Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 18
गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना
Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā
यदि मे भगवन् प्रीतो यद्यस्ति तपस: फलम्।सगरस्यात्मजास्सर्वे मत्तस्सलिलमाप्नुयु:।।1.42.18।।
yadi me bhagavan prīto yady asti tapasaḥ phalam | sagarasyātmajāḥ sarve mattaḥ salilam āpnuyuḥ ||1.42.18||
Ô Bhagavān, si tu es satisfait de moi et si mon austérité porte fruit, que tous les fils de Sagara reçoivent de moi l’offrande d’eau qui accomplit leurs rites funéraires.
O descendnt of the Raghus! that Anshuman became a very great monarch. He had a great son, Dilipa who became famous.
FAQs
Pitṛ-dharma: fulfilling obligations to ancestors and the departed—Bhagīratha seeks merit not for himself but to complete rites that grant peace to others.
Bhagīratha petitions Brahmā after intense austerities, asking that Sagara’s sons may receive water-offerings through him (via Gaṅgā’s descent).
Selflessness and perseverance—he uses tapas as a means to serve family duty and collective welfare.