गङ्गावतरण-समापनः (Conclusion of the Descent of Gaṅgā)
बालकाण्ड
Sarga 44 closes the Gaṅgāvataraṇa cycle by narrating Bhagiratha’s arrival with Gaṅgā at the ocean and his descent into the earth’s lower regions where Sagara’s sons lie reduced to ashes (1.44.1). Once the ashes are inundated by Gaṅgā’s waters, Brahmā appears and confirms their liberation and ascent to heaven (1.44.2–4), linking ancestral salvation to ritual efficacy and cosmic sanction. Brahmā further formalizes Gaṅgā’s identity as Bhāgīrathī and Tripathagā—divine, world-purifying, and socially remembered through Bhagiratha’s vow (1.44.5–6). He instructs Bhagiratha to complete the salila-kriyā (water rites) for all forefathers and explicitly contrasts Bhagiratha’s success with the earlier inability of Sagara, Aṃśumat, and Dilīpa to accomplish the same vow (1.44.7–11). Brahmā praises Bhagiratha’s fulfilled promise, presenting it as an attainment of fame and a ‘great abode in dharma’ (1.44.12–13), and advises ritual bathing and purification in the sacred waters (1.44.14). After bidding farewell and returning to heaven (1.44.15–16), Bhagiratha performs the prescribed rites in due order, returns purified to his capital, and rules with his purpose achieved; the people rejoice, freed from sorrow and anxiety (1.44.17–19). The sarga ends with a phalaśruti: hearing/reciting this auspicious account grants merit, prosperity, longevity, progeny, and the pleasing of gods and ancestors, while destroying sins (1.44.20–23).
Verse 1.44.1
स गत्वा सागरं राजा गङ्गयाऽनुगतस्तदा ।प्रविवेश तलं भूमेर्यत्र ते भस्मसात्कृता:।।1.44.1।।
Then that king, followed by the sacred Gaṅgā, went to the ocean and entered the earth’s lower depths—where the sons of Sagara had been reduced to ashes.
Verse 1.44.2
भस्मन्यथाऽप्लुते राम गङ्गायास्सलिलेन वै।सर्वलोकप्रभुर्ब्रह्मा राजानमिदमब्रवीत्।।1.44.2।।
O Rāma, when the ashes had indeed been inundated by the waters of the sacred Gaṅgā, Brahmā—the Lord of all the worlds—addressed the king in these words.
Verse 1.44.3
तारिता नरशार्दूल दिवं याताश्च देववत्।षष्ठि: पुत्रसहस्राणि सगरस्य महात्मन:।।1.44.3।।
All sins are destroyed; longevity and fame increase.
Verse 1.44.4
सागरस्य जलं लोके यावत्स्थास्यति पार्थिव।सगरस्यात्मजास्तावत्स्वर्गे स्थास्यन्ति देववत्।।1.44.4।।
O tiger among men, the sixty thousand sons of the great Sagara—having been delivered—went to heaven like the gods.
Verse 1.44.5
इयं च दुहिता ज्येष्ठा तव गङ्गा भविष्यति ।त्वत्कृतेन च नाम्नाऽथ लोके स्थास्यति विश्रुता।।1.44.5।।
O king, as long as the ocean’s waters remain in this world, so long will Sagara’s sons remain in heaven like the gods.
Verse 1.44.6
गङ्गा त्रिपथगा राजन् दिव्या भागीरथीति च।त्रीन् पथो भावयन्तीति ततस्त्रिपथगा स्मृता।।1.44.6।।
This Gaṅgā will become your eldest daughter; and from now on, she will be renowned in the world by the name derived from you (Bhāgīrathī).
Verse 1.44.7
पितामहानां सर्वेषां त्वमत्र मनुजाधिप ।कुरुष्व सलिलं राजन् प्रतिज्ञामपवर्जय।।1.44.7।।
O king, the divine Gaṅgā is also called Bhāgīrathī and Tripathagā. Because she sanctifies the three paths (the three worlds), she is remembered as ‘Tripathagā’.
Verse 1.44.8
पूर्वकेण हि ते राजंस्तेनातियशसा तदा।धर्मिणां प्रवरेणापि नैष प्राप्तो मनोरथ:।।1.44.8।।
O lord of men, O king—here you should make the water-offerings for all your ancestors, and thus bring your vow to completion.
Verse 1.44.9
तथैवांशुमता तात लोकेऽप्रतिमतेजसा।गङ्गां प्रार्थयतानेतुं प्रतिज्ञा नापवर्जिता।।1.44.9।।
O king, even your former ancestor—highly renowned and foremost among the righteous—did not, at that time, attain this desired aim.
Verse 1.44.10
राजर्षिणा गुणवता महर्षिसमतेजसा।मत्तुल्यतपसा चैव क्षत्रधर्मस्थितेन च।।1.44.10।। दिलीपेन महाभाग तव पित्राऽति तेजसा।पुनर्न शङ्किताऽनेतुं गङ्गां प्रार्थयताऽनघ।।1.44.11।।
O noble one, O sinless Bhagiratha: even Dilīpa—your father of surpassing radiance—virtuous as a royal sage, equal to a great seer in splendor, my equal in austerity, and steadfast in kṣatriya-dharma—could not, despite earnest supplication, bring the Gaṅgā down to earth again.
Verse 1.44.11
राजर्षिणा गुणवता महर्षिसमतेजसा।मत्तुल्यतपसा चैव क्षत्रधर्मस्थितेन च।।1.44.10।। दिलीपेन महाभाग तव पित्राऽति तेजसा।पुनर्न शङ्किताऽनेतुं गङ्गां प्रार्थयताऽनघ।।1.44.11।।
O blessed, sinless one—though your father Dilīpa was a virtuous royal sage, equal in splendor to great seers, equal to me in austerity, and steadfast in kṣatriya-dharma—still, even by earnest supplication he could not bring Gaṅgā down again.
Verse 1.44.12
सा त्वया समनुक्रान्ता प्रतिज्ञा पुरुषर्षभ।प्राप्तोऽसि परमं लोके यश: परमसम्मतम्।।1.44.12।।
O best of men, you have fulfilled the vow you undertook; and in this world you have attained the highest fame—honor widely approved by all.
Verse 1.44.13
यच्च गङ्गावतरणं त्वया कृतमरिन्दम।अनेन च भवान् प्राप्तो धर्मस्यायतनं महत्।।1.44.13।।
And since you have brought about the descent of the Gaṅgā, O subduer of foes, by this very act you have gained a great sanctuary of dharma—a lasting spiritual standing.
Verse 1.44.14
प्लावयस्व त्वमात्मानं नरोत्तम सदोचिते।सलिले पुरुषव्याघ्र शुचि: पुण्यफलो भव।।1.44.14।।
O best of men, O tiger among men—immerse yourself in these ever-fitting sacred waters; become purified, and may this act bear the fruit of holy merit.
Verse 1.44.15
पितामहानां सर्वेषां कुरुष्व सलिलक्रियाम्।स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि स्वं लोकं गम्यतां नृप।।1.44.15।।
Perform the water-offerings for all your forefathers. May auspicious well-being be yours; I shall depart to my own realm—return now, O king.
Verse 1.44.16
इत्येवमुक्त्वा देवेश: सर्वलोकपितामह:। यथाऽऽगतं तथाऽगच्छत् देवलोकं महायशा:।।1.44.16।।
Having spoken thus, the lord of the gods—the Grandsire of all worlds, glorious in great renown—departed to the world of the gods by the very path he had come.
Verse 1.44.17
भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षि: कृत्वा सलिलमुत्तमम्।यथाक्रमं यथान्यायं सागराणां महायशा:।।1.44.17।।कृतोदकश्शुची राजा स्वपुरं प्रविवेश ह।समृद्धार्थो रघुश्रेष्ठ स्वराज्यं प्रशशास ह।।1.44.18।।
Then the famed royal-sage Bhagiratha performed the most excellent water-rites for the sons of Sagara, duly observing the proper order and the established rule.
Verse 1.44.18
भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षि: कृत्वा सलिलमुत्तमम्।यथाक्रमं यथान्यायं सागराणां महायशा:।।1.44.17।।कृतोदकश्शुची राजा स्वपुरं प्रविवेश ह।समृद्धार्थो रघुश्रेष्ठ स्वराज्यं प्रशशास ह।।1.44.18।।
Having completed the water-offerings and become purified, the king entered his own city. O best of the Raghus, his aim fulfilled, he thereafter ruled his kingdom.
Verse 1.44.19
प्रमुमोद ह लोकस्तं नृपमासाद्य राघव।नष्टशोकस्समृद्धार्थो बभूव विगतज्वर:।।1.44.19।।
O Rāghava, the people rejoiced on obtaining him as their king. His purpose fulfilled, his grief ended, he became free from inner torment.
Verse 1.44.20
एष ते राम गङ्गाया विस्तरोऽभिहितो मया।स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते संध्याकालोऽतिवर्तते।।1.44.20।।
O Rāma, I have related to you in detail the account of the Gaṅgā. Attain well-being—may auspiciousness be yours, for the time of the evening sandhyā is passing.
Verse 1.44.21
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुत्र्यं स्वर्ग्यमतीव च।यश्श्रावयति विप्रेषु क्षत्रियेष्वितरेषु च।।1.44.21।। प्रीयन्ते पितरस्तस्य प्रीयन्ते दैवतानि च।
Prosperity, fame, long life, the blessing of children, and even heaven—these are bestowed in abundance upon one who has this account recited among brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and others as well. His forefathers are pleased, and the gods too are pleased with him.
Verse 1.44.22
इदमाख्यानमव्यग्रो गङ्गावतरणं शुभम्।।1.44.22।।यश्शृणोति च काकुत्स्थ सर्वान् कामानवाप्नुयात्।सर्वे पापा: प्रणश्यन्ति आयु: कीर्तिश्च वर्धते।।1.44.23।।
O Kakutstha (Rāma), whoever listens with an undistracted mind to this auspicious account of Gaṅgā’s descent obtains the fulfillment of all rightful desires.