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||
Bạch Đấng Thế Tôn, nếu Ngài hoan hỷ nơi con, và nếu khổ hạnh của con có quả báo, xin cho hết thảy các con trai của Sagara nhận từ con lễ rưới nước cúng tế, viên mãn nghi thức tang tế.
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.