As the sacred Gaṅgā, in all her might, surged forth to follow Bhagiratha’s chariot, she flooded the sacrificial ground of the great-souled sage Jahnu. Perceiving this act as one of insolence, Jahnu became angry, O Rāghava. In an extraordinary feat, the sage drank up all the water of Gaṅgā, astonishing the gods, Gandharvas, and sages who witnessed it. They gathered and honored the noble Jahnu, entreating him to forgive Gaṅgā and accept her as his daughter. Pleased by their supplication, the radiant sage released Gaṅgā from his ears. From that time onward, Gaṅgā was known as the daughter of Jahnu, and by the name Jāhnavī as well. Once freed, Gaṅgā resumed her course, following Bhagiratha’s chariot, and the foremost of rivers at last reached the ocean. There, she entered the netherworld, fulfilling the purpose for which Bhagiratha had undertaken his arduous deed. Bhagiratha, the royal sage, carefully led Gaṅgā into the depths of the earth, where he beheld his ancestors, the sons of Sagara, reduced to ashes and bereft of consciousness. With the sanctifying water of Gaṅgā, he washed the heap of ashes, and, their sins purified, the ancestors attained heaven, O best of the Raghu line. Thereafter, the noble king, following the course of the Ganga, reached the ocean and entered the earth’s depths where the ashes of his forefathers lay. As the ashes were immersed in the holy waters of Gaṅgā, Brahmā, lord of all worlds, appeared and spoke to Bhagiratha: “O tiger among men, the sixty thousand sons of the great Sagara have been delivered and have ascended to heaven like the gods themselves. As long as the water of the ocean exists in the world, O king, all the sons of Sagara will remain in heaven, like the gods. “And this Gaṅgā will be your eldest daughter; through your deed, she will be renowned in the world by your name. The divine Gaṅgā is called Tripathaga, and also Bhagirathi; since she traverses three paths, she is remembered as Tripathaga. You, O king, are the ancestor of all the forefathers here; perform the water-rite and fulfill your vow. “Previously, your illustrious and righteous predecessor could not attain this wish. Likewise, Aṃśumān, whose brilliance was unmatched, sought to bring the Gaṅgā but could not fulfill his vow. The royal sage Dilipa, virtuous and equal to great sages, whose asceticism matched mine, and who upheld the warrior’s duty—Dilipa, your father, O highly fortunate one, whose radiance surpassed yours—was also unable to bring the Gaṅgā, though he desired it, O sinless one. “But you, O best of men, have surpassed them all; you have attained the highest and most esteemed fame in the world. Through your efforts, the descent of Gaṅgā has been accomplished, O destroyer of foes; you have reached the great abode of righteousness. Immerse yourself in the sacred water as is proper, and obtain the fruit of merit. Perform the water-rite for all your forefathers; may you fare well. I shall now return to my own realm; you may go, O king.” Having spoken thus, the lord of the gods, the grandsire of all worlds, departed as he had come, returning to his celestial realm, renowned among the gods. Then Bhagiratha, the royal sage, performed the excellent water-rite for the Sagaras, renowned and according to proper order and custom. Having completed the rites and purified himself, the king entered his own city. Endowed with prosperity, the best of men ruled his kingdom wisely. The people rejoiced at the king’s return, O Rāghava; freed from sorrow and distress, prosperous and content, they flourished under his rule. Thus, O Rāma, has the expanse and glory of the Gaṅgā been described to you. May you fare well, for the time of twilight is passing. Blessed, renowned, life-giving, fruitful, and leading to heaven indeed is he who ensures that this tale is heard among Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, and others. The ancestors are pleased, and so are the gods; this narrative of Gaṅgā’s descent bestows long life and is auspicious. Whoever hears this, O descendant of Kakutstha, attains all desires; all sins are destroyed, and both lifespan and fame increase. Thus ends the forty-fourth sarga in the Bālakāṇḍa of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, the first poem. After Viśvāmitra concluded his narration, Rāghava, together with Lakṣmaṇa, was filled with wonder and addressed the sage with reverence. “O Brāhmaṇa, what you have told is most marvelous—the sacred descent of Gaṅgā and her filling of the ocean. The night has passed for us as if in a moment, while we pondered your entire story. That whole night, together with Saumitri, passed as I reflected on your auspicious tale. Then, at dawn, when the day was clear, Rāghava, destroyer of enemies, having completed his morning rites, spoke to the ascetic Viśvāmitra: “The blessed night has passed, and the supreme story has been heard; let us now cross the sacred river, the best of streams, the threefold-flowing Gaṅgā. Indeed, a boat, easily crossed by the sages of virtuous deeds, has come quickly, having learned that the venerable one is here.