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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 43: Story of Sagara: Gaṅgā redeems the sixty thousand

Summary. The waters cover the sixty thousand’s ashes and raise them to heaven, Brahmā names Gaṅgā Bhāgīrathī & Tripathagā and Bhagīratha completes the ancestral rites

Sequence

  1. Bhagīratha reaches the ocean and leads Gaṅgā into the earth's depths, where Sagara's sons lie as ashes (1.43.1)
  2. her waters cover them → Brahmā announces that all sixty thousand have reached heaven and will remain there while the ocean endures (1.43.2–4)
  3. he declares Gaṅgā Bhagīratha's eldest daughter, hence her name Bhāgīrathī → she is also Tripathagā because she sanctifies the three paths (1.43.5–6)
  4. Brahmā asks the King to complete the pitṛtarpaṇa (water-offerings to the pitṛs) and praises him for accomplishing what Sagara, Aṃśumat, and Dilīpa could not (1.43.7–13)
  5. he instructs Bhagīratha to bathe and make the offerings, then departs (1.43.14–16)
  6. Bhagīratha performs the rites, returns purified to his capital, and rules to the people's joy (1.43.17–18)
  7. Viśvāmitra ends the Gaṅgā story as twilight passes and declares the blessings of hearing it. (1.43.19–20)

Verses 1.43.1–20

1.43.1

sa gatvā sāgaraṃ rājā gaṅgayānugatas tadā
praviveśa talaṃ bhūmer yatra te bhasmasātkṛtāḥ

That king, going to the ocean, followed then by Gaṅgā, entered the depths of the earth, where those (sons) had been reduced to ashes.

Words: sa — he, that; gatvā — having gone; sāgaraṃ — to the ocean, the sea; rājā — the king; gaṅgayānugatas — followed by Gaṅgā; tadā — then; praviveśa — entered; talaṃ — the depths, bottom; bhūmer — of the earth; yatra — where; te — they, those; bhasmasātkṛtāḥ — reduced to ashes

1.43.2

bhasmany athāplute rāma gaṅgāyāḥ salilena vai
sarva lokaprabhur brahmā rājānam idam abravīt

When the ashes had been flooded, O Rāma, with the water of Gaṅgā, Brahmā, lord of all worlds, said this to the king:

Words: bhasmany — the ashes (loc.); athāplute — when, then, (they were) flooded; rāma — O Rāma; gaṅgāyāḥ — of Gaṅgā; salilena — with the water; vai — indeed; sarva — of all; lokaprabhur — lord of the worlds; brahmā — Brahmā; rājānam — to the king; idam — this; abravīt — said

1.43.3

tāritā naraśārdūla divaṃ yātāś ca devavat
ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi sagarasya mahātmanaḥ

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

Words: tāritā — delivered, carried across; naraśārdūla — O tiger among men; divaṃ — to heaven; yātāś — gone; ca — and; devavat — like gods; ṣaṣṭiḥ — sixty; putrasahasrāṇi — thousands of sons; sagarasya — of Sagara; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled

1.43.4

sāgarasya jalaṃ loke yāvat sthāsyati pārthiva
sagarasyātmajās tāvat svarge sthāsyanti devavat

As long as the water of the ocean shall remain in the world, O king, so long will Sagara's sons abide in heaven like gods.

Words: sāgarasya — of the ocean; jalaṃ — water; loke — in the world; yāvat — as long as; sthāsyati — will remain, endure; pārthiva — O king; sagarasyātmajās — the sons of Sagara; tāvat — so long; svarge — in heaven; sthāsyanti — will abide, dwell; devavat — like gods

1.43.5

iyaṃ ca duhitā jyeṣṭhā tava gaṅgā bhaviṣyati
tvatkṛtena ca nāmnā vai loke sthāsyati viśrutā

And this Gaṅgā will be your eldest daughter, and by a name derived from you she will remain renowned in the world.

Words: iyaṃ — this; ca — and; duhitā — daughter; jyeṣṭhā — eldest; tava — your; gaṅgā — Gaṅgā; bhaviṣyati — will be; tvatkṛtena — made by you, derived from you; ca — and; nāmnā — by a name; vai — indeed; loke — in the world; sthāsyati — will remain, stand; viśrutā — renowned, famed

1.43.6

gaṅgā tripathagā nāma divyā bhāgīrathīti ca
tripatho bhāvayantīti tatas tripathagā smṛtā

Gaṅgā is named the three-pathed and the celestial, and also Bhāgīrathī; and because she hallows the three paths, she is therefore called Tripathagā.

Words: gaṅgā — Gaṅgā; tripathagā — the three-pathed; nāma — by name; divyā — celestial, divine; bhāgīrathīti — Bhāgīrathī (‘of Bhagīratha’), thus; ca — and; tripatho — the three paths; bhāvayantīti — ‘(because) she hallows (them)’, thus; tatas — therefore, thence; tripathagā — Tripathagā (the three-pathed); smṛtā — is called, remembered

1.43.7

pitāmahānāṃ sarveṣāṃ tvam atra manujādhipa
kuruṣva salilaṃ rājan pratijñām apavarjaya

Here, O ruler of men, make the water-offering for all your forefathers, O king, and fulfil your vow.

Words: pitāmahānāṃ — of the forefathers; sarveṣāṃ — of all; tvam — you; atra — here; manujādhipa — O ruler of men; kuruṣva — make, perform; salilaṃ — the water(-offering); rājan — O king; pratijñām — the vow, promise; apavarjaya — fulfil, discharge

1.43.8

pūrvakeṇa hi te rājaṃs tenātiyaśasā tadā
dharmiṇāṃ pravareṇātha naiṣa prāpto manorathaḥ

For by that forefather of yours then, O king, of surpassing renown, foremost of the righteous — even by him this wish was not attained;

Words: pūrvakeṇa — by the forefather, ancestor; hi — for, indeed; te — your; rājaṃs — O king; tenātiyaśasā — by that one of surpassing renown; tadā — then; dharmiṇāṃ — of the righteous; pravareṇātha — and by the foremost; naiṣa — this ... not; prāpto — attained; manorathaḥ — the wish, heart's desire

1.43.9

tathaivāṃśumatā tāta loke 'pratimatejasā
gaṅgāṃ prārthayatā netuṃ pratijñā nāpavarjitā

and likewise by Aṃśumat, my child, of matchless splendour in the world — though he longed to bring Gaṅgā down, the vow was not discharged;

Words: tathaivāṃśumatā — and likewise by Aṃśumat; tāta — my child, dear one; loke — in the world; 'pratimatejasā — of matchless splendour; gaṅgāṃ — Gaṅgā; prārthayatā — longing, striving; netuṃ — to bring, lead (down); pratijñā — the vow, promise; nāpavarjitā — was not discharged, fulfilled

1.43.10

rājarṣiṇā guṇavatā maharṣisamatejasā
mattulyatapasā caiva kṣatradharmasthitena ca

and by that royal seer, virtuous, of splendour equal to a great sage's, of austerity equal to my own, and steadfast in the kṣatriya's dharma —

Words: rājarṣiṇā — by the royal seer; guṇavatā — virtuous, endowed with virtues; maharṣisamatejasā — of splendour equal to a great sage's; mattulyatapasā — of austerity equal to my own; caiva — and also; kṣatradharmasthitena — abiding in the kṣatriya's dharma; ca — and

1.43.11

dilīpena mahābhāga tava pitrātitejasā
punar na śaṅkitā netuṃ gaṅgāṃ prārthayatānagha

— by Dilīpa, O illustrious one, your father of surpassing splendour: even he, though he longed to bring Gaṅgā down, ventured it no more, O sinless one.

Words: dilīpena — by Dilīpa; mahābhāga — O illustrious one; tava — your; pitrātitejasā — by (your) father of surpassing splendour; punar — again; na — not; śaṅkitā — was able / ventured; netuṃ — to bring, lead down; gaṅgāṃ — Gaṅgā; prārthayatānagha — though longing, O sinless one

1.43.12

sā tvayā samatikrāntā pratijñā puruṣarṣabha
prāpto 'si paramaṃ loke yaśaḥ paramasaṃmatam

That vow you have carried through, O bull among men; you have attained the highest, most esteemed glory in the world.

Words: sā — that; tvayā — by you; samatikrāntā — carried through, accomplished; pratijñā — the vow; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men; prāpto — attained; 'si — you are; paramaṃ — highest, supreme; loke — in the world; yaśaḥ — glory, fame; paramasaṃmatam — most esteemed, highly approved

1.43.13

yac ca gaṅgāvataraṇaṃ tvayā kṛtam ariṃdama
anena ca bhavān prāpto dharmasyāyatanaṃ mahat

And this bringing-down of Gaṅgā that you have accomplished, O subduer of foes — by it you have attained the great abode of dharma.

Words: yac — that which; ca — and; gaṅgāvataraṇaṃ — the bringing-down of Gaṅgā; tvayā — by you; kṛtam — done, accomplished; ariṃdama — O subduer of foes; anena — by this; ca — and; bhavān — your honour, you; prāpto — attained; dharmasyāyatanaṃ — the abode/seat of dharma; mahat — great

1.43.14

plāvayasva tvam ātmānaṃ narottama sadocite
salile puruṣavyāghra śuciḥ puṇyaphalo bhava

Bathe yourself, O best of men, in this ever-fitting water, O tiger among men, and become pure, with holy reward.

Words: plāvayasva — bathe, immerse; tvam — you; ātmānaṃ — yourself; narottama — O best of men; sadocite — ever-fitting, always suitable (loc.); salile — in the water (loc.); puruṣavyāghra — O tiger among men; śuciḥ — pure, clean; puṇyaphalo — having holy reward; bhava — become, be

1.43.15

pitāmahānāṃ sarveṣāṃ kuruṣva salilakriyām
svasti te 'stu gamiṣyāmi svaṃ lokaṃ gamyatāṃ nṛpa

Perform the water-rite for all your forefathers. May it be well with you — I shall go to my own world; go now, O king.”

Words: pitāmahānāṃ — of the forefathers; sarveṣāṃ — of all; kuruṣva — perform; salilakriyām — the water-rite; svasti — well-being, blessing; te — to you; 'stu — let it be; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; svaṃ — (my) own; lokaṃ — world; gamyatāṃ — let (you) depart, one may go; nṛpa — O king

1.43.16

ity evam uktvā deveśaḥ sarvalokapitāmahaḥ
yathāgataṃ tathāgacchad devalokaṃ mahāyaśāḥ

Having spoken thus, the lord of the gods, the Grandsire of all the worlds, of great renown, went back to the world of the gods just as he had come.

Words: ity — thus; evam — so, thus; uktvā — having spoken; deveśaḥ — the lord of the gods; sarvalokapitāmahaḥ — the Grandsire of all worlds; yathāgataṃ — as he had come; tathāgacchad — so he went; devalokaṃ — to the world of the gods; mahāyaśāḥ — of great renown

1.43.17

bhagīratho 'pi rājarṣiḥ kṛtvā salilam uttamam
yathākramaṃ yathānyāyaṃ sāgarāṇāṃ mahāyaśāḥ
kṛtodakaḥ śucī rājā svapuraṃ praviveśa ha

And the illustrious royal seer Bhagīratha, having made the excellent water-offering for the sons of Sagara in due order and proper manner — his libation performed and himself purified — entered his own city.

Words: bhagīratho — Bhagīratha; 'pi — also, and; rājarṣiḥ — the royal seer; kṛtvā — having made; salilam — the water(-offering); uttamam — excellent, best; yathākramaṃ — in due order; yathānyāyaṃ — in proper manner; sāgarāṇāṃ — for the sons of Sagara; mahāyaśāḥ — of great renown; kṛtodakaḥ — having made the water-libation; śucī — purified, clean; rājā — the king; svapuraṃ — his own city; praviveśa — entered; ha — indeed

1.43.18

samṛddhārtho naraśreṣṭha svarājyaṃ praśaśāsa ha
pramumoda ca lokas taṃ nṛpam āsādya rāghava
naṣṭaśokaḥ samṛddhārtho babhūva vigatajvaraḥ

His purpose fulfilled, O best of men, he ruled his own kingdom; and the world rejoiced on gaining him as king, O Rāghava — its grief gone, its aims fulfilled, its distress dispelled.

Words: samṛddhārtho — his purpose fulfilled; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; svarājyaṃ — his own kingdom; praśaśāsa — ruled, governed; ha — indeed; pramumoda — rejoiced, was delighted; ca — and; lokas — the world; taṃ — him; nṛpam — as king; āsādya — having gained, obtained; rāghava — O Rāghava; naṣṭaśokaḥ — its grief destroyed; samṛddhārtho — its aims fulfilled; babhūva — became; vigatajvaraḥ — its distress/fever dispelled

1.43.19

eṣa te rāma gaṅgāyā vistaro 'bhihito mayā
svasti prāpnuhi bhadraṃ te saṃdhyākālo 'tivartate

This, O Rāma, is the full account of Gaṅgā that I have told you. Fare well; blessings on you — the hour of twilight is passing.

Words: eṣa — this; te — to you; rāma — O Rāma; gaṅgāyā — of Gaṅgā; vistaro — the full account, detail; 'bhihito — told, related; mayā — by me; svasti — well-being, hail; prāpnuhi — attain, obtain; bhadraṃ — welfare, blessing; te — to you; saṃdhyākālo — the twilight hour; 'tivartate — is passing, elapsing

1.43.20

dhanyaṃ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṃ svargyaṃ putryam athāpi ca
idam ākhyānam ākhyātaṃ gaṅgāvataraṇaṃ mayā

This story of the descent of Gaṅgā — blessed, glory-bringing, life-prolonging, heaven-bestowing, and granting sons — has been told by me.

Words: dhanyaṃ — blessed, bringing fortune; yaśasyam — conferring glory; āyuṣyaṃ — prolonging life; svargyaṃ — leading to heaven; putryam — granting sons, conferring offspring; athāpi — and moreover; ca — and; idam — this; ākhyānam — story, narrative; ākhyātaṃ — has been told, related; gaṅgāvataraṇaṃ — the descent of Gaṅgā; mayā — by me

← 1.42 Story of Sagara: Gaṅgā’s descent through Śiva’s hair · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.44 Story of Indra: Ocean churning and the struggle for nectar →

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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