Sarga 43: The Descent of Ganga
Ganga Avatarana
Shiva catches Ganga's fall in his matted hair and releases her into seven streams; she follows Bhagiratha's chariot, is swallowed and released by the sage Jahnu (becoming Jahnavi), and finally floods the ashes of Sagara's sons, redeeming them.
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देवदेवे गते तस्मिन् सोऽङ्गुष्ठाग्रनिपीडिताम्। कृत्वा वसुमतीं राम संवत्सरमुपासत।।1.43.1।।
Meaning
Rama, when the god of gods had departed, Bhagiratha, pressing the earth with the tip of his big toe, remained thus for a year.
अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे सर्वलोकनमस्कृत:। उमापति: पशुपती राजानमिदमब्रवीत्।।1.43.2।।
Meaning
Then, the year completed, the lord of Uma, lord of creatures, worshipped by all worlds, spoke this to the king.
प्रीतस्तेऽहं नरश्रेष्ठ करिष्यामि तव प्रियम्। शिरसा धारयिष्यामि शैलराजसुतामहम्।।1.43.3।।
Meaning
Best of men, I am pleased with you; I shall do what is dear to you — I shall bear the mountain king's daughter upon my head.
ततो हैमवती ज्येष्ठा सर्वलोकनमस्कृता। तदा सातिमहद्रूपं कृत्वा वेगं च दुस्सहम्।।1.43.4।।
Meaning
Then Ganga, Himavan's eldest daughter, worshipped by all worlds, assuming a vast form and unbearable speed, fell from the sky, Rama, upon auspicious Shiva's head.
आकाशादपतद्राम शिवे शिवशिरस्युत।।1.43.5।।
Meaning
She fell from the sky onto Shiva's auspicious head.
अचिन्तयच्च सा देवी गङ्गा परमदुर्धरा।।1.43.5।। विशाम्यहं हि पातालं स्रोतसा गृह्य शङ्करम्।
Meaning
That supremely unruly goddess Ganga thought: I shall enter the netherworld, sweeping Shankara away with my current.
तस्यावलेपनं ज्ञात्वा क्रुद्धस्तु भगवान् हर:।।1.43.6।। तिरोभावयितुं बुद्धिं चक्रे त्रिनयनस्तदा।
Meaning
Perceiving her arrogance, the venerable Hara grew angry and resolved then to conceal her within his matted locks.
सा तस्मिन् पतिता पुण्या पुण्ये रुद्रस्य मूर्धनि।।1.43.7।। हिमवत्प्रतिमे राम जटामण्डलगह्वरे।
Meaning
Rama, that holy river fell upon Rudra's holy head, into the cavernous mass of his matted hair, resembling the Himalayas.
सा कथञ्चिन्महीं गन्तुं नाशक्नोद्यत्नमास्थिता।।1.43.8।। नैव निर्गमनं लेभे जटामण्डलमोहिता।
Meaning
Try as she might, she could not reach the earth; bewildered within the mass of matted locks, she found no way out.
तत्रैवाबम्भ्रमद्देवी संवत्सरगणान् बहून्।।1.43.9।। तामपश्यन्पुनस्तत्र तप: परममास्थित:।
Meaning
The goddess wandered there alone for many years; not seeing her emerge, Bhagiratha again undertook supreme austerity.