Sarga 42: Bhagiratha's Austerity
Bhagiratha Tapas
Anshuman and Dilipa each fail to bring Ganga to earth; Dilipa's son Bhagiratha performs thousand-year austerities at Gokarna, and Brahma grants his boon on condition that Shiva alone can bear Ganga's descent.
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कालधर्मं गते राम सगरे प्रकृतीजना:। राजानं रोचयामासुरंशुमन्तं सुधार्मिकम्।।1.42.1।।
Meaning
Rama, when Sagara had met the course of fate, the citizens desired the righteous Anshuman as king.
स राजा सुमहानासीदंशुमान् रघुनन्दन । तस्य पुत्रो महानासीद्दिलीप इति विश्रुत:।।1.42.2।।
Meaning
Delight of Raghu, that Anshuman became a very great king; his son, renowned as Dilipa, was greater still.
तस्मिन् राज्यं समावेश्य दिलीपे रघुनन्दन। हिमवच्छिखरे पुण्ये तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्।।1.42.3।।
Meaning
Delight of Raghu, having established Dilipa in the kingdom, Anshuman practiced fierce austerity on a holy Himalayan peak.
द्वात्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि वर्षाणि सुमहायशा:। तपोवनं गतो राम स्वर्गं लेभे तपोधन:।।1.42.4।।
Meaning
For thirty-two thousand years, greatly renowned, wealthy in penance, he lived in the ascetic grove, and attained heaven.
दिलीपस्तु महातेजाश्श्रुत्वा पैतामहं वधम्। दु:खोपहतया बुद्ध्या निश्चयं नाध्यगच्छत।।1.42.5।।
Meaning
Dilipa, greatly splendid, hearing of his grandfathers' slaying, his mind stricken with grief, could reach no resolve.
कथं गङ्गावतरणं कथं तेषां जलक्रिया। तारयेयं कथं चैतानिति चिन्तापरोऽभवत्।।1.42.6।।
Meaning
How shall Ganga descend, how shall their water rite be performed, how shall I deliver them — thus he became consumed with worry.
तस्य चिन्तयतो नित्यं धर्मेण विदितात्मन:। पुत्रो भगीरथो नाम जज्ञे परमधार्मिक:।।1.42.7।।
Meaning
To him, ever thinking righteously, self-aware, a son was born named Bhagiratha, supremely virtuous.
दिलीपस्तु महातेजा यज्ञैर्बहुभिरिष्टवान्। त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि राजा राज्यमकारयत्।।1.42.8।।
Meaning
Dilipa, greatly splendid, worshipped through many sacrifices; the king ruled the kingdom for thirty thousand years.
अगत्वा निश्चयं राजा तेषामुद्धरणं प्रति । व्याधिना नरशार्दूल कालधर्ममुपेयिवान्।।1.42.9।।
Meaning
Tiger among men, having reached no resolve for their deliverance, the king, stricken by illness, met the course of fate.
इन्द्रलोकं गतो राजा स्वार्जितेनैव कर्मणा। राज्ये भगीरथं पुत्रमभिषिच्य नरर्षभ:।।1.42.10।।
Meaning
Bull among men, the king went to Indra's realm by his own earned deeds, having anointed his son Bhagiratha in the kingdom.