May 12 - Sargas 43 and 44 of Balakanda.
We read now about how Bhagiratha overcomes the last mile hurdle (a couple of them) before bringing Ganga to earth for his mission. The descent of Ganga is described in great poetry. Brahma blesses Bhagiratha for his extraordinary service to humanity in bringing Ganga to earth.
The first hurdle is ovecome by Shiva's grace:
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ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्निरालम्बो वायुभक्षो निराश्रयः ।
अचलः स्थाणुवत् स्थित्वा रात्रिन्दिवमरिन्दम ॥
"Oh Rama, subduer of foes, Bhagiratha, as advised by Brahma, set about propitiating Shiva. He stood like a pillar, balanced on one toe pressed on earth (अङ्गुष्ठाग्रनिपीडितां वसुमतीम्), shelterless, with arms raised to the sky, eating nothing but air, and did tapas day and night.
After a whole year, Shiva came to bless him.
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प्रीतस्तेऽहं नरश्रेष्ठ करिष्यामि तव प्रियम् ।
शिरसा धारयिष्यामि शैलराजसुतामहम् ॥
Shiva spoke: "Oh best among men, Bhagiratha, I am pleased with you and shall oblige you. I shall receive and hold Ganga, daughter of the king of mountains, in my matted locks."
***
Ganga was requested to descend on Shiva's head. Suddenly she decided to come down with such force that she would flood and wash away Shiva also with her to the netherworld.
Sensing her arrogance, Shiva got angry. He decided to tie her up.
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हिमवत्प्रतिमे राम जटामण्डलगह्वरे ।
सा कथङ्चिन्महीं गन्तुं नाशक्नोद्यत्नमास्थिता ॥
"Oh Rama, once Ganga descended on Shiva's crest, she found herself like a glacier caught up in the cave of Shiva's matted locks. Try as she did very hard, she found no way to emerge and go down to earth."
***
Hapless Bhagiratha again undertook tapas. Shiva was gracious. He kindly let Ganga emerge in a thin stream from his head and fall into Bindu sarovara, a lake created by Brahma.
The poet now waxes eloquent. Ganga flowed as seven rivers. To the east were Hladini, Plavani, Nalini, all sanctified by Shiva's contact. To the west flowed three rivers, Suchakshu, Sita and Sindhu. All sacred waters. The seventh, Alakananda, well known as the purifier of mankind, followed Bhagiratha.
Bhagiratha rode in a chariot. The river followed him. The river that had emerged from Shiva's matted locks made a huge noise. Fishes, turtles, and a whole lot of water-inhabitants flowed within Ganga. Sages, gods, celestials and others assembled in their grand vehicles in the sky to witness Ganga's descent. They all illuminated the sky like a hundred suns. The creatures that fell to earth were like streaks of lightning. The splash of Ganga and consequent white foamy spray rose up and looked like a swarm of swans in the sky.
Ganga flowed sometimes fast. Sometimes in crooked streams. Sometimes in a broad sheet of water. Sometimes like a slow meandering stream.
This was the sacred Ganga, released originally from Vishnu's feet, descended from heaven, stopped and released by Shiva's mattes locks, splashing on earth, bouncing up and dashing down again, and flowing ahead. Everyone touched her reverentially.
Anyone who bathed in her was at once cleansed of sins. Even the gods and celestials purified themselves in Ganga and ascended to heaven.
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भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षिः दिव्यं स्यन्दनमास्थितः।
प्रायादग्रे महातेजास्तं गङ्गा पृष्ठतोन्वगात् ॥
All the while, rajarshi Bhagiratha rode in his divine chariot ahead, ever resplendent. Ganga followed him a little distance behind.
***
At this moment, Ganga was feeling exuberant. They came across a a big yajna being performed by agreat sage, Jahnu. Heedless and arrogant, Ganga flooded the entire place and the yajna. Naturally the sage was incensed and decided to teach her good behaviour. He used his power and drank up the entire river in one gulp.
The gods rushed and placated him, and asuured him that he had taught Ganga a lesson and henceforth she would be known as his daughter Jahnavi. This satisfied the sage and he released Ganga from his ears!
Ganga, glad to be again on course as Jahnavi, proceesed behind Bhagiratha.
Thus they reached Rasatala, through the thousands of yojanas of land excavated by Sagara's sons. There, she doused their ashes as desired by Bhagiratha, and the princes were emancipated and went to heaven.
It was now the moment for Brahma to come and congratulate Bhagiratha.
***
सागरस्य जलं लोके यावत् स्थास्यति पार्थिव।
सगरस्यात्मजास्तावत् स्वर्गे स्थास्यन्ति देववत् ॥
इयं च दुहिता ज्येष्ठा तव गङ्गा भविष्यति।
त्वत्कृतेन च नाम्नाथ लोके स्थास्यति विश्रुता ॥
"Oh king Bhagiratha, as long as the waters of the ocean (called Saagara in Sanskrit to remind us that the sons of Sagara by their excavations were responsible for the water to come down and fill up the oceans) are on earth, the sons of king Sagara will live in heaven like gods.
And this river Ganga will be your eldest child and daughter (implying Bhagiratha will have progeny as per his boon) and be well known forever as Bhaagiirathi.
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Sage Vishwamitra tells Rama that this story of Bhagiratha's achievement in bringing Ganga to earth is holy and will sanctify everyone who listens to it.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
