Sarga 35: The Origin of Ganga
Ganga Utpatti
Reaching the banks of the Ganga, Rama asks Vishvamitra to tell her story; the sage relates how Ganga and Uma, daughters of Himavan and Mena, were given to the gods and to Rudra respectively, and how Ganga ascended to heaven for the good of the three worlds.
Jump to a shloka · 22 in this sarga
चोदितो रामवाक्येन विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:। वृद्धिं जन्म च गङ्गाया वक्तुमेवोपचक्रमे।।1.35.13।।
Meaning
Prompted by Rama's words, the great sage Vishvamitra began to relate the birth and growth of Ganga.
शैलेन्द्रो हिमवान्नाम धातूनामाकरो महान्। तस्य कन्याद्वयं राम रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि।।1.35.14।।
Meaning
The lordly mountain named Himavan, a great treasury of minerals, had two daughters, Rama, unequaled in beauty on earth.
या मेरुदुहिता राम तयोर्माता सुमध्यमा। नाम्ना मनोरमा नाम पत्नी हिमवत: प्रिया।।1.35.15।।
Meaning
Their mother, the slender-waisted daughter of Meru, Rama, named Mena, is the beloved wife of Himavan.
तस्यां गङ्गेयमभवज्ज्येष्ठा हिमवतस्सुता। उमा नाम द्वितीयाभून्नाम्ना तस्यैव राघव।।1.35.16।।
Meaning
Through her, this Ganga was born as Himavan's elder daughter; Uma became the second daughter of the same mother, Raghava.
अथ ज्येष्ठां सुरास्सर्वे देवतार्थचिकीर्षया। शैलेन्द्रं वरयामासुर्गङ्गां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।।1.35.17।।
Meaning
Then, wishing to accomplish a divine purpose, all the gods sought the lordly mountain for the elder daughter, Ganga, river of three courses.
ददौ धर्मेण हिमवान् तनयां लोकपावनीम्। स्वच्छन्दपथगां गङ्गां त्रैलोक्यहितकाम्यया।।1.35.18।।
Meaning
Himavan, acting rightly, gave his world-purifying daughter, Ganga, who flows at her own will, for the welfare of the three worlds.
प्रतिगृह्य ततो देवास्त्रिलोकहितकारिण:। गङ्गामादाय तेऽगच्छन् कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।।1.35.19।।
Meaning
The gods, who work for the welfare of the three worlds, received Ganga and departed with hearts fulfilled.
या चान्या शैलदुहिता कन्यासीद्रघुनन्दन। उग्रं सा व्रतमास्थाय तपस्तेपे तपोधना।।1.35.20।।
Meaning
The other daughter of the mountain, delight of Raghu, undertook a rigorous vow, treasuring austerity as her wealth.
उग्रेण तपसा युक्तां ददौ शैलवरस्सुताम्। रुद्रायाप्रतिरूपाय उमां लोकनमस्कृताम्।।1.35.21।।
Meaning
The best of mountains gave this daughter, endowed with fierce austerity and honored by the world, as Uma, to the matchless Rudra.
एते ते शैलराजस्य सुते लोकनमस्कृते। गङ्गा च सरितां श्रेष्ठा उमादेवी च राघव।।1.35.22।।
Meaning
These are the two world-honored daughters of the mountain king, Raghava: Ganga, foremost of rivers, and the goddess Uma.