Shloka 2
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 60: Arjuna’s return, auspicious omens, and mission delegation
नारदजी कहते हैं--सूंजय! हमारे सुननेमें आया है कि राजा भगीरथ भी मर गये, जिन्होंने अपने पूर्वजोंका उद्धार करनेके लिये इस भूतलपर गंगाजीको उतारा था। जिन महामना नरेशके बाहुबलसे इन्द्र बहुत प्रसन्न थे, जिन्होंने प्रचुर एवं उत्तम दक्षिणासे युक्त हविष्य, मन्त्र और अन्नसे सम्पन्न सौ अश्वमेध यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान किया और देवताओंका आनन्द बढ़ाया, जिनके महान् यज्ञमें इन्द्र सोमरस पीकर मदोन्मत्त हो उठे थे तथा जिनके यहाँ रहकर लोकपूजित भगवान् देवेन्द्रने अपने बाहुबलसे अनेक सहस्र असुरोंको पराजित किया, उन्हीं राजा भगीरथने यज्ञ करते समय गंगाके दोनों किनारोंपर सोनेकी ईंटोंके घाट बनवाये थे ।। यः: सहस्र॑ं सहस्राणां कन्या हेमविभूषिता: । राज्ञश्न राजपुत्रांश्व ब्राह्मणेभ्यो हूमन्यत,इतना ही नहीं, उन्होंने कितने ही राजाओं तथा राजपुत्रोंकी जीतकर उनके यहाँसे सुवर्णमय आभूषणोंसे विभूषित दस लाख कन्याएँ लाकर उन्हें ब्राह्मणोंको दान किया था
nārada uvāca—saṃjaya! asmākaṃ śravaṇam āgataṃ yat rājā bhagīratho 'pi mṛtaḥ, yaḥ pṛthivyāṃ gaṅgāṃ avatārayām āsa pitr̥ṇāṃ mokṣārtham. yasya bāhubalena śakro 'tyantaṃ tuṣṭaḥ, yaś ca havir-mantrānna-sampannānāṃ prabhūta-śreṣṭha-dakṣiṇānāṃ ca śatam aśvamedhānām anuṣṭhānena devān ānanditavān; yasya mahāyajñe indraḥ somarasaṃ pītvā madonmatta ivābhavat; yasya gṛhe tiṣṭhan loka-pūjito devarājaḥ svabāhubalena bahūn sahasrān asurān parājitavān; sa eva bhagīrathaḥ yajñakāle gaṅgāyā ubhayataṭe suvarṇa-iṣṭakābhiḥ ghaṭān kārayām āsa. api ca, sa rājñāṃ rājaputrāṇāṃ ca jitvā hema-vibhūṣitāḥ kanyāḥ daśa-lakṣa-saṃkhyāḥ ānīya brāhmaṇebhyo dānam adāt.
Narada said: “Sanjaya, we have heard that King Bhagiratha too has died—the very one who brought the Ganga down to this earth to deliver his ancestors. By the strength of his arms Indra was greatly pleased. He performed a hundred Ashvamedha sacrifices, rich in oblations, mantras, and abundant food, and endowed with lavish and excellent gifts, thereby increasing the joy of the gods. In his great sacrifice Indra drank Soma and became intoxicated with exhilaration; and while dwelling in Bhagiratha’s presence, the world-revered lord of the gods, Devaraja Indra, by his own might defeated many thousands of asuras. During those rites Bhagiratha had landing-steps made on both banks of the Ganga with bricks of gold. Moreover, having conquered many kings and princes, he brought ten lakhs of maidens adorned with golden ornaments and gave them as gifts to Brahmins.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most renowned and meritorious king—one who fulfilled ancestral duty, performed great sacrifices, and gave lavish gifts—still meets death. The passage underscores impermanence and urges reflection on dharma: righteous action and generosity create fame and merit, yet mortality remains universal.
Narada reports to Sanjaya that Bhagiratha has died, then recounts Bhagiratha’s extraordinary deeds: bringing the Ganga to earth for his ancestors, performing a hundred Ashvamedhas with abundant offerings and priestly gifts, hosting Indra who drank Soma and fought asuras, building golden ghats on the Ganga, and donating vast wealth—including many ornamented maidens obtained after conquering kings and princes—to Brahmins.