Shloka 69
Bhāgīratha’s Tapas and the Petition to Gaṅgā (गङ्गावतरण-प्रसङ्गः)
भगीरथ इति ख्यात: सत्यवागनसूयक: । अभिषिच्य तु तं राज्ये दिलीपो वनमाश्रित:,(भगीरथं महात्मानं सत्यधर्मपरायणम् ।) यथाशक्ति चेष्टा करनेपर भी वे गंगाको पृथ्वीपर उतार न सके। दिलीपके भगीरथ नामसे विख्यात एक पुत्र हुआ जो परम कान्तिमान्, धर्मपरायण, सत्यवादी और अदोषदर्शी था। सत्यधर्मपरायण महात्मा भगीरथका राज्याभिषेक करके दिलीप वनमें चले गये
bhagīratha iti khyātaḥ satyavāg anasūyakaḥ | abhiṣicya tu taṃ rājye dilīpo vanam āśritaḥ |
“He became renowned by the name Bhagiratha—truthful in speech and free from malice. Having duly consecrated him to the kingship, Dilipa withdrew to the forest.” The verse highlights an ethical ideal of rulership: a king marked by truthfulness and non-enviousness is installed, while the elder renounces power and embraces forest-life, modeling restraint and dharma.
सगर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds dharmic kingship and personal virtue: the ideal ruler is truthful (satyavāk) and free from envy or spite (anasūyaka). It also presents a model of ethical succession—after installing a worthy heir, the elder king relinquishes power and turns to forest-life, embodying restraint and detachment.
Sagara describes how Dilipa’s son became famous as Bhagiratha. Dilipa performs Bhagiratha’s royal consecration and places him on the throne; afterward, Dilipa withdraws to the forest, indicating a transition of rule and a move toward a renunciant stage of life.