उत्थाप्यैनं महापापं हन्मः क्षात्रेण वर्चसा ते तं जघ्नुर् मुनिं पादैर् ब्रुवन्तो निष्ठुराणि च
Raising up that great sinner, they said harsh words and struck the sage with their feet, boasting of their kshatriya power.
ततः कोपेन महता कपिलो मुनिसत्तमः सागरान् ईक्षयाम् आस तान् कोपाद् भस्मसात् करोत्
Then, filled with great anger, the eminent sage Kapila gazed at them, and out of wrath turned them to ashes.
जज्वलुस् ते ततस् तत्र सागराः सर्व एव हि तत् तु सर्वं न जानाति दीक्षितः सगरो नृपः
Thereupon, all those Sagaras were consumed in flames on the spot; but King Sagara, being consecrated, knew nothing of this.
नारदः कथयाम् आस सगराय महात्मने कपिलस्य तु संस्थानं हयस्यापि तु संस्थितिम्
Nārada then told the great-souled Sagara about the state of Kapila and also the fate of the horse.
राक्षसानां तु विकृतिं सागराणां च नाशनम् ततश् चिन्तापरो राजा कर्तव्यं नावबुध्यत
He described the monstrous acts of the rākṣasas and the destruction of the Sagaras; then the king, overwhelmed with anxiety, could not discern what should be done.
अपरो ऽपि सुतश् चासीद् असमञ्जा इति श्रुतः स तु बालांस् तथा पौरान् मौर्ख्यात् क्षिपति चाम्भसि
He had another son, known as Asamañja, who, out of folly, used to throw children of the citizens into the water.
सगरो ऽप्य् अथ विज्ञप्तः पौरैः संमिलितैस् तदा दुर्नयं तस्य तं ज्ञात्वा ततः क्रुद्धो ऽब्रवीन् नृपः
Then Sagara, informed by the assembled citizens of his son's wickedness, became angry and spoke.
स्वान् अमात्यांस् तदा राजा देशत्यागं करोत्व् अयम् असमञ्जाः क्षत्रधर्मत्यागी वै बालघातकः
The king then ordered his ministers: 'Let this Asamañja be exiled; he has abandoned the kshatriya code and is a slayer of children.'
सगरस्य तु तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वामात्यास् त्वरान्विताः तत्यजुर् नृपतेः पुत्रम् असमञ्जा गतो वनम्
Hearing the king's command, the ministers, acting swiftly, banished Asamañja, who then went to the forest.
सागरा ब्रह्मशापेन नष्टाः सर्वे रसातले एको ऽपि च वनं प्राप्त इदानीं का गतिर् मम
All the Sagaras were destroyed in the netherworld by Brahmā's curse; now, with only one left who has gone to the forest, what path remains for me?
अंशुमान् इति विख्यातः पुत्रस् तस्यासमञ्जसः आनाय्य बालकं राजा कार्यं तस्मै न्यवेदयत्
Asamañja had a son named Aṃśumān; the king summoned the boy and entrusted him with the task.
कपिलं च समाराध्य अंशुमान् अपि बालकः सगराय हयं प्रादात् ततः पूर्णो ऽभवत् क्रतुः
The boy Aṃśumān, having propitiated Kapila, brought the horse back to Sagara; thus, the sacrifice was completed.
तस्यापि पुत्रस् तेजस्वी दिलीप इति धार्मिकः तस्यापि पुत्रो मतिमान् भगीरथ इति श्रुतः
His son was the radiant and righteous Dilīpa, and Dilīpa's wise son was known as Bhagīratha.
पितामहानां सर्वेषां गतिं श्रुत्वा सुदुःखितः सगरं नृपशार्दूलं पप्रच्छ विनयान्वितः
Hearing of the fate of all his ancestors, Bhagīratha, full of sorrow, humbly questioned the tiger among kings, Sagara.
सागराणां तु सर्वेषां निष्कृतिस् तु कथं भवेत् भगीरथं नृपः प्राह कपिलो वेत्ति पुत्रक
Bhagīratha asked the king how atonement could be made for all the Sagaras; the king replied, 'Kapila knows, my son.'
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा बालः प्रायाद् रसातलम् कपिलं च नमस्कृत्वा सर्वं तस्मै न्यवेदयत्
Hearing these words, the boy went to the netherworld, bowed to Kapila, and reported everything to him.
स मुनिस् तु चिरं ध्यात्वा तपसाराध्य शंकरम् जटाजलेन स्वपितॄन् आप्लाव्य नृपसत्तम
That sage, after long meditation and worship through austerity, pleased Śaṅkara, and with the water from his matted locks, purified the ancestors, O best of kings.
ततः कृतार्थो भविता त्वं च ते पितरस् तथा तथा करोमीति मुनिं प्रणम्य पुनर् अब्रवीत्
Then the sage, having been saluted, said again: 'Thus you and your fathers will be fulfilled; so I shall do.'
क्व गच्छे ऽहं मुनिश्रेष्ठ कर्तव्यं चापि तद् वद
Where should I go, O best of sages? Tell me also what ought to be done.
कैलासं तं नरश्रेष्ठ गत्वा स्तुहि महेश्वरम् तपः कुरु यथाशक्ति ततश् चेप्सितम् आप्स्यसि
Go to Mount Kailāsa, O best of men, praise the great Lord, perform austerity as you are able, and then you will obtain your desire.
तच् छ्रुत्वा स मुनेर् वाक्यं मुनिं नत्वा त्व् अगान् नगम् कैलासं स शुचिर् भूत्वा बालो बालक्रियान्वितः तपसे निश्चयं कृत्वा उवाच स भगीरथः
Hearing the sage’s words, he bowed to the sage and went to Mount Kailāsa. Having purified himself, though a child engaged in childish acts, he firmly resolved to undertake austerity, and that Bhagīratha spoke.
बालो ऽहं बालबुद्धिश् च बालचन्द्रधर प्रभो नाहं किमपि जानामि ततः प्रीतो भव प्रभो
I am a child, with a child’s understanding, O Lord who bears the crescent moon. I know nothing at all; therefore, be pleased, O Lord.
वाग्भिर् मनोभिः कृतिभिः कदाचिन् ममोपकुर्वन्ति हिते रता ये तेभ्यो हितार्थं त्व् इह चामरेश सोमं नमस्यामि सुरादिपूज्यम्
Those who are devoted to my welfare sometimes help me with words, thoughts, or deeds. For their benefit here, O Lord of beings, I bow to Soma, honored by the gods.
उत्पादितो यैर् अभिवर्धितश् च समानगोत्रश् च समानधर्मा तेषाम् अभीष्टानि शिवः करोतु बालेन्दुमौलिं प्रणतो ऽस्मि नित्यम्
By whom I was brought forth and raised, who are of the same lineage and conduct as I am—may Śiva grant their wishes. I always bow to him who wears the crescent moon.
एवं तु ब्रुवतस् तस्य पुरस्ताद् अभवच् छिवः वरेण च्छन्दयानो वै भगीरथम् उवाच ह
As he was thus speaking, Śiva appeared before him and, granting him a boon of his choice, spoke to Bhagīratha.
यन् न साध्यं सुरगणैर् देयं तत् ते मया ध्रुवम् वदस्व निर्भयो भूत्वा भगीरथ महामते
Whatever cannot be accomplished by the hosts of gods, that I shall surely grant you. Speak without fear, O Bhagīratha, wise one.
भगीरथः प्रणम्येशं हृष्टः प्रोवाच शंकरम्
Bhagīratha, bowing to the Lord, joyfully addressed Śaṅkara.
जटास्थितां पितॄणां मे पावनाय सरिद्वराम् ताम् एव देहि देवेश सर्वम् आप्तं ततो भवेत्
O Lord of gods, give me that supreme river, abiding in your matted hair, for the purification of my ancestors. Then all will be accomplished.
महेशो ऽपि विहस्याथ भगीरथम् उवाच ह
Maheśa, smiling, then spoke to Bhagīratha.
दत्ता मयेयं ते पुत्र पुनस् तां स्तुहि सुव्रत
This river has been given to you by me, O son. Now praise her again, O steadfast one.