Bala Kanda — Sarga 42

कालधर्म गते राम सगरे प्रकृतीजनाः। राजानं रोचयामासुरंशुमन्तं सुधार्मिकम्॥

When Sagara had bowed to the influence of Time, the subjects selected the righteous Ansumat for their king.

Bala Kanda 42.1

स राजा सुमहानासीदंशुमान् रघुनन्दन। तस्य पुत्रो महानासीद् दिलीप इति विश्रुतः॥

O descendant of Raghu, Ansumat proved a great ruler. And his son, the celebrated Dilīpa, was also a great king.

Bala Kanda 42.2

तस्मै राज्यं समादिश्य दिलीपे रघुनन्दन। हिमवच्छिखरे रम्ये तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्॥

O Raghu's son, consigning to Dilipa his kingdom, Ansumat entered upon rigid austerities on the romantic summit of the Himavat.

Bala Kanda 42.3

द्वात्रिंशच्छतसाहस्रं वर्षाणि सुमहायशाः। तपोवनगतो राजा स्वर्गं लेभे तपोधनः॥

Having for the space of thirty-two you sand years carried on austerities in the woods, that highly famous one, crowned with the wealth of asceticism, attained the celestial regions.

Bala Kanda 42.4

दिलीपस्तु महातेजाः श्रुत्वा पैतामहं वधम्। दुःखोपहतया बुद्ध्या निश्चयं नाध्यगच्छत ॥

The exceedingly powerful Dilīpa, hearing of the destruction of his grand-fathers, was stricken with grief; yet he could not ascertain his grandfathers, was stricken with grief; yet he could not ascertain his course about it.

Bala Kanda 42.5

कथं गङ्गावतरणं कथं तेषां जलक्रिया। तारयेयं कथं चैतानिति चिन्तापरोऽभवत्॥

He constantly thought as to how Gangă could be brought down, how to perform their watery rites, and how to deliver them.

Bala Kanda 42.6

तस्य चिन्तयतो नित्यं धर्मेण विदितात्मनः। पुत्रो भगीरथो नाम जज्ञे परमधार्मिकः॥

As that pious one furnished with selfknowledge was always meditating upon this, an eminently virtuous son was born to him named Bhagiratha.

Bala Kanda 42.7

दिलीपस्तु महातेजा यज्ञैर्बहुभिरिष्टवान्। त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि राजा राज्यमकारयत्॥

Performing numerous sacrifices, the mighty king Dilīpa reigned for thirty thousand years.

Bala Kanda 42.8

अगत्वा निश्चयं राजा तेषामुद्धरणं प्रति। व्याधिना नरशार्दूल कालधर्ममुपेयिवान्॥

And without having arrived at any definite decision in regard to their deliverance, the king, O puissant one, being attacked with an ailment, breathed his last.

Bala Kanda 42.9

इन्द्रलोकं गतो राजा स्वार्जितेनैव कर्मणा। राज्ये भागीरथं पुत्रमभिषिच्य नरर्षभः॥

Having sprinkled his son Bhagiratha in the way of installing him in the kingdom, that prime of men, the king, by virtue of his own acts, repaired to the region of Indra.

Bala Kanda 42.10

भगीरथस्तु राजर्षिार्मिको रघुनन्दन। अनपत्यो महाराजः प्रजाकामः स च प्रजाः॥ मन्त्रिष्वाधाय तद् राज्यं गङ्गावतरणे रतः। तपो दीर्घ समातिष्ठद् गोकर्णे रघुनन्दन ॥

O descendant of Raghu, that royal saint Bhagiratha was possessed of righteousness. And being without issue, and desiring to obtain it, the mighty monarch consigned his kingdom and his subjects to the care of his counsellors, and engaged in bringing down Gangā.

Bala Kanda 42.11

ऊर्ध्वबाहुः पञ्चतपा मासाहारो जितेन्द्रियः। तस्य वर्षसहस्राणि घोरे तपसि तिष्ठतः॥ अतीतानि महाबाहो तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः।

And, O Raghu's descendant, restraining his senses, and eating once a month, and surrounding himself with five fires, and with arms upraised, he for a long lapse of time performed austerities at Gokarna. And as he was performing his terrible austerities, a thousand years rolled away.

Bala Kanda 42.12

सुप्रीतो भगवान् ब्रह्मा प्रजानां प्रभुरीश्वरः॥ ततः सुरगणैः सार्धमुपागम्य पितामहः। भगीरथं महात्मानं तप्यमानमथाब्रवीत्॥

And thereat that possessor of the six attributes and lord of all creatures, Brahmā, was well pleased with that high-souled monarch. And presenting himself together with the celestials, the Grand-sire thus spoke to the high-souled Bhagiratha engaged in austerities.

Bala Kanda 42.13

भगीरथ महाराज प्रीतस्तेऽहं जनाधिप। तपसा च सुतप्तेन वरं वरय सुव्रत॥

O Bhagiratha, O mighty monarch, pleased am I with you. O lord' of men, on account of your ardent austerities: do you, O you of excellent vows, ask for the boon you would have.

Bala Kanda 42.14

तमुवाच महातेजाः सर्वलोकपितामहम्। भगीरथो महाबाहुः कृताञ्जलिपुटः स्थितः॥

Thereupon that great car-warrior, the highly powerful and mighty-armed Bhagiratha, with clasped hands, said to the grand sire of all creatures,

Bala Kanda 42.15

यदि मे भगवान् प्रीतो यद्यस्ति तपसः फलम्। सगरस्यात्मजाः सर्वे मत्तः सलिलमाप्नुयुः॥ गङ्गायाः सलिलक्लिन्ने भस्मन्येषां महात्मनाम्। स्वर्गं गच्छेयुरत्यन्तं सर्वे च प्रपितामहाः॥

If, adorable one, you are pleased with me, if you would grant me the fruit of my asceticism, may Sagara's sons receive water at my hands; and on the ashes of those high-souled ones being laved by the waters of Gangā, may my greatgrand-father without fail repair to heaven!

Bala Kanda 42.16

देव याचे ह संतत्यै नावसीदेत् कुलं च नः। इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले देव एष मेऽस्तु वरः परः॥

And, O divine one, I beseech you, may our line never languish for want of offspring. May, O God, this prime boon light upon Iksvāku's race!

Bala Kanda 42.17

उक्तवाक्यं तु राजानं सर्वलोकपितामहः। प्रत्युवाच शुभां वाणी मधुरां मधुराक्षराम्॥

When the king had said this, the Grand-sire addressed him these sweet and auspicious words composed of melting letters.

Bala Kanda 42.18

मनोरथो महानेष भगीरथ महारथ। एवं भवतु भद्रं ते इक्ष्वाकुकुलवर्धन॥

O mighty car-warrior Bhagiratha, high is this your aim. Be it so, good betide you, you enhancer of the Ikşvāku line.

Bala Kanda 42.19

इयं हैमवती ज्येष्ठा गङ्गा हिमवतः सुता। तां वै धारयितुं राजन् हरस्तत्र नियुज्यताम्॥

This Haimavati Ganga, Himavat's elder daughter, even her to hold, Oking do you employ Hara.

Bala Kanda 42.20

गङ्गायाः पतनं राजन् पृथिवी न सहिष्यते। तां वै धारयितुं राजन् नान्यं पश्यामि शूलिनः॥

For Gangā's fall, O king, Earth will not be able to sustain. And to hold her, O king find I none save the wielder of the Trident.'

Bala Kanda 42.21

तमेवमुक्त्वा राजानं गङ्गां चाभाष्य लोककृत्। जगाम त्रिदिवं देवैः सर्वैः सह मरुद्गणैः॥

Having thus addressed the monarch, and greeted Gangā, the creator of the worlds repaired to heaven with the celestials.

Bala Kanda 42.22