Bhagīratha Brings the Gaṅgā
Chapter Nine
Bhagīratha Brings the Gaṅgā
|| 9.9.1 ||
śrī-śuka uvāca
aṁśumāṁś ca tapas tepe
gaṅgānayana-kāmyayā
kālaṁ mahāntaṁ nāśaknot
tataḥ kālena saṁsthitaḥ
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: King Aṁśumān, like his grandfather, performed austerities for a long time, with a desire to bring the Gaṅgā. Nonetheless, he could not do so, and in due course of time, he died.
The Ninth Chapter describes how Bhagīratha brought the Gaṅgā, Saudasa took up the mentality of a Rākṣaṣa and Khaṭvāṅga attained the Lord in a moment. The word ca indicates that just as King Sagara gave the kingdom to his grandson and renounced, so Aṁśumān gave the kingdom to his son Dilīpa and renounced.
|| 9.9.2||
dilīpas tat-sutas tadvad
aśaktaḥ kālam eyivān
bhagīrathas tasya sutas
tepe sa sumahat tapaḥ
Like Aṁśumān, Dilīpa, his son, was unable to bring the Gaṅgā to this material world, and he also died in due course of time. Then Dilīpa's son, Bhagīratha, performed very severe austerities to bring the Gaṅgā to this material world.
Like Aṁśumān (tadvat), Dilīpa could not bring the Gaṅgā.
|| 9.9.3 ||
darśayām āsa taṁ devī
prasannā varadāsmi te
ity uktaḥ svam abhiprāyaṁ
śaśaṁsāvanato nṛpaḥ
Gaṅgā appeared before King Bhagīratha and said, "I am pleased. I will grant you a boon." The King bowed his head before her and explained his desire
Devī refers to Gaṅgā. His desire was to deliver his ancestors.
|| 9.9.4 ||
ko 'pi dhārayitā vegaṁ
patantyā me mahī-tale
anyathā bhū-talaṁ bhittvā
nṛpa yāsye rasātalam
Mother Gaṅgā replied: When I fall from the sky to the earth, who will bear the force? If I am not sustained, I shall break the earth and end up in Rasātala.
Gaṅgā speaks.
|| 9.9.5 ||
kiṁ cāhaṁ na bhuvaṁ yāsye
narā mayy āmṛjanty agham
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