🌅 Bala Kanda

Sarga 44

20 shlokas

BK-44-1Bala Kanda 44.1

स गत्वा सागरं राजा गङ्गयाऽनुगतस्तदा । प्रविवेश तलं भूमेर्यत्र ते भस्मसात्कृता:।।1.44.1।।

sa gatvā sāgarṃ rājā gaṅgayā'nugatastadā | praviveśa talṃ bhūmeryatra te bhasmasātkṛtā:||1.44.1||

Translation

स: राजा that king, तदा then, गङ्गया by Ganga, अनुगत: followed by, सागरम् ocean, गत्वा having gone, यत्र where, ते they (sons of Sagara), भस्मसात् into ashes, कृता: had been made, भूमे: earth's, तलम् lower regions, प्रविवेश entered.

Meaning

Thereupon that king followed by Ganga reached the ocean and entered the lower regions of the earth where the sons of Sagara were found reduced to ashes.

BK-44-2Bala Kanda 44.2

भस्मन्यथाऽप्लुते राम गङ्गायास्सलिलेन वै। सर्वलोकप्रभुर्ब्रह्मा राजानमिदमब्रवीत्।।1.44.2।।

bhasmanyathā'plute rāma gaṅgāyāssalilena vai| sarvalokaprabhurbrahmā rājānamidamabravīt||1.44.2||

Translation

अथ then, भस्मनि when the ashes, गङ्गाया: Ganga's, सलिलेन with waters, आप्लुते were inundated, सर्वलोकप्रभु: lord of the world, ब्रह्मा Brahma, राजानम् addressing the king, इदम् अब्रवीत् spoke these words.

Meaning

After the ashes were inundated by the waters of Ganga, Brahma, lord of the world, appeared before king Bhagiratha and said:

BK-44-3Bala Kanda 44.3

तारिता नरशार्दूल दिवं याताश्च देववत्। षष्ठि: पुत्रसहस्राणि सगरस्य महात्मन:।।1.44.3।।

tāritā naraśārdūla divṃ yātāśca devavat| ṣaṣṭhi: putrasahasrāṇi sagarasya mahātmana:||1.44.3||

Translation

नरशार्दूल O Best among men, महात्मन: of the illustrious, सगरस्य Sagara's, षष्टि: sixty पुत्रसहस्राणि thousand sons, तारिता: were liberated, देववत् like devatas, दिवम् towards heaven, याता: had gone.

Meaning

"O Tiger among men sixty thousand sons of illustrious Sagara having been liberated, had gone towards heaven like devatas.

BK-44-4Bala Kanda 44.4

सागरस्य जलं लोके यावत्स्थास्यति पार्थिव। सगरस्यात्मजास्तावत्स्वर्गे स्थास्यन्ति देववत्।।1.44.4।।

sāgarasya jalṃ loke yāvatsthāsyati pārthiva| sagarasyātmajāstāvatsvarge sthāsyanti devavat||1.44.4||

Translation

पार्थिव O King, सागरस्य ocean's, जलम् waters, लोके in this world, यावत् as long as, स्थास्यति remain, तावत् till such time, सगरस्य आत्मजा: sons of Sagara, देववत् like devatas, स्वर्गे in heavens, स्थास्यन्ति will stay.

Meaning

O King as long as the waters in the ocean exist in this world, shall the sons of Sagara, live in heavens like gods.

BK-44-5Bala Kanda 44.5

इयं च दुहिता ज्येष्ठा तव गङ्गा भविष्यति । त्वत्कृतेन च नाम्नाऽथ लोके स्थास्यति विश्रुता।।1.44.5।।

iyṃ ca duhitā jyeṣṭhā tava gaṅgā bhaviṣyati | tvatkṛtena ca nāmnā'tha loke sthāsyati viśrutā||1.44.5||

Translation

इयम् this, गङ्गा Ganga, तव your, ज्येष्ठा eldest, दुहिता daughter, भविष्यति will become, अथ from now onwards, त्वत्कृतेन formed out of your, नाम्ना name, लोके in this world, विश्रुता wellknown, स्थास्यति will stay on.

Meaning

This Ganga will become your eldest daughter and from now on she will be wellknown in this world (as Bhagirathi) after your name.

BK-44-6Bala Kanda 44.6

गङ्गा त्रिपथगा राजन् दिव्या भागीरथीति च। त्रीन् पथो भावयन्तीति ततस्त्रिपथगा स्मृता।।1.44.6।।

gaṅgā tripathagā rājan divyā bhāgīrathīti ca| trīn patho bhāvayantīti tatastripathagā smṛtā||1.44.6||

Translation

राजन् O King, दिव्या divine, गङ्गा Ganga, त्रिपथगा known as Tripathaga, भागीरथीति च also as Bhagirathi, त्रीन् in three, पथ: paths, भावयन्ती इति since she covers by flowing and purifying, तत: therefore, त्रिपथगा Tripathaga, स्मृता has been known as.

Meaning

O King divine Ganga will be called Tripathaga as well as Bhagirathi. Since she flows in the three worlds (heaven, earth and the lower world: Patala), she will be known as Tripathaga.

BK-44-7Bala Kanda 44.7

पितामहानां सर्वेषां त्वमत्र मनुजाधिप । कुरुष्व सलिलं राजन् प्रतिज्ञामपवर्जय।।1.44.7।।

pitāmahānāṃ sarveṣāṃ tvamatra manujādhipa | kuruṣva salilṃ rājan pratijñāmapavarjaya||1.44.7||

Translation

मनुजाधिप O Lord of men, राजन् O King, त्वम् you, अत्र here, सर्वेषाम् for all, पितामहानाम् ancestors, सलिलं offerings with waters, कुरुष्व perform, प्रतिज्ञाम् your vow, अपवर्जय fulfil.

Meaning

O Lord of men O King you may offer the waters of Ganga here to all your ancestors and thereby fulfil your vow.

BK-44-8Bala Kanda 44.8

पूर्वकेण हि ते राजंस्तेनातियशसा तदा। धर्मिणां प्रवरेणापि नैष प्राप्तो मनोरथ:।।1.44.8।।

pūrvakeṇa hi te rājṃstenātiyaśasā tadā| dharmiṇāṃ pravareṇāpi naiṣa prāpto manoratha:||1.44.8||

Translation

राजन् O King, ते your, पूर्वकेण ancestor, अतियशसा by the highly renowned, धर्मिणाम् among righteous ones, प्रवरेणा foremost, तेनापि even by him, तदा then, एष: this, मनोरथ: desire, न प्राप्त: was not obtained.

Meaning

O King by the highly renowned ancestors of yours, the foremost among righteous ones (even Sagara) this desire has not been fulfilled.

BK-44-9Bala Kanda 44.9

तथैवांशुमता तात लोकेऽप्रतिमतेजसा। गङ्गां प्रार्थयतानेतुं प्रतिज्ञा नापवर्जिता।।1.44.9।।

tathaivāṃśumatā tāta loke'pratimatejasā| gaṅgāṃ prārthayatānetuṃ pratijñā nāpavarjitā||1.44.9||

Translation

तात O Child, तथैव similarly, लोके in this world, अप्रतिमतेजसा by the one possessing unparalleled prowess, गङ्गाम् Ganga, आनेतुम् for bringing, प्रार्थयता cherished, अंशुमता by Anshuman's, प्रतिज्ञा vow, नापवर्जिता could not be completed.

Meaning

O Child similarly though Anshuman possessed unparalleled prowess in this world his prayer to Ganga, his vow could not be fulfilled.

BK-44-10-11Bala Kanda 44.10–11 (युग्मम्)

राजर्षिणा गुणवता महर्षिसमतेजसा। मत्तुल्यतपसा चैव क्षत्रधर्मस्थितेन च।।1.44.10।। दिलीपेन महाभाग तव पित्राऽति तेजसा। पुनर्न शङ्किताऽनेतुं गङ्गां प्रार्थयताऽनघ।।1.44.11।।

rājarṣiṇā guṇavatā maharṣisamatejasā| mattulyatapasā caiva kṣatradharmasthitena ca||1.44.10|| dilīpena mahābhāga tava pitrā'ti tejasā| punarna śaṅkitā'netuṃ gaṅgāṃ prārthayatā'nagha||1.44.11||

Translation

अनघ O Sinless one, महाभाग O Blessed one, राजार्षिणा by the royal saint, गुणवता virtuous, महर्षिसमतेजसा possessing the splendour of a maharshi, मत्तुल्यतपसा equal to me in austerities, क्षत्रधर्मस्थितेन abiding in the duties of a Kshatriya, अतितेजसा by the highly lustrous, गङ्गाम् Ganga, प्रार्थयता beseeching, तव your, पित्रा by father, दिलीपेन by Dilipa, महाभाग O Distinguished one, आनेतुं पुन: for bringing, न शङ्किता it was not made possible.

Meaning

O Sinless one (Bhagiratha) O Distinguished one on the part of Dilipa brilliant your father who had the virtuous of a rajarshi, who was equal to a maharshi in splendour, and to me in austerities and abiding to the duties of a kshatriya it was even not possible to bring Ganga through prayer.

BK-44-12Bala Kanda 44.12

सा त्वया समनुक्रान्ता प्रतिज्ञा पुरुषर्षभ। प्राप्तोऽसि परमं लोके यश: परमसम्मतम्।।1.44.12।।

sā tvayā samanukrāntā pratijñā puruṣarṣabha| prāpto'si paramṃ loke yaśa: paramasammatam||1.44.12||

Translation

पुरुषर्षभ O Best among men, सा प्रतिज्ञा that vow, त्वया by you, समनुक्रान्ता has been kept up, लोके in this world, परमसम्मतम् highly acceptable, परमम् supreme, यश: fame, प्राप्त: असि you have obtained.

Meaning

O Best among men you have fulfilled that vow. You have achieved supreme renown and reverence in this world.

BK-44-13Bala Kanda 44.13

यच्च गङ्गावतरणं त्वया कृतमरिन्दम। अनेन च भवान् प्राप्तो धर्मस्यायतनं महत्।।1.44.13।।

yacca gaṅgāvataraṇṃ tvayā kṛtamarindama| anena ca bhavān prāpto dharmasyāyatanṃ mahat||1.44.13||

Translation

अरिन्दम O Destroyer of enemies, त्वया by you, यत् since, गङ्गावतरणम् descent of Ganga, कृतम् has been materialised, अनेन by this, भवान् you, धर्मस्य of dharma, महत् great, आयतनम् sacred place, प्राप्त: have obtained.

Meaning

O Destroyer of enemies by bringing about the descent of Ganga, you have secured a great abode in dharma.

BK-44-14Bala Kanda 44.14

प्लावयस्व त्वमात्मानं नरोत्तम सदोचिते। सलिले पुरुषव्याघ्र शुचि: पुण्यफलो भव।।1.44.14।।

plāvayasva tvamātmānṃ narottama sadocite| salile puruṣavyāghra śuci: puṇyaphalo bhava||1.44.14||

Translation

नरोत्तम O Best among men, पुरुषव्याघ्र O Tiger among men, उचिते in a befitting, सलिले waters, सदा always, त्वम् you, आत्मानम् yourself, प्लावयस्व take bath by dipping and floating later, शुचि: purifying yourself, पुण्यफल: भव acquire holiness.

Meaning

O Best among men O Tiger among men take a dip in the eternally sacred waters, purify yourself and acquire holiness.

BK-44-15Bala Kanda 44.15

पितामहानां सर्वेषां कुरुष्व सलिलक्रियाम्। स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि स्वं लोकं गम्यतां नृप।।1.44.15।।

pitāmahānāṃ sarveṣāṃ kuruṣva salilakriyām| svasti te'stu gamiṣyāmi svṃ lokṃ gamyatāṃ nṛpa||1.44.15||

Translation

सर्वेषां for all, पितामहानाम् forefathers, सलिलक्रियाम् rites with waters, कुरुष्व perform, ते to you, स्वस्ति safety, गमिष्यामि I shall go, नृप O King, स्वं लोकम् towards your region, गम्यताम् you shall go.

Meaning

O King perform the rites of all your forefathers with the waters (of Ganga), farewell. I shall return to my world (now). Go back, O King" (said Grandsire)

BK-44-16Bala Kanda 44.16

इत्येवमुक्त्वा देवेश: सर्वलोकपितामह:। यथाऽऽगतं तथाऽगच्छत् देवलोकं महायशा:।।1.44.16।।

ityevamuktvā deveśa: sarvalokapitāmaha:| yathā''gatṃ tathā'gacchat devalokṃ mahāyaśā:||1.44.16||

Translation

सर्वलोकपितामह: Grandsire of all the worlds, महायशा: highly renowned, देवेश: lord of the gods, इत्येवम् in this manner, उक्त्वा having spoken, यथाऽऽगतं तथा the way he came, देवलोकम् to heaven, अगच्छत् returned.

Meaning

"The Grandsire of all the worlds, highly renowned lord of the gods, having Said this, returned to heaven the way he had come.

BK-44-17-18Bala Kanda 44.17–18 (युग्मम्)

भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षि: कृत्वा सलिलमुत्तमम्। यथाक्रमं यथान्यायं सागराणां महायशा:।।1.44.17।। कृतोदकश्शुची राजा स्वपुरं प्रविवेश ह। समृद्धार्थो रघुश्रेष्ठ स्वराज्यं प्रशशास ह।।1.44.18।।

bhagīratho'pi rājarṣi: kṛtvā salilamuttamam| yathākramṃ yathānyāyṃ sāgarāṇāṃ mahāyaśā:||1.44.17|| kṛtodakaśśucī rājā svapurṃ praviveśa ha| samṛddhārtho raghuśreṣṭha svarājyṃ praśaśāsa ha||1.44.18||

Translation

राजर्षि: royal saint, महायशा: highly famous, राजा king, भगीरथोऽपि Bhagiratha also, यथाक्रमम् following proper order, यथान्यायम् following the tradition, सागराणाम् for the sons of Sagara, उत्तमम् highest, सलिलम् rites with sacred water, कृत्वा having performed, कृतोदक: having performed ablutions, शुचि: a purified man, स्वपुरम् his own city, प्रविवेश ह entered, रघुश्रेष्ठ O Rama, समृद्धार्थ: having fulfilled his desire, स्वराज्यम् his kingdom, प्रशशास ह ruled.

Meaning

The illustrious rajarshi Bhagiratha, performed the rites of offering the sacred water of Ganga, in accordance with proper order and tradition for the sons of Sagara. Purified with the ablutions entered his own city." O Best of the Raghus his desire thus fulfilled he continued to rule the kingdom thereafter".

BK-44-19Bala Kanda 44.19

प्रमुमोद ह लोकस्तं नृपमासाद्य राघव। नष्टशोकस्समृद्धार्थो बभूव विगतज्वर:।।1.44.19।।

pramumoda ha lokastṃ nṛpamāsādya rāghava| naṣṭaśokassamṛddhārtho babhūva vigatajvara:||1.44.19||

Translation

राघव O Rama, तम् him, नृपम् as king, आसाद्य having obtained, लोक: the world, प्रमुमोद rejoiced, समृद्धार्थ: having achieved his desire, विगतज्वर: freed from mental afflictions, नष्टशोक: with his sorrows mitigated, बभूव became.

Meaning

"O Best of the Raghus the world rejoiced having Bhagiratha as king. With his purpose achieved, he was freed from all mental afflictions and sorrows and thereafter lived happily.

BK-44-20Bala Kanda 44.20

एष ते राम गङ्गाया विस्तरोऽभिहितो मया। स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते संध्याकालोऽतिवर्तते।।1.44.20।।

eṣa te rāma gaṅgāyā vistaro'bhihito mayā| svasti prāpnuhi bhadrṃ te sṃdhyākālo'tivartate||1.44.20||

Translation

राम O Rama, गङ्गाया: Ganga's, एष: this, विस्तर: detailed story, मया by me, ते to you, अभिहित: has been mentioned, स्वस्ति wellbeing to you, प्राप्नुहि you may receive, ते to you, भद्रम् prosperity, संध्याकाल: evening time (proper for doing ablutions ), अतिवर्तते is passing by.

Meaning

O Rama I have related you the story of Ganga in detail. Evening time is passing by (and we shall perform the ablutions) farewell.

BK-44-21Bala Kanda 44.21

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुत्र्यं स्वर्ग्यमतीव च। यश्श्रावयति विप्रेषु क्षत्रियेष्वितरेषु च।।1.44.21।। प्रीयन्ते पितरस्तस्य प्रीयन्ते दैवतानि च।

dhanyṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyṃ putryṃ svargyamatīva ca| yaśśrāvayati vipreṣu kṣatriyeṣvitareṣu ca||1.44.21|| prīyante pitarastasya prīyante daivatāni ca|

Translation

धन्यम् conferring prosperity, यशस्यम् brings fame, आयुष्यम् confers longevity, पुत्र्यम् is capable of leading to progeny, अतीव very much, स्वर्ग्यम् leading to heaven, य: this story, विप्रेषु for brahmins, क्षत्रियेषु Kshatriyas, इतरेषु च others also, श्रावयति relates, तस्य his, पितर: forefathers, प्रीयन्ते would be pleased, दैवतानि च devatas also, प्रीयन्ते will be pleased.

Meaning

He will be blessed with fame, longevity, progeny and (after death) heaven brahmins One who recites this story of Ganga to the kshatriyas and others, the gods and his forefathers would be pleased with him.

BK-44-22Bala Kanda 44.22

इदमाख्यानमव्यग्रो गङ्गावतरणं शुभम्।।1.44.22।। यश्शृणोति च काकुत्स्थ सर्वान् कामानवाप्नुयात्। सर्वे पापा: प्रणश्यन्ति आयु: कीर्तिश्च वर्धते।।1.44.23।।

idamākhyānamavyagro gaṅgāvataraṇṃ śubham||1.44.22|| yaśśṛṇoti ca kākutstha sarvān kāmānavāpnuyāt| sarve pāpā: praṇaśyanti āyu: kīrtiśca vardhate||1.44.23||

Translation

काकुत्स्थ O Rama, इदम् this, शुभम् sacred, गङ्गावतरणम् relating to the descent of Ganga, आख्यानम् story, य: who, अव्यग्र: with concentration of mind, शृणोति listens, सर्वान् all, कामान् desires, अवाप्नुयात् he may obtain, सर्वे all, पापा: sins, प्रणश्यन्ति are destroyed, आयु: longevity, कीर्तिश्च fame also, वर्धते will increase.

Meaning

O Son of the Kakusthas whosoever listens to this auspicious story relating to the descent of Ganga with concentration, all his desires will be achieved, his sins will be destroyed and his longevity and fame will increase". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे चतुश्चत्वारिंशस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the fortyfourth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

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