Verse 1
ततः सुरगणाः सर्वे ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः ।
भगीरथं महाराजं तुष्टुवुः सह पन्नगैः ॥
Then all the hosts of gods, together with the sages whose wealth was austerity and the Nagas, praised the great king Bhagiratha.
Verse 2
गङ्गा च सरितां श्रेष्ठा तं राजानमनुव्रता ।
जगाम सरितां श्रेष्ठा समुद्रं सरितां पतिम् ॥
Ganga, the foremost of rivers, followed that king and proceeded toward the ocean, the lord of rivers.
Verse 3
ततः सागरमासाद्य गङ्गा लोकनमस्कृता ।
प्रविवेश महाराज समुद्रं मकरालयम् ॥
Then Ganga, revered by the worlds, reached the ocean and entered the great ocean, the abode of aquatic creatures.
Verse 4
ततः सागरमासाद्य गङ्गा लोकनमस्कृता ।
पितॄणां च हितार्थाय तं देशमुपचक्रमे ॥
Having reached the ocean, Ganga, revered by all the worlds, proceeded toward that place for the welfare of the ancestors.
Verse 5
भगीरथस्तु राजर्षिर्दृष्ट्वा गङ्गामनुव्रताम् ।
रथेन पृष्ठतो गत्वा तां नयामास जाह्नवीम् ॥
The royal sage Bhagiratha, seeing Ganga following him, proceeded ahead in his chariot and led Jahnavi along.
Verse 6
स गच्छन् रथमारुह्य भगीरथ इति स्मृतः ।
गङ्गा तु पृष्ठतो गच्छन् सागरं प्रति ॥
Bhagiratha, riding upon his chariot, went ahead, while Ganga followed behind him toward the ocean.
Verse 7
ततो देवा महात्मानो ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः ।
सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयश्च तत्र तत्र समागताः ॥
Then great-souled gods, sages whose wealth was austerity, Siddhas and supreme seers assembled there from various places.
Verse 8
तां गङ्गां सरितां श्रेष्ठां भगीरथमनुव्रताम् ।
ददृशुस्ते महात्मानः सर्वलोकनमस्कृताम् ॥
Those great-souled beings saw Ganga, the foremost of rivers, following Bhagiratha and revered by all the worlds.
Verse 9
ततो गङ्गा महावेगा जह्नुं मुनिवरं ययौ ।
तस्य क्रोधसमुद्भूतं वारि सर्वमपाहरत् ॥
Then the exceedingly swift Ganga reached the excellent sage Jahnu and carried away all the water that had arisen from his anger.
Verse 10
ततः स मुनिशार्दूलो जह्नुर्नाम महातपाः ।
अपिबत् सलिलं सर्वं गङ्गायाः सरितां वराम् ॥
Then the great ascetic Jahnu, the tiger among sages, drank up all the water of Ganga, the foremost of rivers.
Verse 11
ततः सुरगणाः सर्वे ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः ।
जाह्नवीं सरितां श्रेष्ठां तं मुनिं पर्यवारयन् ॥
Then all the hosts of gods and sages whose wealth was austerity surrounded that sage, asking him to release Jahnavi, the foremost of rivers.
Verse 12
तुष्टावुः परमप्रीता जह्नुं मुनिवरं तदा ।
गङ्गां चापि महात्मानं मोक्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत ॥
They greatly pleased and praised the excellent sage Jahnu and said, “O great-souled and righteous one, you should release Ganga.”
Verse 13
ततः स मुनिशार्दूलो जह्नुर्नाम महातपाः ।
उत्ससर्ज महावेगां गङ्गां लोकनमस्कृताम् ॥
Then the great ascetic Jahnu, the tiger among sages, released the exceedingly swift Ganga, who was revered by all the worlds.
Verse 14
तस्मात् तु जाह्नवी नाम गङ्गा लोकप्रविश्रुता ।
जाह्नोः कन्येति चाख्याता त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता ॥
Therefore Ganga became renowned throughout the worlds by the name Jahnavi and was also known as the daughter of Jahnu. She became famous in the three worlds.
Verse 15
ततो भगीरथो राजा गङ्गामादाय सुव्रतः ।
जगाम त्वरितो वीरः सागरस्य महात्मनः ॥
Then the righteous and heroic King Bhagiratha quickly proceeded, taking Ganga with him, toward the sons of the great-souled Sagara.
Verse 16
ततः सागरपुत्राणां भस्मराशिं समन्ततः ।
अपश्यद् भगीरथो राजा गङ्गायाः सलिलेन वै ॥
Then King Bhagiratha saw everywhere the heap of ashes of the sons of Sagara, which had been reached by the waters of Ganga.
Verse 17
ततः सागरपुत्राणां गङ्गाम्भोभिः प्रपूरितम् ।
पावितं सलिलं तेषां स्वर्गमार्गं ददर्श ह ॥
Then the waters of Ganga filled the place of the sons of Sagara, purified them, and opened the path to heaven for them.
Verse 18
ततः सागरपुत्राणां गङ्गा लोकनमस्कृता ।
जगाम त्रिदिवं देवी तान् नयन्ती दिवं प्रति ॥
Then the divine Ganga, revered by all the worlds, carried the sons of Sagara toward heaven.
Verse 19
सगरस्य च पुत्राणां तां गतिं चापि राघव ।
श्रुत्वा परमसंतुष्टो भगीरथो नृपस्तदा ॥
O Raghava, hearing of the attainment of the sons of Sagara, King Bhagiratha became exceedingly pleased.
Verse 20
ततो देवा महात्मानो ब्रह्मणा सह संगताः ।
भगीरथं महाराजं तुष्टुवुः सह पन्नगैः ॥
Then the great-souled gods, together with Brahma and the Nagas, praised the great king Bhagiratha.
Verse 21
ततः सुरगणाः सर्वे ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः ।
ऊचुः परमसंतुष्टा भगीरथमरिन्दमम् ॥
Then all the hosts of gods and the sages whose wealth was austerity, being exceedingly pleased, spoke to Bhagiratha, the subduer of enemies.
Verse 22
तव वीर्येण राजेन्द्र गङ्गा त्रिपथगा शुभा ।
पितॄणां तारिता सर्वे त्वया लोकहितैषिणा ॥
“O excellent king, through your strength and effort, the auspicious Ganga, who flows through the three paths, has liberated all your ancestors. You have acted for the welfare of the worlds.”
Verse 23
यशश्च ते महद् दिव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् ।
भविष्यति न संदेहो गङ्गावतरणं प्रति ॥
“Your great and divine fame will be renowned throughout the three worlds. There is no doubt about this because of the descent of Ganga.”
Verse 24
ततः सगरपुत्राणां स्वर्गं गच्छतां तदा ।
देवा ऊचुर्महात्मानं भगीरथमरिन्दमम् ॥
Then, as the sons of Sagara proceeded to heaven, the gods spoke to the great-souled Bhagiratha, the subduer of enemies.
Verse 25
पुण्यं यशस्यं च भवेत् गङ्गावतरणं तव ।
यः पठेत् शृणुयाद् वापि सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥
“The account of your bringing Ganga down is sacred and bestows fame. Whoever reads or hears it becomes freed from all sins.”
Verse 26
गङ्गायाः सलिलं पुण्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ।
यः पिबेत् श्रद्धया नित्यं सर्वकामानवाप्नुयात् ॥
“The sacred water of Ganga destroys all sins. Whoever drinks it with faith obtains all desired objects.”
Verse 27
यश्चैनं शृणुयाद् भक्त्या गङ्गावतरणं शुभम् ।
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति ॥
Whoever listens with devotion to this auspicious account of the descent of Ganga becomes free from all sins and attains the world of Brahma.
Verse 28
यः पठेत् श्रद्धया नित्यं गङ्गावतरणं शुभम् ।
पुत्रपौत्रसमायुक्तो जीवेत् वर्षशतं नरः ॥
Whoever regularly reads this auspicious account of Ganga’s descent with faith will live for a hundred years, blessed with sons and grandsons.
Verse 29
गङ्गावतरणं पुण्यं शृण्वन् यः पुरुषर्षभः ।
सर्वान् कामानवाप्नोति यत्र तत्राभिनन्दितः ॥
The excellent man who hears this sacred account of the descent of Ganga obtains all his desires and is honoured wherever he goes.
Verse 30
इत्येतद् गङ्गावतरणं मया ते कथितं शुभम् ।
यः शृणोति च भक्त्या वै स याति परमां गतिम् ॥
Thus I have narrated to you this auspicious account of the descent of Ganga. Whoever listens to it with devotion attains the highest state.
Verse 31
एतत् पुण्यतमं राम चरितं भगीरथस्य च ।
सर्वपापप्रशमनं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् ॥
O Rama, this account of Bhagiratha is exceedingly sacred. It destroys all sins and grants the fruits of all desires.
Verse 32
यः पठेत् शृणुयाद् वापि भक्त्या परमया नरः ।
सर्वान् कामानवाप्नोति दीर्घमायुश्च विन्दति ॥
A person who reads or hears it with supreme devotion obtains all desired things and gains long life.
Verse 33
गङ्गावतरणं पुण्यं यः शृणोति नरर्षभः ।
पुत्रवान् धनवान् भूत्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥
The excellent man who hears the sacred account of Ganga’s descent becomes blessed with sons and wealth and is honoured in heaven.
Verse 34
इति ते कथितं राम गङ्गावतरणं शुभम् ।
यथावृत्तं महाभाग सर्वलोकहितावहम् ॥
Thus, O Rama, I have narrated to you the auspicious account of the descent of Ganga exactly as it occurred, bringing welfare to all the worlds.
Verse 35
इत्युक्त्वा मुनिशार्दूलो विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ।
तूष्णीं बभूव धर्मात्मा रामं संबोध्य वीर्यवान् ॥
Having spoken thus, the great ascetic Vishvamitra, the tiger among sages, became silent after addressing the righteous and powerful Rama.
Verse 36
ततः स रामः सौमित्रिर्विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम् ।
अभिवाद्य महात्मानं गङ्गां च सरितां वराम् ॥
Then Rama and Lakshmana bowed before the great-souled sage Vishvamitra and before Ganga, the foremost of rivers.
Verse 37
सर्वे ते मुनयः सिद्धा गन्धर्वाश्च महाबलाः ।
तुष्टुवुस्तां महाभागां गङ्गां त्रिपथगां नदीम् ॥
All those sages, Siddhas, and mighty Gandharvas praised the greatly blessed Ganga, the river that flows through the three paths.
Verse 38
ततः प्रहृष्टमनसः सर्वे ते रघुनन्दन ।
गङ्गां समनुगच्छन्तो मिथिलां प्रस्थितास्तदा ॥
Then, O delight of the Raghu dynasty, all of them, with joyful minds, proceeded toward Mithila, following Ganga.
Verse 39
विश्वामित्रो महातेजा रामं वचनमब्रवीत् ।
गच्छामः सहिताः सर्वे मिथिलां नगरीं शुभाम् ॥
The greatly radiant Vishvamitra said to Rama, “Let us all proceed together to the auspicious city of Mithila.”
Verse 40
तत्र द्रक्ष्यसि धर्मात्मन् जनकं नृपसत्तमम् ।
यज्ञं च परमं पुण्यं यज्ञशालां च राघव ॥
“O righteous Rama, there you will see Janaka, the excellent king, and also his great and sacred sacrifice and sacrificial hall.”
Verse 41
ततः प्रहृष्टमनसा राघवौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ।
विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य मिथिलां जग्मतुः पुरीम् ॥
Then Rama and Lakshmana, the two descendants of Raghu, proceeded toward the city of Mithila with joyful minds, placing Vishvamitra at their head.
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे त्रिचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ।
Thus ends the forty-third Sarga of the Bala Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, the original epic.