Sarga 42: Bhagiratha's Austerity
Bhagiratha Tapas
Anshuman and Dilipa each fail to bring Ganga to earth; Dilipa's son Bhagiratha performs thousand-year austerities at Gokarna, and Brahma grants his boon on condition that Shiva alone can bear Ganga's descent.
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भगीरथस्तु राजर्षिर्धार्मिको रघुनन्दन। अनपत्यो महातेजा: प्रजाकामस्स चाप्रज:।।1.42.11।।
Meaning
Delight of Raghu, Bhagiratha, the royal sage, righteous and greatly splendid, was childless and longed for offspring.
मन्त्रिष्वाधाय तद्राज्यं गङ्गावतरणे रत:। स तपो दीर्घमातिष्ठद्गोकर्णे रघुनन्दन।।1.42.12।। ऊर्ध्वबाहु: पञ्चतपा मासाहारो जितेन्द्रिय:।
Meaning
Delight of Raghu, entrusting the kingdom to his ministers, intent on bringing Ganga down, he undertook long austerity at Gokarna, arms raised, practicing the five-fire penance, eating once a month, senses conquered.
तस्य वर्षसहस्राणि घोरे तपसि तिष्ठत:।।1.42.13।। अतीतानि महाबाहो तस्य राज्ञो महात्मन:। सुप्रीतो भगवान् ब्रह्मा प्रजानां पतिरीश्वर:।।1.42.14।।
Meaning
Mighty-armed one, a thousand years passed as that great-souled king remained in fierce austerity; the venerable Brahma, lord of creatures, became greatly pleased.
ततस्सुरगणैस्सार्धमुपागम्य पितामह:। भगीरथं महात्मानं तप्यमानमथाब्रवीत्।।1.42.15।।
Meaning
Then the grandsire, approaching together with the host of gods, spoke to the great-souled Bhagiratha, still performing austerity.
भगीरथ महाभाग प्रीतस्तेऽहं जनेश्वर। तपसा च सुतप्तेन वरं वरय सुव्रत।।1.42.16।।
Meaning
Fortunate Bhagiratha, lord of people, I am pleased with you; well-vowed one, ask a boon for your well-performed austerity.
तमुवाच महातेजा: सर्वलोकपितामहम्। भगीरथो महाभाग: कृताञ्जलिरुपस्थित:।।1.42.17।।
Meaning
The greatly fortunate and greatly splendid Bhagiratha, standing with joined palms, spoke to the grandsire of all worlds.
यदि मे भगवन् प्रीतो यद्यस्ति तपस: फलम्। सगरस्यात्मजास्सर्वे मत्तस्सलिलमाप्नुयु:।।1.42.18।।
Meaning
Lord, if you are pleased with me, and if there is any fruit to my austerity, let all of Sagara's sons receive water from me.
गङ्गायास्सलिलक्लिन्ने भस्मन्येषां महात्मनाम्। स्वर्गं गच्छेयुरत्यन्तं सर्वे मे प्रपितामहा:।।1.42.19।।
Meaning
When these great souls' ashes are drenched by Ganga's waters, may all my forefathers reach heaven entirely.
देया च सन्ततिर्देव नावसीदेत्कुलं च न:। इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले देव एष मेऽस्तु वर:पर:।।1.42.20।।
Meaning
Lord, may an heir be given, and may our lineage not perish; let this be my supreme boon within the Ikshvaku dynasty.
उक्तवाक्यं तु राजानं सर्वलोकपितामह:। प्रत्युवाच शुभां वाणीं मधुरां मधुराक्षराम्।।1.42.21।।
Meaning
To the king who had spoken thus, the grandsire of all worlds replied with sweet, auspicious, honeyed words.