Shloka 1.43.24
गङ्गावतरणम् (The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment)
सलिलेनैव सलिलं क्वचिदभ्याहतं पुन:।।।।मुहुरूर्ध्वमुखं गत्वा पपात वसुधातलम्।
salilenaiva salilaṃ kvacid abhyāhataṃ punaḥ | muhur ūrdhva-mukhaṃ gatvā papāta vasudhātalam ||
In some places water struck against water itself; again and again the waves leapt upward, only to fall back upon the face of the earth.
Sometimes waves dashed against waves. They rose repeatedly upwards and fell down on the ground.
The image suggests humility within power: even what rises forcefully must return to the earth—an ethical reminder that strength should remain grounded and ordered.
The descent continues with vivid wave-action: collisions, upward surges, and repeated falling back to earth.
Awe and reverence toward sacred forces—recognizing that divine boons can be overwhelming and require restraint (soon embodied by Śiva’s role).