Shloka 96
मातङ्ग–शक्रसंवादः
Mataṅga–Śakra Dialogue on Tapas, Status, and Moral Qualities
प्रसाद्य देवान् सविभून् समस्तान् भगीरथस्तपसोग्रेण गड्भाम् । गामानयत् तामभिगम्य शश्चत् पुंसां भयं नेह चामुत्र विद्यात्,राजा भगीरथ अपनी उग्र तपस्यासे भगवान् शंकरसहित सम्पूर्ण देवताओंको प्रसन्न करके गंगाजीको इस पृथ्वीपर ले आये। उनकी शरणमें जानेसे मनुष्यको इहलोक और परलोकमें भय नहीं रहता
prasādya devān savibhūn samastān bhagīrathas tapaso greṇa gaṅgām | gām ānayat tām abhigamya śaśvat puṁsāṁ bhayaṁ neha cāmutra vidyāt ||
By his intense austerities, King Bhagīratha pleased all the gods together with the great Lord (Śiva) and brought the river Gaṅgā down to this earth. One who approaches her for refuge comes to be free from fear—both in this world and in the world beyond—always.
सिद्ध उवाच
Educational Q&A
Intense, disciplined tapas undertaken with devotion can win divine favor, and taking refuge in a sacred, divinely-sanctioned source (here, Gaṅgā) is presented as a means to freedom from fear in both worldly life and the afterlife.
A Siddha recounts how King Bhagīratha, through severe austerities, pleased all the gods along with Śiva and brought Gaṅgā down to earth; the verse then states the fruit of approaching Gaṅgā—fearlessness here and hereafter.