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.
तद् देववचनं श्रुत्वा तदर्थं तु तपो महत् स्तुतिं चकार गङ्गाया भक्त्या प्रयतमानसः
Hearing the words of the god, he performed great austerity for that purpose, and with a devoted and concentrated mind, he composed a hymn to Gaṅgā.
तस्या अपि प्रसादं च प्राप्य बालो ऽप्य् अबालवत् गङ्गां महेश्वरात् प्राप्ताम् आदायागाद् रसातलम्
Having obtained her favor, though still a child, he, as if not a child, took Gaṅgā, received from Maheśvara, and went to the netherworld.
न्यवेदयत् स मुनये कपिलाय महात्मने यथोदितप्रकारेण गङ्गां संस्थाप्य यत्नतः
He carefully established Gaṅgā as prescribed and reported it to the great-souled sage Kapila.
प्रदक्षिणम् अथावर्त्य कृताञ्जलिपुटो ऽब्रवीत्
Then, having circumambulated with joined palms, he spoke.
देवि मे पितरः शापात् कपिलस्य महामुनेः प्राप्तास् ते विगतिं मातस् तस्मात् तान् पातुम् अर्हसि
O goddess, my ancestors, by the curse of the great sage Kapila, have met their end. Therefore, Mother, you ought to purify them.
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा सुरनदी सर्वेषाम् उपकारिका लोकानाम् उपकारार्थं पितॄणां पावनाय च
Saying, 'So be it,' the divine river, benefactress of all, for the welfare of the worlds and the purification of the ancestors, [agreed].
अगस्त्यपीतस्याम्भोधेः पूरणाय विशेषतः स्मरणाद् एव पापानां नाशाय सुरनिम्नगा
For the special purpose of filling the ocean drunk by Agastya, merely remembering the divine river destroys sins.
भगीरथोदितं चक्रे रसातलतले स्थितान् भस्मीभूतान् नृपसुतान् सागरांश् च विशेषतः
Bhagiratha caused the river to flow, especially for the ashes of the princes and the parts of the ocean that lay in the netherworld.
विनिर्दग्धान् अथाप्लाव्य खातपूरम् अथाकरोत् ततो मेरुं समाप्लाव्य स्थितां बालो ऽब्रवीन् नृपः
After purifying those who had been burned, he made a channel; then, having flooded Mount Meru, the child king spoke.
कर्मभूमौ त्वया भाव्यं तथेत्य् आगाद् धिमालयम् हिमवत्पर्वतात् पुण्याद् भारतं वर्षम् अभ्यगात्
You must accomplish this on the field of action; thus, she went to the Himalayas, and from the sacred mountain entered the land of Bharata.