← 1.34 Story of Gaṅgā & Umā: Himavat’s two daughters · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.36 Story of Gaṅgā & Umā: Kārttikeya’s birth and six nurses →

Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 35: Story of Gaṅgā & Umā: Restrained union and Umā’s curses

Summary. The Devas interrupt Śiva & Umā’s union, his released energy transforms the earth through Agni & Vāyu, Umā curses the Devas and the earth

Sequence

  1. The brothers ask for the fuller account of Gaṅgā's three paths (1.35.1–5)
  2. Viśvāmitra begins with Śiva and Umā: after their marriage, a divine hundred years of union pass without a son (1.35.6–7)
  3. the Devas fear that no one could withstand the resulting offspring → led by Brahmā, they ask Śiva to retain his fiery energy and return with Umā to austerity, protecting the worlds from destruction (1.35.8–11)
  4. Śiva agrees but asks who can receive the energy already stirred from its place → the Devas answer that the earth will bear it. Śiva releases his energy, filling the earth, mountains, and forests (1.35.12–16)
  5. the Devas instruct Agni to enter it together with Vāyu → the energy, pervaded by fire, produces a white mountain and a radiant reed thicket, identified here as the birthplace of Kārttikeya (1.35.17–18)
  6. the Devas honor Śiva and Umā (1.35.19)
  7. Umā, furious that they prevented her from obtaining a son, curses them never to beget children through their own wives (1.35.20–21)
  8. she also curses the earth to possess many forms and many husbands and to lack the joy of a son (1.35.22–23)
  9. Śiva departs with her and undertakes austerity on the northern side of a Himalayan peak → Viśvāmitra turns to Gaṅgā's part in the birth story. (1.35.24–26)

Verses 1.35.1–26

1.35.1

ukta vākye munau tasminn ubhau rāghavalakṣmaṇau
pratinandya kathāṃ vīrāv ūcatur munipuṃgavam

When that sage had spoken, the two heroes, Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa, welcomed the tale and said to the bull among sages:

Words: ukta vākye — when (his) words were spoken; munau — the sage (loc.); tasminn — that (loc.); ubhau — the two, both; rāghavalakṣmaṇau — Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa (dual); pratinandya — having welcomed, applauded; kathāṃ — the tale, story; vīrāv — the two heroes; ūcatur — the two said; munipuṃgavam — the bull among sages

1.35.2

dharmayuktam idaṃ brahman kathitaṃ paramaṃ tvayā
duhituḥ śailarājasya jyeṣṭhāya vaktum arhasi

“This most excellent tale, in accord with dharma, has been told by you, O brahmin; you should now speak of the eldest daughter of the mountain-king.

Words: dharmayuktam — in accord with dharma, righteous; idaṃ — this; brahman — O brahmin; kathitaṃ — told, related; paramaṃ — most excellent, supreme; tvayā — by you; duhituḥ — of the daughter; śailarājasya — of the mountain-king; jyeṣṭhāya — concerning the eldest; vaktum — to tell; arhasi — you ought

1.35.3

vistaraṃ vistarajño 'si divyamānuṣasaṃbhavam
trīn patho hetunā kena pāvayel lokapāvanī

You know the matter in full; (tell) in detail her origin among gods and men. For what reason does the purifier of the worlds purify the three paths?

Words: vistaraṃ — the detail, full account; vistarajño 'si — you know in detail; divyamānuṣasaṃbhavam — her origin among gods and men; trīn — three; patho — paths; hetunā — by (what) reason, cause; kena — what, by which; pāvayel — does she purify; lokapāvanī — the purifier of the worlds

1.35.4

kathaṃ gaṅgāṃ tripathagā viśrutā sariduttamā
triṣu lokeṣu dharmajña karmabhiḥ kaiḥ samanvitā

How is Gaṅgā, best of rivers, renowned as the three-pathed one in the three worlds, O knower of dharma — by what deeds is she attended?”

Words: kathaṃ — how; gaṅgāṃ — Gaṅgā; tripathagā — the three-pathed (epithet); viśrutā — renowned, famed; sariduttamā — best of rivers; triṣu — in the three; lokeṣu — worlds; dharmajña — O knower of dharma; karmabhiḥ — with deeds; kaiḥ — which, what; samanvitā — endowed, attended

1.35.5

tathā bruvati kākutsthe viśvāmitras tapodhanaḥ
nikhilena kathāṃ sarvām ṛṣimadhye nyavedayat

As Kākutstha spoke thus, Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity, related the whole tale in full in the midst of the seers:

Words: tathā — thus; bruvati kākutsthe — as Kākutstha spoke; viśvāmitras — Viśvāmitra; tapodhanaḥ — rich in austerity; nikhilena — wholly, entirely; kathāṃ — the tale; sarvām — all, the whole; ṛṣimadhye — in the midst of the seers; nyavedayat — related, made known

1.35.6

purā rāma kṛtodvāhaḥ śitikaṇṭho mahātapāḥ
dṛṣṭvā ca spṛhayā devīṃ maithunāyopacakrame

In olden times, Rāma, the blue-throated one (Śiva), the great ascetic, having married, and gazing with longing upon the goddess, set about union with her.

Words: purā — of old, formerly; rāma — O Rāma; kṛtodvāhaḥ — having married, wedded; śitikaṇṭho — the blue-throated one (Śiva); mahātapāḥ — the great ascetic; dṛṣṭvā — having seen, gazing; ca — and; spṛhayā — with longing, desire; devīṃ — the goddess; maithunāyopacakrame — set about union

1.35.7

śitikaṇṭhasya devasya divyaṃ varṣaśataṃ gatam
na cāpi tanayo rāma tasyām āsīt paraṃtapa

A divine hundred years passed for the blue-throated god, yet no son was born to him upon her, O scorcher of foes, O Rāma.

Words: śitikaṇṭhasya — of the blue-throated (Śiva); devasya — of the god; divyaṃ — divine; varṣaśataṃ — a hundred years; gatam — passed, gone; na — not; cāpi — and yet, and even; tanayo — a son; rāma — O Rāma; tasyām — upon her, in her; āsīt — was, came to be; paraṃtapa — O scorcher of foes

1.35.8

tato devāḥ samudvignāḥ pitāmahapurogamāḥ
yad ihotpadyate bhūtaṃ kas tat pratisahiṣyate

Then the gods, alarmed, with the Grandsire at their head, (thought): “Whatever being should be born here, who will be able to withstand it?”

Words: tato — then; devāḥ — the gods; samudvignāḥ — alarmed, agitated; pitāmahapurogamāḥ — with the Grandsire (Brahmā) at their head; yad — which, whatever; ihotpadyate — is born here; bhūtaṃ — being, creature; kas — who; tat — that, it; pratisahiṣyate — will withstand, endure

1.35.9

abhigamya surāḥ sarve praṇipatyedam abruvan
devadeva mahādeva lokasyāsya hite rata
surāṇāṃ praṇipātena prasādaṃ kartum arhasi

Approaching, all the gods bowed down and said this: “O god of gods, great god, devoted to the welfare of this world — at the prostration of the gods you should show your grace.

Words: abhigamya — having approached; surāḥ — the gods; sarve — all; praṇipatyedam — having bowed down, this; abruvan — said; devadeva — O god of gods; mahādeva — O great god (Mahādeva); lokasyāsya — of this world; hite — in the welfare; rata — O (you) devoted; surāṇāṃ — of the gods; praṇipātena — by the prostration, obeisance; prasādaṃ — grace, favour; kartum — to make, show; arhasi — you ought

1.35.10

na lokā dhārayiṣyanti tava tejaḥ surottama
brāhmeṇa tapasā yukto devyā saha tapaś cara

The worlds will not be able to bear your fiery seed, O best of gods; joined with brahmanical austerity, practise austerity together with the goddess.

Words: na — not; lokā — the worlds; dhārayiṣyanti — will bear, contain; tava — your; tejaḥ — fiery energy, seed; surottama — O best of gods; brāhmeṇa — with brahmanical; tapasā — austerity; yukto — joined, endowed; devyā — with the goddess; saha — together with; tapaś — austerity; cara — practise, perform

1.35.11

trailokyahitakāmārthaṃ tejas tejasi dhāraya
rakṣa sarvān imāṃl lokān nālokaṃ kartum arhasi

For the sake of the welfare of the three worlds, hold your fiery energy within your own energy; protect all these worlds — you must not bring them to a lightless ruin.

Words: trailokyahitakāmārthaṃ — for the sake of the welfare of the three worlds; tejas — the fiery energy; tejasi — within (your own) energy; dhāraya — hold, restrain; rakṣa — protect, guard; sarvān — all; imāṃl — these; lokān — worlds; nālokaṃ — not into a lightless void; kartum — to make; arhasi — you ought

1.35.12

devatānāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sarvalokamaheśvaraḥ
bāḍham ity abravīt sarvān punaś cedam uvāca ha

Hearing the words of the gods, the great lord of all the worlds said to them all, “So be it,” and again spoke this:

Words: devatānāṃ — of the gods; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; sarvalokamaheśvaraḥ — the great lord of all the worlds; bāḍham — so be it, certainly; ity — thus; abravīt — said; sarvān — to all; punaś — again; cedam — and this; uvāca — spoke; ha — indeed

1.35.13

dhārayiṣyāmy ahaṃ tejas tejasy eva sahomayā
tridaśāḥ pṛthivī caiva nirvāṇam adhigacchatu

“I shall hold my fiery energy within my own energy, together with Umā; let the gods and the earth attain relief.

Words: dhārayiṣyāmy — I shall hold, restrain; ahaṃ — I; tejas — the fiery energy; tejasy — within (my) energy; eva — indeed; sahomayā — together with Umā; tridaśāḥ — the gods (the Thirty); pṛthivī — the earth; caiva — and; nirvāṇam — relief, extinction (of distress); adhigacchatu — let (them) attain

1.35.14

yad idaṃ kṣubhitaṃ sthānān mama tejo hy anuttamam
dhārayiṣyati kas tan me bruvantu surasattamāḥ

But this peerless energy of mine that has been stirred up from its seat — who will hold it? Tell me that, O most excellent gods.”

Words: yad — which; idaṃ — this; kṣubhitaṃ — stirred up, agitated; sthānān — from (its) seat, place; mama — my; tejo — energy; hy — indeed; anuttamam — peerless; dhārayiṣyati — will hold, bear; kas — who; tan — that; me — for me, my; bruvantu — let (them) tell; surasattamāḥ — O most excellent gods

1.35.15

evam uktās tato devāḥ pratyūcur vṛṣabhadhvajam
yat tejaḥ kṣubhitaṃ hy etat tad dharā dhārayiṣyati

Thus addressed, the gods then replied to the bull-bannered one (Śiva): “This energy that has been stirred up — the earth will bear it.”

Words: evam uktās — thus addressed; tato — then; devāḥ — the gods; pratyūcur — replied; vṛṣabhadhvajam — the bull-bannered one (Śiva); yat — which; tejaḥ — energy; kṣubhitaṃ — stirred up; hy — indeed; etat — this; tad — that, it; dharā — the earth; dhārayiṣyati — will bear, hold

1.35.16

evam uktaḥ surapatiḥ pramumoca mahītale
tejasā pṛthivī yena vyāptā sagirikānanā

Thus addressed, the lord of the gods (Śiva) released his energy upon the earth's surface, and by that energy the earth, with its mountains and forests, was pervaded.

Words: evam uktaḥ — thus addressed; surapatiḥ — the lord of gods; pramumoca — released, let go; mahītale — on the earth's surface; tejasā — with the energy; pṛthivī — the earth; yena — by which; vyāptā — pervaded, filled; sagirikānanā — together with mountains and forests

1.35.17

tato devāḥ punar idam ūcuś cātha hutāśanam
praviśa tvaṃ mahātejo raudraṃ vāyusamanvitaḥ

Then the gods again said this to Agni: “Enter, O one of great energy, this fierce seed of Rudra, accompanied by Vāyu.”

Words: tato — then; devāḥ — the gods; punar — again; idam — this; ūcuś — said; cātha — and then; hutāśanam — Agni (the oblation-eater); praviśa — enter; tvaṃ — you; mahātejo — O one of great energy; raudraṃ — the fierce (seed) of Rudra; vāyusamanvitaḥ — accompanied by Vāyu

1.35.18

tad agninā punar vyāptaṃ saṃjātaḥ śvetaparvataḥ
divyaṃ śaravaṇaṃ caiva pāvakādityasaṃnibham
yatra jāto mahātejāḥ kārtikeyo 'gnisaṃbhavaḥ

That seed, again pervaded by Agni, gave rise to a white mountain and a divine thicket of reeds, resembling fire and the sun, where the mighty Kārtikeya, sprung from fire, was born.

Words: tad — that; agninā — by Agni; punar — again; vyāptaṃ — pervaded, filled; saṃjātaḥ — arose, was produced; śvetaparvataḥ — a white mountain; divyaṃ — divine; śaravaṇaṃ — a thicket of reeds; caiva — and; pāvakādityasaṃnibham — resembling fire and the sun; yatra — where; jāto — was born; mahātejāḥ — the mighty, of great energy; kārtikeyo — Kārtikeya; 'gnisaṃbhavaḥ — sprung from fire

1.35.19

athomāṃ ca śivaṃ caiva devāḥ sarṣi gaṇās tadā
pūjayām āsur atyarthaṃ suprītamanasas tataḥ

Then the gods, together with the throngs of seers, exceedingly honoured Umā and Śiva, with well-pleased hearts.

Words: athomāṃ — then Umā; ca — and; śivaṃ — Śiva; caiva — and; devāḥ — the gods; sarṣi gaṇās — together with the throngs of seers; tadā — then; pūjayām āsur — honoured, worshipped; atyarthaṃ — exceedingly, beyond measure; suprītamanasas — with well-pleased hearts; tataḥ — then

1.35.20

atha śaila sutā rāma tridaśān idam abravīt
samanyur aśapat sarvān krodhasaṃraktalocanā

Then the daughter of the mountain, Rāma, said this to the gods; full of wrath, her eyes red with anger, she cursed them all:

Words: atha — then; śaila sutā — the daughter of the mountain; rāma — O Rāma; tridaśān — to the gods (the Thirty); idam — this; abravīt — said; samanyur — full of wrath; aśapat — cursed; sarvān — all; krodhasaṃraktalocanā — her eyes red with anger

1.35.21

yasmān nivāritā caiva saṃgatā putrakāmyayā
apatyaṃ sveṣu dāreṣu notpādayitum arhatha
adya prabhṛti yuṣmākam aprajāḥ santu patnayaḥ

“Because I was hindered, though I had come together (with my husband) out of a desire for a son — may you never beget offspring upon your own wives; from this day forth let your wives be childless!”

Words: yasmān — because; nivāritā — hindered, prevented; caiva — and, indeed; saṃgatā — come together, united; putrakāmyayā — out of a desire for a son; apatyaṃ — offspring, progeny; sveṣu — on your own; dāreṣu — on (your) wives; notpādayitum — not to beget; arhatha — you shall (be able); adya — from today; prabhṛti — henceforth, beginning from; yuṣmākam — your; aprajāḥ — childless; santu — let (them) be; patnayaḥ — wives

1.35.22

evam uktvā surān sarvāñ śaśāpa pṛthivīm api
avane naikarūpā tvaṃ bahubhāryā bhaviṣyasi

Having spoken thus, she cursed all the gods, and the earth as well: “O earth, you shall not have a single form; you shall be the wife of many.

Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having said; surān — the gods; sarvāñ — all; śaśāpa — cursed; pṛthivīm — the earth; api — also; avane — O earth; naikarūpā — not of a single form, of many forms; tvaṃ — you; bahubhāryā — the wife of many; bhaviṣyasi — you shall become

1.35.23

na ca putrakṛtāṃ prītiṃ matkrodhakaluṣī kṛtā
prāpsyasi tvaṃ sudurmedhe mama putram anicchatī

And, defiled by my wrath, you shall not obtain the joy that a son brings, O most foolish one, since you did not wish for a son of mine.”

Words: na — not; ca — and; putrakṛtāṃ — produced by a son, arising from a son; prītiṃ — joy, delight; matkrodhakaluṣī — defiled by my wrath; kṛtā — made, rendered; prāpsyasi — you shall obtain; tvaṃ — you; sudurmedhe — O most foolish one; mama — of me, my; putram — a son; anicchatī — not desiring, unwilling

1.35.24

tān sarvān vrīḍitān dṛṣṭvā surān surapatis tadā
gamanāyopacakrāma diśaṃ varuṇapālitām

Seeing all those gods abashed, the lord of the gods (Śiva) then set out toward the quarter guarded by Varuṇa.

Words: tān — them; sarvān — all; vrīḍitān — abashed, ashamed; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; surān — the gods; surapatis — the lord of the gods (Śiva); tadā — then; gamanāyopacakrāma — set out to go; diśaṃ — the quarter, direction; varuṇapālitām — guarded by Varuṇa (the west)

1.35.25

sa gatvā tapa ātiṣṭhat pārśve tasyottare gireḥ
himavatprabhave śṛṅge saha devyā maheśvaraḥ

Having gone there, the great lord (Śiva), together with the goddess, undertook austerity on the northern flank of that mountain, on a peak sprung from Himavat.

Words: sa — he; gatvā — having gone; tapa — austerity; ātiṣṭhat — undertook, engaged in; pārśve — on the flank, side; tasyottare — on its northern; gireḥ — of the mountain; himavatprabhave — sprung from Himavat; śṛṅge — on the peak; saha — together with; devyā — the goddess; maheśvaraḥ — the great lord (Śiva)

1.35.26

eṣa te vistaro rāma śailaputryā niveditaḥ
gaṅgāyāḥ prabhavaṃ caiva śṛṇu me sahalakṣmaṇaḥ

This full account of the mountain's daughter has been told to you, Rāma; now hear from me, together with Lakṣmaṇa, the origin of Gaṅgā as well.

Words: eṣa — this; te — to you; vistaro — the detailed account; rāma — O Rāma; śailaputryā — of the mountain's daughter; niveditaḥ — told, related; gaṅgāyāḥ — of Gaṅgā; prabhavaṃ — origin, source; caiva — and also; śṛṇu — hear; me — from me; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa

← 1.34 Story of Gaṅgā & Umā: Himavat’s two daughters · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.36 Story of Gaṅgā & Umā: Kārttikeya’s birth and six nurses →

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.

Plain text: /text/1/35.md · JSON: /data/1/35.json