गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना (Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā)
बालकाण्ड
Sarga 42 continues the Ikṣvāku genealogical-ritual thread centered on the liberation of Sagara’s sons. After Sagara’s death, the subjects install the virtuous Aṁśumān as king (1.42.1), who later entrusts the kingdom to Dilīpa and undertakes severe austerities on Himavat’s sacred peak, ultimately attaining heaven without completing the objective (1.42.3–4). Dilīpa, grieving the ancestral calamity and unable to determine a means for Gaṅgā’s descent and the required water-rites (jalakriyā), remains absorbed in reflection; a righteous son, Bhagīratha, is born (1.42.5–7). Dilīpa rules for long years with sacrifices, coronates Bhagīratha, and departs to Indra’s realm by merit (1.42.8–10). Bhagīratha, childless yet intent on progeny and ancestral salvation, entrusts governance to ministers and performs prolonged panchatapa at Gokarṇa—arms raised, senses restrained, monthly sustenance—until Brahmā appears pleased (1.42.12–16). Bhagīratha petitions for Gaṅgā-water rites to liberate Sagara’s sons and for continuity of the Ikṣvāku line (1.42.18–20). Brahmā grants the wish but prescribes a theological-physical mediation: only Śiva can bear Gaṅgā’s force; thus Śiva must be entreated, after which Brahmā returns to heaven with the gods (1.42.21–25).
Verse 1.42.1
कालधर्मं गते राम सगरे प्रकृतीजना:।राजानं रोचयामासुरंशुमन्तं सुधार्मिकम्।।1.42.1।।
O Rāma, when Sagara met the law of time (death), the ministers and the people approved and installed the highly righteous Anuśumān as king.
Verse 1.42.2
स राजा सुमहानासीदंशुमान् रघुनन्दन ।तस्य पुत्रो महानासीद्दिलीप इति विश्रुत:।।1.42.2।।
O Bhagavān—if You are pleased with me, and if my austerity bears fruit, may all the sons of Sagara receive from me the libation of water that completes their funeral rites.
Verse 1.42.3
तस्मिन् राज्यं समावेश्य दिलीपे रघुनन्दन।हिमवच्छिखरे पुण्ये तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्।।1.42.3।।
Having spoken thus to the king, and also addressing Gaṅgā, the Creator of the worlds departed for heaven, accompanied by the gods and the hosts of the Maruts.
Verse 1.42.4
द्वात्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि वर्षाणि सुमहायशा:।तपोवनं गतो राम स्वर्गं लेभे तपोधन:।।1.42.4।।
O Rāma, for thirty-two thousand years the greatly renowned Anuśumān dwelt in the forest of austerities; rich only in tapas, he attained heaven—yet without fulfilling his aim.
Verse 1.42.5
दिलीपस्तु महातेजाश्श्रुत्वा पैतामहं वधम्।दु:खोपहतया बुद्ध्या निश्चयं नाध्यगच्छत।।1.42.5।।
But mighty, radiant Dilīpa, hearing of the death of his forefathers, was struck by grief; his mind overwhelmed by sorrow, he could not arrive at a firm resolve.
Verse 1.42.6
कथं गङ्गावतरणं कथं तेषां जलक्रिया।तारयेयं कथं चैतानिति चिन्तापरोऽभवत्।।1.42.6।।
“How shall Gaṅgā be brought down? How shall the water-rites for them be performed? And how shall I deliver them?”—thus he became wholly absorbed in anxious reflection.
Verse 1.42.7
तस्य चिन्तयतो नित्यं धर्मेण विदितात्मन:।पुत्रो भगीरथो नाम जज्ञे परमधार्मिक:।।1.42.7।।
As he constantly reflected in righteousness—he whose inner self was known through dharma—a supremely virtuous son was born to him, named Bhagīratha.
Verse 1.42.8
दिलीपस्तु महातेजा यज्ञैर्बहुभिरिष्टवान्।त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि राजा राज्यमकारयत्।।1.42.8।।
The radiant king Dilīpa performed many sacrifices and ruled his kingdom for thirty thousand years.
Verse 1.42.9
अगत्वा निश्चयं राजा तेषामुद्धरणं प्रति ।व्याधिना नरशार्दूल कालधर्ममुपेयिवान्।।1.42.9।।
O tiger among men, the king—without reaching a settled decision about their deliverance—fell ill and met the law of time, that is, death.
Verse 1.42.10
इन्द्रलोकं गतो राजा स्वार्जितेनैव कर्मणा।राज्ये भगीरथं पुत्रमभिषिच्य नरर्षभ:।।1.42.10।।
That best of men, the king—having crowned his son Bhagiratha in the kingdom—departed to Indra’s world, won by his own meritorious deeds.
Verse 1.42.11
भगीरथस्तु राजर्षिर्धार्मिको रघुनन्दन।अनपत्यो महातेजा: प्रजाकामस्स चाप्रज:।।1.42.11।।
O delight of the Raghus, Bhagiratha—the righteous royal sage, radiant with great splendor—had no son; though longing for offspring, he remained without progeny.
Verse 1.42.12
मन्त्रिष्वाधाय तद्राज्यं गङ्गावतरणे रत:।स तपो दीर्घमातिष्ठद्गोकर्णे रघुनन्दन।।1.42.12।।ऊर्ध्वबाहु: पञ्चतपा मासाहारो जितेन्द्रिय:।
O Raghunandana, intent on bringing Gaṅgā down to earth, he entrusted the kingdom to his ministers and for long years practiced austerities at Gokarṇa—arms raised, enduring the five fires, eating only once a month, and mastering his senses.
Verse 1.42.13
तस्य वर्षसहस्राणि घोरे तपसि तिष्ठत:।।1.42.13।।अतीतानि महाबाहो तस्य राज्ञो महात्मन:। सुप्रीतो भगवान् ब्रह्मा प्रजानां पतिरीश्वर:।।1.42.14।।
O mighty-armed one, as that great-souled king stood firm in fierce austerity, thousands of years passed; then the Blessed Brahmā—Lord and protector of creatures—was exceedingly pleased with him.
Verse 1.42.14
तस्य वर्षसहस्राणि घोरे तपसि तिष्ठत:।।1.42.13।।अतीतानि महाबाहो तस्य राज्ञो महात्मन:। सुप्रीतो भगवान् ब्रह्मा प्रजानां पतिरीश्वर:।।1.42.14।।
Then the Grandsire (Brahmā), arriving together with the hosts of gods, spoke to the great-souled Bhagiratha as he continued his austerities.
Verse 1.42.15
ततस्सुरगणैस्सार्धमुपागम्य पितामह:।भगीरथं महात्मानं तप्यमानमथाब्रवीत्।।1.42.15।।
“O Bhagiratha, greatly fortunate one—O lord among men! I am pleased with your well-performed austerities; O you of excellent vows, choose a boon.”
Verse 1.42.16
भगीरथ महाभाग प्रीतस्तेऽहं जनेश्वर।तपसा च सुतप्तेन वरं वरय सुव्रत।।1.42.16।।
Then the splendid and noble Bhagiratha, approaching with palms joined, addressed the Grandsire of all the worlds (Brahmā).
Verse 1.42.17
तमुवाच महातेजा: सर्वलोकपितामहम्।भगीरथो महाभाग: कृताञ्जलिरुपस्थित:।।1.42.17।।
Then the glorious, greatly blessed Bhagīratha, standing with folded hands, addressed the Grandsire of all worlds—Brahmā.
Verse 1.42.18
यदि मे भगवन् प्रीतो यद्यस्ति तपस: फलम्।सगरस्यात्मजास्सर्वे मत्तस्सलिलमाप्नुयु:।।1.42.18।।
O Rāma, delight of the Raghu line—Aṁśumān became a very great king; and to him was born a renowned and noble son named Dilīpa.
Verse 1.42.19
गङ्गायास्सलिलक्लिन्ने भस्मन्येषां महात्मनाम्।स्वर्गं गच्छेयुरत्यन्तं सर्वे मे प्रपितामहा:।।1.42.19।।
Thus, O delight of the Raghus, having entrusted the kingdom to Dilīpa, Aṁśumān performed exceedingly severe austerities upon the sacred peak of Himavat.
Verse 1.42.20
देया च सन्ततिर्देव नावसीदेत्कुलं च न:।इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले देव एष मेऽस्तु वर:पर:।।1.42.20।।
May the ashes of those great-souled ones, moistened by the waters of Gaṅgā, lead all my forefathers at last to heaven.
Verse 1.42.21
उक्तवाक्यं तु राजानं सर्वलोकपितामह:।प्रत्युवाच शुभां वाणीं मधुरां मधुराक्षराम्।।1.42.21।।
And, O Lord, grant that progeny be bestowed, and that our line not come to an end. In the Ikṣvāku dynasty, O Lord, let this be my further boon.
Verse 1.42.22
मनोरथो महानेष भगीरथ महारथ।एवं भवतु भद्रं ते इक्ष्वाकुकुलवर्धन।।1.42.22।।
Then the Grandsire of all worlds, addressing the king who had spoken thus, replied in auspicious words—sweet in tone and gentle in syllables.
Verse 1.42.23
इयं हैमवती गङ्गा ज्येष्ठा हिमवतस्सुता।तां वै धारयितुं शक्तो हरस्तत्र नियुज्यताम्।।1.42.23।।
O Bhagīratha, great warrior—truly great is your desire. So may it be; blessings upon you, increaser of the Ikṣvāku line.
Verse 1.42.24
गङ्गाया: पतनं राजन् पृथिवी न सहिष्यति।तां वै धारयितुं वीर नान्यं पश्यामि शूलिन:।।1.42.24।।
This Gaṅgā is Haimavatī, the eldest daughter of Himavat; only Hara (Śiva) is able to bear her—therefore let him be appointed to that task.
Verse 1.42.25
तमेवमुक्त्वा राजानं गङ्गां चाभाष्य लोककृत्।जगाम त्रिदिवं देवस्सहदेवैर्मरुद्गणै:।।1.42.25।।
O King, the earth cannot endure Gaṅgā’s descent. O hero, I see none other than the trident-bearer, Śiva, who can hold her.