← 1.33 Story of Kuśanābha: Gādhi’s birth and Viśvāmitra’s lineage · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.35 Story of Gaṅgā & Umā: Restrained union and Umā’s curses →

Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 34: Story of Gaṅgā & Umā: Himavat’s two daughters

Summary. Himavat gives Gaṅgā to the Devas for the worlds’ welfare, while Umā undertakes austerity and marries Śiva

Sequence

  1. At dawn Viśvāmitra wakes Rāma, and the company prepares to travel after the morning rites (1.34.1–3)
  2. Rāma asks which route they should use to cross the fordable Śoṇā → Viśvāmitra points out the maharṣis' path (1.34.4–5)
  3. after traveling until midday, they reach the Gaṅgā and camp beside its holy waters (1.34.6–7)
  4. they bathe, perform tarpaṇa for the pitṛs and devatās, offer agnihotra oblations and eat the havis (sacrificial food), and sit around their teacher (1.34.8–9)
  5. Rāma asks how Gaṅgā came to travel through the three worlds. Viśvāmitra explains that Himavat and Menā, daughter of Meru, had two daughters: Gaṅgā the elder and Umā the younger (1.34.10–14)
  6. the Suras asked Himavat for Gaṅgā to serve the welfare of the three worlds → he gave her willingly, and they took her to heaven (1.34.15–17)
  7. Umā undertook severe austerities and was given in marriage to Rudra → Viśvāmitra concludes this first account of the sisters and Gaṅgā's heavenly departure. (1.34.18–21)

Verses 1.34.1–21

1.34.1

upāsya rātriśeṣaṃ tu śoṇākūle maharṣibhiḥ
niśāyāṃ suprabhātāyāṃ viśvāmitro 'bhyabhāṣata

Having spent the remainder of the night with the great seers on the bank of the Śoṇā, when the night had brightened well into dawn, Viśvāmitra spoke:

Words: upāsya — having spent, passed; rātriśeṣaṃ — the remainder of the night; tu — and; śoṇākūle — on the bank of the Śoṇā; maharṣibhiḥ — with the great seers; niśāyāṃ — the night (loc.); suprabhātāyāṃ — when it had well dawned (loc. abs.); viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; 'bhyabhāṣata — spoke

1.34.2

suprabhātā niśā rāma pūrvā saṃdhyā pravartate
uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhadraṃ te gamanāyābhirocaya

“The night has well dawned, Rāma; the eastern twilight is coming on. Arise, arise — blessings on you — make ready to set out.”

Words: suprabhātā — well dawned, fully bright; niśā — the night; rāma — O Rāma; pūrvā — eastern, early; saṃdhyā — twilight; pravartate — comes on, sets in; uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha — arise, arise; bhadraṃ — a blessing; te — to you; gamanāyābhirocaya — make ready for departure

1.34.3

tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya kṛtvā paurvāhṇikīṃ kriyām
gamanaṃ rocayām āsa vākyaṃ cedam uvāca ha

Hearing those words of his, and having performed the morning rite, he made ready to depart and spoke these words:

Words: tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; vacanaṃ — words; tasya — his; kṛtvā — having performed; paurvāhṇikīṃ — of the morning, matutinal; kriyām — rite, act; gamanaṃ — departure; rocayām āsa — made ready for, resolved on; vākyaṃ — words; cedam — and this; uvāca — spoke; ha — indeed

1.34.4

ayaṃ śoṇaḥ śubhajalo gādhaḥ pulinamaṇḍitaḥ
katareṇa pathā brahman saṃtariṣyāmahe vayam

“Here is the Śoṇā, of fair waters, fordable, graced with sandbanks; by which of the two paths, O brahmin, shall we cross over?”

Words: ayaṃ — this, here; śoṇaḥ — the Śoṇā; śubhajalo — of fair waters; gādhaḥ — fordable, shallow; pulinamaṇḍitaḥ — graced with sandbanks; katareṇa — by which (of two); pathā — by the path; brahman — O brahmin; saṃtariṣyāmahe — shall we cross over; vayam — we

1.34.5

evam uktas tu rāmeṇa viśvāmitro 'bravīd idam
eṣa panthā mayoddiṣṭo yena yānti maharṣayaḥ

Addressed thus by Rāma, Viśvāmitra said this: “This is the path pointed out by me, by which the great seers go.”

Words: evam uktas — addressed thus; tu — and; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; 'bravīd — said; idam — this; eṣa — this; panthā — path; mayoddiṣṭo — pointed out by me; yena — by which; yānti — go, travel; maharṣayaḥ — the great seers

1.34.6

te gatvā dūram adhvānaṃ gate 'rdhadivase tadā
jāhnavīṃ saritāṃ śreṣṭhāṃ dadṛśur munisevitām

Having gone a long way, when half the day had passed, they then beheld the Jāhnavī, best of rivers, frequented by sages.

Words: te — they; gatvā — having gone; dūram — far, a long (way); adhvānaṃ — road, way; gate 'rdhadivase — when half the day had passed; tadā — then; jāhnavīṃ — the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā); saritāṃ — of rivers; śreṣṭhāṃ — the best; dadṛśur — they beheld, saw; munisevitām — frequented by sages

1.34.7

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā puṇyasalilāṃ haṃsasārasasevitām
babhūvur muditāḥ sarve munayaḥ saharāghavāḥ
tasyās tīre tataś cakrus te āvāsaparigraham

Seeing that river of holy waters, frequented by swans and cranes, all the sages together with the Rāghavas became glad; and there upon its bank they made their encampment.

Words: tāṃ — that; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; puṇyasalilāṃ — of holy waters; haṃsasārasasevitām — frequented by swans and cranes; babhūvur — became; muditāḥ — glad, delighted; sarve — all; munayaḥ — the sages; saharāghavāḥ — together with the Rāghavas; tasyās — its; tīre — on the bank; tataś — then; cakrus — they made; te — they; āvāsaparigraham — the taking-up of a dwelling, encampment

1.34.8

tataḥ snātvā yathānyāyaṃ saṃtarpya pitṛdevatāḥ
hutvā caivāgnihotrāṇi prāśya cāmṛtavad dhaviḥ

Then, having bathed according to rule, gratified the ancestors and the gods, offered the fire-oblations, and partaken of the oblation-food that was like nectar,

Words: tataḥ — then; snātvā — having bathed; yathānyāyaṃ — according to rule; saṃtarpya — having gratified, satisfied; pitṛdevatāḥ — the ancestors and the deities; hutvā — having offered (in fire); caivāgnihotrāṇi — and the fire-oblations; prāśya — having partaken of, eaten; cāmṛtavad — and like nectar; dhaviḥ — the oblation, sacrificial food

1.34.9

viviśur jāhnavītīre śucau muditamānasāḥ
viśvāmitraṃ mahātmānaṃ parivārya samantataḥ

they settled on the pure bank of the Jāhnavī with glad hearts, surrounding the great-souled Viśvāmitra on every side.

Words: viviśur — they settled, took their places; jāhnavītīre — on the bank of the Jāhnavī; śucau — pure (loc.); muditamānasāḥ — with glad hearts; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; mahātmānaṃ — the great-souled; parivārya — having surrounded; samantataḥ — on all sides

1.34.10

saṃprahṛṣṭamanā rāmo viśvāmitram athābravīt
bhagavañ śrotum icchāmi gaṅgāṃ tripathagāṃ nadīm
trailokyaṃ katham ākramya gatā nadanadīpatim

With a delighted heart Rāma then said to Viśvāmitra: “Venerable one, I wish to hear of the river Gaṅgā, who goes by three paths — how, traversing the three worlds, she reached the lord of streams and rivers.

Words: saṃprahṛṣṭamanā — with a delighted heart; rāmo — Rāma; viśvāmitram — to Viśvāmitra; athābravīt — then said; bhagavañ — O venerable one; śrotum — to hear; icchāmi — I wish; gaṅgāṃ — Gaṅgā; tripathagāṃ — going by three paths; nadīm — the river; trailokyaṃ — the three worlds; katham — how; ākramya — having traversed, strode over; gatā — went, reached; nadanadīpatim — the lord of streams and rivers (the ocean)

1.34.11

codito rāma vākyena viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
vṛddhiṃ janma ca gaṅgāyā vaktum evopacakrame

Urged by Rāma's words, the great sage Viśvāmitra began to tell the birth and growth of Gaṅgā:

Words: codito — urged, prompted; rāma — of Rāma; vākyena — by the words; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; vṛddhiṃ — the growth, increase; janma — the birth; ca — and; gaṅgāyā — of Gaṅgā; vaktum — to tell; evopacakrame — then began

1.34.12

śailendro himavān nāma dhātūnām ākaro mahān
tasya kanyā dvayaṃ rāma rūpeṇāpratimaṃ bhuvi

There is a lord of mountains named Himavat, a great mine of minerals; he has two daughters, Rāma, unmatched in beauty on earth.

Words: śailendro — the lord of mountains; himavān — Himavat, the Himālaya; nāma — by name; dhātūnām — of minerals, metals; ākaro — a mine, source; mahān — great; tasya — his; kanyā — daughters; dvayaṃ — a pair, two; rāma — O Rāma; rūpeṇāpratimaṃ — unmatched in beauty; bhuvi — on earth

1.34.13

yā meruduhitā rāma tayor mātā sumadhyamā
nāmnā menā manojñā vai patnī himavataḥ priyā

Their mother, Rāma, slender-waisted, was the daughter of Meru — Menā by name, charming, the beloved wife of Himavat.

Words: yā — who; meruduhitā — the daughter of Meru; rāma — O Rāma; tayor — of the two, their; mātā — mother; sumadhyamā — slender-waisted, fair-waisted; nāmnā — by name; menā — Menā; manojñā — charming, pleasing to the mind; vai — indeed; patnī — wife; himavataḥ — of Himavat; priyā — beloved, dear

1.34.14

tasyāṃ gaṅgeyam abhavaj jyeṣṭhā himavataḥ sutā
umā nāma dvitīyābhūt kanyā tasyaiva rāghava

Of her this Gaṅgā was born, the elder daughter of Himavat; and Umā by name was his second daughter, O Rāghava.

Words: tasyāṃ — of her, in her; gaṅgeyam — this Gaṅgā; abhavaj — was born, came to be; jyeṣṭhā — eldest, elder; himavataḥ — of Himavat; sutā — daughter; umā — Umā; nāma — by name; dvitīyābhūt — was the second; kanyā — daughter; tasyaiva — his very; rāghava — O Rāghava

1.34.15

atha jyeṣṭhāṃ surāḥ sarve devatārthacikīrṣayā
śailendraṃ varayām āsur gaṅgāṃ tripathagāṃ nadīm

Then all the gods, wishing to accomplish the purpose of the gods, entreated the lord of mountains for the elder daughter, Gaṅgā, the river that goes by three paths.

Words: atha — then; jyeṣṭhāṃ — the elder; surāḥ — the gods; sarve — all; devatārthacikīrṣayā — out of a wish to accomplish the gods' purpose; śailendraṃ — the lord of mountains; varayām āsur — they entreated, asked for (in marriage); gaṅgāṃ — Gaṅgā; tripathagāṃ — going by three paths; nadīm — the river

1.34.16

dadau dharmeṇa himavāṃs tanayāṃ lokapāvanīm
svacchandapathagāṃ gaṅgāṃ trailokyahitakāmyayā

In accordance with dharma Himavat gave his daughter Gaṅgā, purifier of the world, who goes wherever she pleases, out of a wish for the welfare of the three worlds.

Words: dadau — gave; dharmeṇa — in accordance with dharma; himavāṃs — Himavat; tanayāṃ — daughter; lokapāvanīm — purifier of the world; svacchandapathagāṃ — going by her own free path; gaṅgāṃ — Gaṅgā; trailokyahitakāmyayā — out of a wish for the welfare of the three worlds

1.34.17

pratigṛhya trilokārthaṃ trilokahitakāriṇaḥ
gaṅgām ādāya te 'gacchan kṛtārthenāntarātmanā

Accepting her for the sake of the three worlds, those doers of good to the three worlds took Gaṅgā and departed, their purpose achieved in their hearts.

Words: pratigṛhya — having accepted, received; trilokārthaṃ — for the sake of the three worlds; trilokahitakāriṇaḥ — doers of good to the three worlds; gaṅgām — Gaṅgā; ādāya — having taken; te — they; 'gacchan — went, departed; kṛtārthenāntarātmanā — with a heart whose purpose was accomplished

1.34.18

yā cānyā śailaduhitā kanyāsīd raghunandana
ugraṃ sā vratam āsthāya tapas tepe tapodhanā

And the other daughter of the mountain, O delight of the Raghus — she, undertaking a severe vow, performed austerity, rich in penance.

Words: yā — who; cānyā — and the other; śailaduhitā — daughter of the mountain; kanyāsīd — was a maiden; raghunandana — O delight of the Raghus; ugraṃ — severe, fierce; sā — she; vratam — a vow; āsthāya — having undertaken; tapas — austerity, penance; tepe — performed (austerity); tapodhanā — rich in penance, whose wealth is austerity

1.34.19

ugreṇa tapasā yuktāṃ dadau śailavaraḥ sutām
rudrāyāpratirūpāya umāṃ lokanamaskṛtām

The best of mountains gave his daughter Umā, endowed with fierce austerity and honoured by the world, to the peerless Rudra.

Words: ugreṇa — with fierce; tapasā — austerity; yuktāṃ — endowed, joined; dadau — gave; śailavaraḥ — the best of mountains; sutām — daughter; rudrāyāpratirūpāya — to the peerless Rudra; umāṃ — Umā; lokanamaskṛtām — honoured by the world

1.34.20

ete te śaila rājasya sute lokanamaskṛte
gaṅgā ca saritāṃ śreṣṭhā umā devī ca rāghava

These, as I have told you, are the two daughters of the mountain-king, honoured by the world: Gaṅgā, best of rivers, and the goddess Umā, O Rāghava.

Words: ete — these; te — to you; śaila rājasya — of the mountain-king; sute — the two daughters (dual); lokanamaskṛte — honoured by the world (dual); gaṅgā — Gaṅgā; ca — and; saritāṃ — of rivers; śreṣṭhā — the best; umā — Umā; devī — the goddess; ca — and; rāghava — O Rāghava

1.34.21

etat te dharmam ākhyātaṃ yathā tripathagā nadī
khaṃ gatā prathamaṃ tāta gatiṃ gatimatāṃ vara

This sacred account has been told to you: how the three-pathed river first went to the sky, my dear — she who is the recourse of all that moves — O best of men.

Words: etat — this; te — to you; dharmam — sacred account, (in accord with) dharma; ākhyātaṃ — declared, told; yathā — how; tripathagā — going by three paths; nadī — the river; khaṃ — the sky, heaven; gatā — went; prathamaṃ — first; tāta — my dear, my child; gatiṃ — the way, recourse, goal; gatimatāṃ — of those that move, of living things; vara — O best (one)

← 1.33 Story of Kuśanābha: Gādhi’s birth and Viśvāmitra’s lineage · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.35 Story of Gaṅgā & Umā: Restrained union and Umā’s curses →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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