[Viswamitra narrates the legend of sacred Ganga]
उपास्य रात्रिशेषं तु शोणाकूले महर्षिभि:।
निशायां सुप्रभातायां विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.35.1।।
उपास्य रात्रिशेषं तु शोणाकूले महर्षिभि:।
निशायां सुप्रभातायां विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.35.1।।
Sloka & Translation
विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, रात्रिशेषम् rest of the night, महर्षिभि: with ascetics, शोणाकूले on the bank of river Sona, उपास्य waiting, निशायाम् in the night, सुप्रभातायाम् at dawn, अभ्यभाषत said.
Viswamitra lay on the bank of Sona with the ascetics, for the rest of the night. (Getting up) at daybreak he said:
सुप्रभाता निशा राम पूर्वा सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते।
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भद्रं ते गमनायाभिरोचय ।।1.35.2।।
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भद्रं ते गमनायाभिरोचय ।।1.35.2।।
राम Rama, निशा night, सुप्रभाता has gradually turned into a good dawn, पूर्वा सन्ध्या time for early morning devotions, प्रवर्तते is commencing, उत्तिष्ठ arise, उत्तिष्ठ arise, ते भद्रम् prosperity to you, गमनाय for journey, अभिरोचय be inclined.
"Rama, the night makes way for the dawn. It is time for morning rituals. Arise, arise May the day bring good news Get ready for the onward journey".
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकीं क्रियाम् ।
गमनं रोचयामास वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह।।1.35.3।।
गमनं रोचयामास वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह।।1.35.3।।
तस्य his, तद्वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा having heard, पौर्वाह्णिकीम् relating to forenoon, क्रियाम् oblations, कृत्वा having made, गमनम् to undertake journey, रोचयामास inclined, इदम् this, वाक्यं च word also, उवाच ह spoke.
On hearing his words Rama performed morning oblations and getting ready for the
onward journey spoke:
अयं शोणश्शुभजलोऽगाध: पुलिनमण्डित:।
कतरेण पथा ब्रह्मन् सन्तरिष्यामहे वयम्।।1.35.4।।
कतरेण पथा ब्रह्मन् सन्तरिष्यामहे वयम्।।1.35.4।।
ब्रह्मन् O Knower of god, शुभजल: having auspicious waters, पुलिनमण्डित: adorned with sandbanks, अयम् this, शोण: Sona river, अगाध: is deep, वयम् we, कतरेण by which, पथा way, सन्तरिष्यामहे traverse.
"O knower of Brahman Clean waters of this river are adorned with sandbanks. This Sona is deep. Which way shall we cross this river?
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीदिदम् ।
एष पन्था मयोद्दिष्टो येन यान्ति महर्षय:।।1.35.5।।
एष पन्था मयोद्दिष्टो येन यान्ति महर्षय:।।1.35.5।।
रामेण By Rama, एवम् thus, उक्त: having been addressed, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, इदम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke, महर्षय: ascetics, येन by which way, यान्ति are going, एष: this, पन्था: way, मया by me, उद्दिष्ट: determined.
Having been addressed by Rama thus Viswamitra said, "We shall take the way the ascetics have gone before".
एवमुक्ता महर्षयो विश्वामित्रेण धीमता।
पश्यन्तस्ते प्रयाता वै वनानि विविधानि च।।1.35.6।।
पश्यन्तस्ते प्रयाता वै वनानि विविधानि च।।1.35.6।।
धीमता by the wise, विश्वामित्रेण by Visvamitra, एवम् thus, उक्ता: spoken, ते महर्षय: those ascetics, विविधानि various, वनानि woods, पश्यन्त: seeing, प्रयाता: journeyed onwards.
With these words of the wise Viswamitra the ascetics moved forward surveying various forests.
ते गत्वा दूरमध्वानं गतेऽर्धदिवसे तदा।
जाह्नवीं सरितां श्रेष्ठां ददृशुर्मुनिसेविताम्।।1.35.7।।
जाह्नवीं सरितां श्रेष्ठां ददृशुर्मुनिसेविताम्।।1.35.7।।
ते they, दूरम् distant, अध्वानम् way, गत्वा having gone, तदा then, अर्धदिवसे in a halfday, गते having passed, मुनिसेविताम् worshipped by ascetics, सरिताम् among rivers, श्रेष्ठाम् the best, जाह्नवीम् river Jahnavi, ददृशु: saw.
After travelling a long distance for half a day, they saw Jahnavi, the best among rivers haunted or worshipped by ascetics.
तां दृष्ट्वा पुण्यसलिलां हंससारससेविताम्।
बभूवुर्मुदिता स्सर्वे मुनयस्सह राघवा:।।1.35.8।।
बभूवुर्मुदिता स्सर्वे मुनयस्सह राघवा:।।1.35.8।।
पुण्यसलिलाम् having sacred waters, हंससारससेविताम् attended by swans and cranes, ताम् दृष्ट्वा having seen that (river Ganga), सहराघवा: along with Rama and Lakshmana, सर्वे मुनय: all the sages, मुदिता: बभूवु: were delighted.
On seeing the river Ganga with swans and cranes floating on the surface of the sacred waters, all the sages including the sons of the Raghus (Rama and Lakshmana) were delighted.
तस्यास्तीरे ततश्चक्रुस्त आवासपरिग्रहम्।
ततस्स्नात्वा यथान्यायं सन्तर्प्य पितृदेवता:।।1.35.9।।
हुत्वा चैवाग्निहोत्राणि प्राश्य चामृतवद्धवि: ।
विविशुर्जाह्नवीतीरे शुचौ मुदितमानसा:।।1.35.10।।
विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं परिवार्य समन्तत:।
ततस्स्नात्वा यथान्यायं सन्तर्प्य पितृदेवता:।।1.35.9।।
हुत्वा चैवाग्निहोत्राणि प्राश्य चामृतवद्धवि: ।
विविशुर्जाह्नवीतीरे शुचौ मुदितमानसा:।।1.35.10।।
विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं परिवार्य समन्तत:।
तत: then, ते they, तस्या: river's, तीरे on the bank, आवासपरिग्रहम् adopting as habitation, चक्रु: made, तत: then, स्नात्वा having bathed, यथान्यायम् as per tradition, पितृदेवता: the ancestors, सन्तर्प्य having satisfied by offering waters, अग्निहोत्राणि हुत्वा after lighting their sacrificial fires, अमृतवत् like nectar, हवि: having oblations (offerings), प्राश्य partaking, मुदितमानसा: with joyful hearts, महात्मानम् the illustrious, विश्वामित्रम् Viswamitra, समन्तत: on all sides, परिवार्य surrounding, शुचौ in a sacred, जाह्नवीतीरे bank of river Jahnavi, विविशु: entered.
The birds had made the bank of the river their home. They (Rama and Lakshmana) took a dip and offered traditional oblations to ancestors. Thereafter they lighted the sacrificial fire and made customary offerings to the fire and partook of the nectarlike remains. With cheerful hearts they stood round the illustrious Viswamitra and entered the sacred bank of Jahnavi.
अथ तत्र तदा रामो विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्।।1.35.11।।
भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छामि गङ्गां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।
त्रैलोक्यं कथमाक्रम्य गता नदनदीपतिम्।।1.35.12।।
भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छामि गङ्गां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।
त्रैलोक्यं कथमाक्रम्य गता नदनदीपतिम्।।1.35.12।।
अथ then, राम: Rama, तदा then, तत्र there, विश्वामित्रम् addressing Visvamitra, अब्रवीत् spoke, भगवन् O Venerable one, त्रिपथगाम् flowing in three directions, गङ्गां नदीम् about river Ganga, श्रोतुम् to listen, इच्छामि I am desirous,त्रैलोक्यम् three worlds, आक्रम्य occupying, नदनदीपतिम् the sea, the lord of all the rivers, कथम् how, गता reached.
Then Rama said to Viswamitra "O venerable one I wish to know why Ganga flowing in three directions, occupy (purified) the three worlds before entering the sea, the lord of rivers?"
चोदितो रामवाक्येन विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।
वृद्धिं जन्म च गङ्गाया वक्तुमेवोपचक्रमे।।1.35.13।।
वृद्धिं जन्म च गङ्गाया वक्तुमेवोपचक्रमे।।1.35.13।।
रामवाक्येन by Rama's words, चोदित: prompted, विश्वामित्र: महामुनि: maharshi Visvamitra, गङ्गाया: river Ganga's, जन्म birth, वृद्धिं च progress, वक्तुम् to tell, उपचक्रमे commenced.
Prompted by Rama's words, maharshi Viswamitra started narrating the account of the birth and progress of river Ganga.
शैलेन्द्रो हिमवान्नाम धातूनामाकरो महान्।
तस्य कन्याद्वयं राम रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि।।1.35.14।।
तस्य कन्याद्वयं राम रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि।।1.35.14।।
राम Rama, धातूनाम् for ores, महान् great, आकर: treasuretrove, हिमवन्नाम named Himavn, शैलेन्द्र: king of mountains, तस्य for him, रूपेण in loveliness, भुवि in this earth, अप्रतिमम् unrivalled, कन्याद्वयम् two daughters.
"O Rama the great mountain named Himavan is a treasuretrove of ores. He is the king of mountains. He had two daughters, unrivalled in beauty in this world.
या मेरुदुहिता राम तयोर्माता सुमध्यमा।
नाम्ना मनोरमा नाम पत्नी हिमवत: प्रिया।।1.35.15।।
नाम्ना मनोरमा नाम पत्नी हिमवत: प्रिया।।1.35.15।।
राम O Rama, नाम्ना by name, मनोरमा नाम well known as Manorama, या सुमध्यमा she of beautiful waist, मेरुदुहिता daughter of mount Meru, हिमवत: Himavat's, प्रिया beloved, पत्नी wife, तयो: for both them, माता mother.
O Rama Himavan's beloved of beautiful waist, wellknown by the name of Manorama is the daughter of Mount Meru. She is the mother to both the daughters.
तस्यां गङ्गेयमभवज्ज्येष्ठा हिमवतस्सुता।
उमा नाम द्वितीयाभून्नाम्ना तस्यैव राघव।।1.35.16।।
उमा नाम द्वितीयाभून्नाम्ना तस्यैव राघव।।1.35.16।।
राघव Rama, इयम् गङ्गा this Ganga, हिमवत: Himavat's, ज्येष्ठा eldest, सुता daughter, तस्याम् अभवत् born to her, तस्यैव for him only, नाम्ना by name, उमा नाम wellknown as Uma, द्वितीया अभूत् a second daughter was born.
O son of the Raghus this Ganga was born to Manorama as Himavan's eldest daughter. A second one born to him was wellknown by the name of Uma.
अथ ज्येष्ठां सुरास्सर्वे देवतार्थचिकीर्षया।
शैलेन्द्रं वरयामासुर्गङ्गां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।।1.35.17।।
शैलेन्द्रं वरयामासुर्गङ्गां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।।1.35.17।।
अथ thereafter, सर्वे सुरा: all devatas, देवतार्थचिकीर्षया desirous of fulfilling some purpose of devatas, त्रिपथगाम् flowing in three directions, नदीम् river, ज्येष्ठाम् eldest daughter, गङ्गां Ganga, शैलेन्द्रम् king of mountains, वरयामासु: proposed.
Thereupon all the devatas desirous of deriving some advantage proposed that the eldest daughter of the king of mountains, Ganga, flowing in three directions be given to them.
ददौ धर्मेण हिमवान् तनयां लोकपावनीम्।
स्वच्छन्दपथगां गङ्गां त्रैलोक्यहितकाम्यया।।1.35.18।।
स्वच्छन्दपथगां गङ्गां त्रैलोक्यहितकाम्यया।।1.35.18।।
हिमवान् Himavan, धर्मेण having followed his duty, त्रैलोक्यहितकाम्यया intent on doing welfare for three worlds, लोकपावनीम् sanctifying whole world, स्वच्छन्दपथगाम् flowing at her free will, तनयाम् daughter, गङ्गाम् Ganga, ददौ gave.
In order to do good to the three worlds Himavan, rooted in dharma gifted his eldest daughter Ganga who sanctifies the whole world by flowing at her free will৷৷
प्रतिगृह्य ततो देवास्त्रिलोकहितकारिण:।
गङ्गामादाय तेऽगच्छन् कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।।1.35.19।।
गङ्गामादाय तेऽगच्छन् कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।।1.35.19।।
तत: then, ते देवा: those devatas, त्रिलोकहितकारिण: doing good for the three worlds, गङ्गाम् Ganga, प्रतिगृह्य having received, आदाय taking her, कृतार्थेन with a sense of fulfillment, अन्तरात्मना with the mind, अगच्छन् had gone.
The devatas having received Ganga committed to the welfare of the three worlds went back to their abodes with a sense of fulfilment in their mind.
या चान्या शैलदुहिता कन्यासीद्रघुनन्दन।
उग्रं सा व्रतमास्थाय तपस्तेपे तपोधना।।1.35.20।।
उग्रं सा व्रतमास्थाय तपस्तेपे तपोधना।।1.35.20।।
रघुनन्दन O Delight of Raghus, Rama, अन्या the other, शैलदुहिता daughter of the mountain (Himavan), या कन्या आसीत् that maiden lived, सा तपोधना that maiden with asceticism as her wealth, उग्रम् severe, व्रतम् vow, आस्थाय adopting, तप: austerities, तेपे observed.
O Delight of the Raghus The other daughter of the mountain Himavan was a maiden whose wealth was tapas. She pursued a vow and observed severe austerities.
उग्रेण तपसा युक्तां ददौ शैलवरस्सुताम्।
रुद्रायाप्रतिरूपाय उमां लोकनमस्कृताम्।।1.35.21।।
रुद्रायाप्रतिरूपाय उमां लोकनमस्कृताम्।।1.35.21।।
शैलवर: the best of Mountains, (Himavan), उग्रेण with severe, तपसा austerities, युक्ताम् endowed with, लोकनमस्कृताम् venerated by the whole world, सुताम् daughter, उमाम् Uma, अप्रतिरूपाय unrivalled, रुद्राय for Rudra, ददौ gave.
Himavan the best of mountains gave his daughter Uma associated with severe
austerities and venerated by the whole world in marriage to the unrivalled Rudra.
एते ते शैलराजस्य सुते लोकनमस्कृते।
गङ्गा च सरितां श्रेष्ठा उमादेवी च राघव।।1.35.22।।
गङ्गा च सरितां श्रेष्ठा उमादेवी च राघव।।1.35.22।।
राघव O Rama, सरिताम् among rivers, श्रेष्ठा excellent, गङ्गा Ganga, उमादेवी च Uma devi, एते both of them, शैलराजस्य king of Mountains, Himavan's, लोकनमस्कृते worshipped by the world, ते both, सुते daughters.
O son of the Raghus Ganga, the holiest of rivers and Uma devi are two daughters of the king of the mountains, (Himavan). They are worshipped by the entire world.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथा त्रिपथगा नदी।
खं गता प्रथमं तात गतिं गतिमतां वर ।।1.35.23।।
खं गता प्रथमं तात गतिं गतिमतां वर ।।1.35.23।।
गतिमताम् among those having marvellous gait, वर best, तात O Child, त्रिपथगा नदी threeway flowing river, प्रथमम् firstly, यथा as, खम् गता reached the sky, एतत् सर्वम् all this, आख्यातम् is communicated to you.
O child with a marvellous gait I have related to you about Ganga flowing across the three worlds, Ganga who reached the heaven first and all that.
सैषा सुरनदी रम्या शैलेन्द्रस्य सुता तदा।
सुरलोकं समारूढा विपापा जलवाहिनी।।1.35.24।।
सुरलोकं समारूढा विपापा जलवाहिनी।।1.35.24।।
रम्या beautiful, विपापा without sins, जलवाहिनी flowing with water, सा एषा the same, शैलेन्द्रस्य Himavan's, सुता daughter, तदा then, सुरनदी divine river, सुरलोकम् heavens, समारूढा ascended.
The divine Ganga, daughter of Himavan, beautiful and sinless, carrying a large volume of water ascended the heavens".
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे पञ्चत्रिंशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the thirtyfifth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.