara's sons: souls of the sons of Sagara | [uttama loka prāpaka: superior, realms, endowing] | uttamam salilam kṛtvā: best, water-oblations, on performing | kṛta udakaḥ [itare]: who had completed water-oblations, [to other manes] | śucī: on becoming purified, sanctified | sva puram praviveśa ha: his own, city, [re-]entered, indeed | nara śreṣṭha = oh, outstanding man: Rama | samṛddha arthaḥ: completely achieved, of his purposes | sva rājyam pra śaśāsa ha: his own, kingdom, well, ruled, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"On according those best water-oblations that endow superior realms to the souls of sons of Sagara, according to precedency and the rationale of scriptures, and even on offering water-oblations to other manes that kingly-sage and greatly renowned Bhageeratha is sanctified, and then only that king re-entered his own city, indeed when his purpose is completely achieved, and oh, outstanding man Rama, thus that king Bhageeratha ruled his kingdom well. [1-44-17, 18]

VERSE 19

प्रमुमोद च लोकः तम् नृपम् आसाद्य राघव
नष्टशोकः समृद्धार्थो बभूव विगतज्वरः

pramumoda ca lokaḥ tam nṛpam āsādya rāghava
naṣṭaśokaḥ samṛddhārtho babhūva vigatajvaraḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"On regaining him as their king the subjects of the kingdom are overjoyed, and oh, Raghava, that king Bhageeratha too is relieved of his febrility as his purpose is achieved and he is happy when devoid of haunting grief of getting Ganga to earth. [1-44-19]

VERSE 20

एष ते राम गंगाया विस्तरो अभिहितो मया
स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रम् ते संध्या कालो अतिवर्तते

eṣa te rāma gaṃgāyā vistaro abhihito mayā
svasti prāpnuhi bhadram te saṃdhyā kālo ativartate

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | gangāyāḥ eṣa vistaraḥ: Ganga's, this, detailed [legend] | mayā te abhihitaḥ: by me, to you, described | svasti prāpnuhi: prosperity, you attain | te bhadram: you be blest | sandhyā kālaḥ ati vartate = vesperal, time, over, passing: is elapsing. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, this way I described to you about 'The Decent of Ganga' in detail, thus you be blest and prosperous, and as the visceral time is elapsing no more questions from you for now, and let us meditate on Gayatri. But listen to the fruits of listening the legend of ganga avataraNa, 'The Descent of Ganga' [1-44-20]

VERSE 21

धन्यम् यशस्यम् आयुष्यम् पुत्र्यम् स्वर्ग्यम् अथ अपि च
यः श्रावयति विप्रेषु क्षत्रियेषु इतेरेषु च

dhanyam yaśasyam āyuṣyam putryam svargyam atha api ca
yaḥ śrāvayati vipreṣu kṣatriyeṣu itereṣu ca

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"This legend is conducive to achieve prosperity, fame, longevity, progeny and even heaven, and he who narrates this legend to others, whether he is from Brahmans or from Kshatriya-s, or for that matter of fact from any other class, his manes will be satisfied, and gods too will be gladdened. [1-44-21, 22a]

VERSE 22

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे चतुर् चत्वारिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe catur catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama of Kakutstha-s, he who listens to this auspicious legend named 'The Descent of Gang,' which is an endower of longevity, all his wishes are achieved, all his sins are obliterated, and his reputation and longevity are also enhanced." Thus Vishvamitra concluded the episode of 'The Descent of Ganga.' [1-44-22b, 23]

PURPORT

Almost every puraaNa , mythological treatise, deals with the sanctity of Ganga. It is therefore queried and counter-queried as to why and how she is sanctifying. Many treatises have detailed about it. This river emerges from the nail of the left foot's big-toe of Vishnu as said in Vishnu Puraana: gangaa deva anganaa angaanaam anulepanaa api pinjaraa | vaama paada ambuja anguShTa nakha sroto vinirgataa | visNor bhibharti yaam bhaktyaa sirasaa ahar nisam dhR^ivam - sivaH Hence she took landing on Shiva's head. sankarasya sirasi bhraShTam patitam kalmaSha apahaa - mahesvara tiirtha 'the one who plunged onto Shankara's head and the very same is the remover of sins.' Even if that river has fallen onto the head of Shiva at a later time, her original birth place is at the feet of Vishnu hence that river is sacred. After falling on the head of Shiva she is released and she rapidly flowed onto earth. Hence, her speed and rapidity alone are the sanctifying factors. nadii vegena sudhyati - govinda raaja 'a river cleanses itself by its rapidity.' As such, after incarceration by Shiva she flowed rapidly and thus her sanctity is kept up, by her very rapidity. On bearing these sanctifying waters on his head, Shiva became a sanctified Shiva as said at sarit praparodakena tiirthena - candra- mauli vidhR^itena sivaH sivo aabhuut - bhaagavatapuraaNa . Shiva presumed that he is honoured for the falling of Ganga on his head as said at tat ambu patitam dR^iShTvaa dadhaara sirasaa haraH | paavanaartham jaTaa madhye - mahaa bhaarata Even in aadhyatma raaamayaNa Sage Vashishta says to Vishnu tvat paada salilam dhR^itvaa dhanvo bhuut girijaa patiH - aadhyaatma raamaayaNa 'on bearing your foot's waters Shiva became pious.' In the legend of Trivikrama , dwarf-ascetic-boy, at one place it is said that due to the pressure of the foot of Vamana, the incarnation of Vishnu, the shell of the universe is pierced and water available outside has gone in and that water belonged to the Divine Ganga. At another place it is said when Brahma washed the feet of Vishnu that water from his kamanDulu 'handy vessel' flowed as Ganga. Still at another place it is said that the dharma itself flowed as Ganga at the behest of Brahma. These three are correlated and said that 'when Brahma washed the feet of Vishnu the waters were not sufficient enough to drench, then Brahma ordered dharma to flow like water, but that too was not enough, and when Vamana pierced the shell of universe then dharma flowed as Ganga. The yoga takes yet another viewpoint of Ganga. Their great guru is Shiva, and hence yogis say that every fraction of second Ganga, or cetana , vitality, flows in ones own body. tat paada padmajam ga~Ngaam nipatantiim sva muurdhani | cintayet brahma randhreNa pravishantiim svakaam tanuum | tayaa sa~NkShaalayet deham baahyam abhyantaram malam | tat kShaNaat virajo mantra jaayate sphaTika upamam || According to the six-plexus theory cetana shakti , power of vitality, flows through brahma randhra 'the hole in the mid of the pate' to sahasraa kamala the multi-petal-lotus, the Internal Capsule or the Reticular Activating System and from there to aaj~naa cakra ' plexus of discrimination' back at the third eye, and from there the vitality flows down the lines of the three spinal nerves, viz., iDaa, pingala, suSumna sympathetic, parasympathetic and central spinal cord. These three are the three replicas of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati . Their confluence occurs once at aaj~naa cakra ' third eye' and again at the perineum and having gone to the perineum this Ganga activates the dormant particles of vitality to raise them up the spinal system. Thus, the Supreme Yogi Shiva ordains the vitality called Ganga to flow up and down the plexuses, from grey matter down to the perineum, only to activate the system. More Information than this will become unjustifiable here. Ganga is ever holy because she does not have any womanly stigmas. dvi maasam saritah sarvaa bhavanti rajasvalaaH - maarkanDeya - - simha karkaaTakayoH madhye sarvaa nadyaa rajasvalaaH - vyaaghrapaada 'for two months all the rivers menstruate' Maakandeya Puraana. 'When sun in Leo-Cancer all rivers menstruate.' that is due to monsoon and new waters, as such bathing in them at that time is prohibitive. But River Ganga perennially draws its river water from Himalayas thus she has no such blemish. For all these diverse opinions the reply is given in Ramayana itself as said in Ayodhya vishNu paada udbhavaam divyam - ayodhya and also at 1-43-7 of Ramayana saa tasmin puNyaa - puNye rudrasya muurdhani - raamaayaNa which imports the meaning: 'she that pious River Ganga, fell onto the pious head of Shiva,' i.e., 'without any mutation, both Shiva and Ganga are the sanctifiers by themselves, while helping each other, i.e., Shiva helped Ganga to gain a foothold on His head, while Ganga helped Shiva to become the root cause to bear and release her brunt, and in turn, both of them helped the humankind.' Thus, what more can be sanctity than helping the created beings with one's own dharma ?