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.
Jump to a shloka · 40 in this sarga
अनेन तोषितश्चाभूदत्यर्थं रघुनन्दन।।1.43.10।। विससर्ज ततो गङ्गां हरो बिन्दुसर: प्रति।
Meaning
Delight of Raghu, greatly pleased by this, Hara then released Ganga toward Bindu lake.
तस्यां विसृज्यमानायां सप्तस्रोतांसि जज्ञिरे।।1.43.11।। ह्लादिनी पावनी चैव नलिनी च तथाऽपरा। तिस्र: प्राचीं दिशं जग्मु: गङ्गाश्शिवजलाश्शुभा:।।1.43.12।।
Meaning
As she was being released there, seven streams arose: Hladini, Pavani, and Nalini — these three auspicious Ganga-streams, holy with Shiva's water, flowed toward the east.
सुचक्षुश्चैव सीता च सिन्धुश्चैव महानदी। तिस्रस्त्वेता दिशं जग्मु: प्रतीचीं तु शुभोदका:।।1.43.13।।
Meaning
Suchakshu, Sita, and the great river Sindhu — these three, with their auspicious waters, flowed toward the west.
सप्तमी चान्वगात्तासां भगीरथमथो नृपम्। भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षिर्दिव्यं स्यन्दनमास्थित:।।1.43.15।।
Meaning
The seventh followed King Bhagiratha; the royal sage Bhagiratha, mounted on a divine chariot, went ahead, greatly splendid, and Ganga followed after him.
प्रायादग्रे महातेजा गङ्गा तं चाप्यनुव्रजत्।।1.43.16।।
Meaning
The resplendent king went ahead in his divine chariot, and the Ganga followed after him.
गगनाच्छङ्करशिरस्ततो धरणिमाश्रिता।।1.43.15 ।। व्यसर्पत जलं तत्र तीव्रशब्दपुरस्कृतम्।
Meaning
From the sky, then from Shankara's head to the earth, the water spread there, preceded by a mighty roar.
मत्स्यकच्छपसङ्घैश्च शिंशुमारगणैस्तदा।।1.43.16।। पतद्भि: पतितैश्चान्यैर्व्यरोचत वसुन्धरा।
Meaning
With shoals of fish, tortoises, and porpoises falling and fallen, the earth shone forth.
ततो देवर्षिगन्धर्वा यक्षसिद्धगणास्तदा।।1.43.17।। व्यलोकयन्त ते तत्र गगनाद्गां गतां तथा।
Meaning
Then the divine sages, gandharvas, yakshas, and siddhas watched from the sky as she came down to the earth.
विमानैर्नगराकारैर्हयैर्गजवरैस्तदा।।1.43.18।। पारिप्लवगतैश्चापि देवतास्तत्र विष्ठिता:।
Meaning
In city-sized aerial cars, on fine horses and elephants, and riding the aircraft named Pariplava, the gods stood there.
तदद्भुततमं लोके गङ्गापतनमुत्तमम्।।1.43.19।। दिदृक्षवो देवगणा: समीयुरमितौजस:।
Meaning
The gods of measureless splendor gathered eagerly to see that most wondrous, supreme fall of Ganga, unmatched in all the world.