8 - The Descent of Bhāgirathi

 Nārada said: 

1-2. O lord, most excellent one among Devas, two types of channels of Gangă have been mentioned. One of them that has been brought by the brahmin has been narrated. The other type is stationed in the matted hair itself, of the lord of Devas. Tell me how it was brought down to the earth. 

Brahmä said: 

3. There was a king born of the family of Vaivasvata Manu¹ and in the family of Ikşhvāku. O sage, his name was Sagara and the ocean takes its name Sāgara from him. 

1. The seventh Manu who was thes on of Surya and father of Ikşhvāku, the founder of the Solar Race of Kings.

4. He was a performer of sacrifices. He was devoted to distribution of charitable gifts. He always thought about piety and good conduct. He had two wives devoutly attached to their husband. 

5-6. He had no progeny. So he was anxious. He invited Vasiştha (the family priest) to his abode and worshipped him. The king asked him as to how he could have progeny. On hearing his words, Vasiştha meditated and spoke to the king. 

Vasistha said: 

7-9. O king, be devoted to the worship of sages together with your wives.

 Brahmā said:

After saying this, O brahmin, the sage went back to his abode. 

Once a great ascetic came to the abode of that saintly king. He worshipped that sage. The sage who was extremely pleased said to him. "O extremely fortunate one, tell me the boon you wish to have.” On being told thus he chose sons. 

10. That sage said to the king, "To one of your wives a son will be born and he will sustain the family. To the other wife there will be born sixty thousand sons." 

11. When the sage went away after bestowing the boon, thousands of sons were born. The king performed horse and other sacrifices and distributed plenty of gifts to the deserving. 

12. In one horse sacrifice the king got himself duly initiated. He employed his sons along with their armies in the work of protecting the horse. 

13. Getting a loophole somewhere Indra took away the horse. Those sons searched for the horse but could not find it. 

14-15. The sons of Sagara were sixty thousand and they were experts in different tactics of warfare. Even as they were watching, the asuras took away the anointed horse and went to the nether region. The sons of Sagara could not see the asura who had employed black magic. 

16. Not being able to see the horse, the powerful sons of Sagara wandered here and there. Even then they did not find the horse. 

17. They went to the world of gods then. Searching the mountains, lakes and forests, they did not see the horse then. 

18. The holy rite for the safe journey and other similar auspicious rites were performed by the officiating priests on behalf of the king. Unable to see that beautiful creature, the king became worried. 

19. Wandering (here and there) the sons of Sagara went to the world of Devas in their search for the horse. The horse was not there. 

20. Thereafter the sons of the king came to the Earth and searched the mountains and forests. There also they did not see the horse then. 

21. In the meantime a divine voice was heard there saying, "O sons of Sagara, the horse is kept bound in the nether world and not anywhere else." 

22. On hearing this the sons of Sagara became desirous of going to the nether world. They dug up the Earth all round.

23. Distressed by hunger they went on eating dry soil day and night. They dug up hurriedly and rushed to the nether world. 

24. On hearing that the powerful princes, the sons of Sagara who had accomplished their tasks had come (to the nether world) the asuras became frightened and they went near Kapila.¹ 

1. A celebrated sage and propounder of the Samkhya system of philosophy, He is said to be the son of Karandama-Prajapati and Devahūti. The Brahmåndapurāna (ch. 93) mentions him as an incarnation of Vishnu.

25. Kapila the extremely intelligent sage was sleeping in the nether world. Formerly, a most important task of Devas had been accomplished by him. 

26. He had achieved that success by continuous work without any sleep. Therefore he was tired. When the task had been accomplished the glorious Kapila said to Devas, "Give me a place for sleeping." 

27-29. They gave him the nether world. Again, the sage said to Devas: "If a fool wakes me up he will be immediately reduced to ashes; then only, will I lie down in the nether world; if not I won't sleep at all." 

When Devas said "So be it" he began to lie down there. 

The asuras who knew his power and who were endowed with Māya (witchcraft) planned to slay Sagara. 

30-31. The asuras were afraid even without being fought. They hurried to the place where the extremely furious sage Kapila was lying. They hurriedly tethered the horse near his head. They stood watching silently a little away from the place eager to see what would happen. 

32. Then the sons of Sagara entered the nether regions. They saw the tethered horse and the man lying down. 

33-35. They considered him the person who took the horse by force and spoiled the sacrifice. 

Some of them said then, "Let us kill this fellow and take the horse back". 

Some said, "Let us take away this tethered sacrificial animal. Of what avail is this fellow!" 

Then other heroic persons said- "We are kings. We are administrators. Let us waken this fellow who has committed the crime and kill him with our heroic power."

 Uttering these harsh words they kicked the sage with their feet. 

36. Then Kapila the excellent sage stared at the sons of Sagara with great fury. With his anger he reduced them to ashes. 

37. Then all the sons of Sagara were burnt up. But the king Sagara who was initiated to the sacrifice did not know these things. 

38-39. It was Närada who informed noble Sagara about the abode of Kapila, the situation of the horse, the aberration of asuras and the annihilation of the sons of Sagara. But the anxious king did not know what he should do in the circumstances. 

40-42. This king had another son who was well known as Asamañjas. Due to his foolishness, he used to hurl down boys and citizens into water. Having been informed by the citizens collectively the king understood his wickedness. He became furious and told his ministers, "Let this Asamañjas, who has forsaken the duty of a Kshatriya and killed children be banished from the kingdom." 

43. On hearing those words of Sagara, the ministers hurriedly abandoned the son of the king. Asamañjas went to the forest. 

44-45. (The King thought thus) "All my sixty thousand sons are destroyed by the curse of the brahmin in the nether world. One (who remained) has gone to the forest. Now what shall I do?” 

Asamañjas had a son who was well known as Amśumān. The king called that boy and told him the task on hand. 

46. Propitiating Kapila, the boy Amśuman gave the horse to Sagara. Thus was the sacrifice completed. 

47. His son was a brilliant and virtuous king named Dilipa. His intelligent son was well known as Bhagiratha. 

48. On hearing about the sad end of all of his grandfathers he became very distressed. The humble prince asked the great king, 

49. "How shall I accomplish the expiation of the Sagaras?" The king said to Bhagiratha, "Dear son, Kapila knows it”. 

50. On hearing his words the boy went to the nether world. After bowing down to the sage, he intimated everything to him. 

51-52. That sage meditated for a long time and said to Bhagiratha, "Propitiate Sankara by penance, O excellent king, and splash your ancestors with the water stationed in the matted hair of Siva. Then you as well as your ancestors will become satisfied." 

"I shall do so", said he to the sage. After bowing down to him he said again. 

53-54, “Where shall I go? O excellent sage, tell me everything what I should do".

 Kapila said: 

Go to the excellent mountain Kailāsa and eulogize Maheśhvara. Perform penance according to your capacity. Then you will attain your desired object.

Brahmā said: 

55. On hearing the words of the sage that boy whose activities were those of children bowed down to the sage and went to the mountain Kailasa. Becoming pure (in mind and body) he decided to perform penance. (Then) Bhagiratha said:

Bhagiratha said: 

56. O lord, wearing crescent moon, I am a boy and my intellect too is puerile. I do not know anything. Even then, be pleased, O lord. 

57. I bow down to Siva who is worthy of being worshipped, O lord of the immortals, for the welfare of those who are devoted to my welfare and who help me mentally, physically and verbally (even for) once. 

58. May Siva bring about things desired by those by whom I have been begot and nurtured, those whose Gotra (lineage) is the same as mine and those whose duties are also the same. I bow down to lord Siva with the crescent moon on his head.

 Brahmā said: 

59. Even as he was eulogising thus Siva appeared in front of him. Urging him to choose a boon as he pleased, he said to Bhagiratha.

Siva said: 

60. O Bhagiratha of great intellect, what cannot be given by  Sadhyas¹ and Devas will certainly be given by me to you. Tell me without fear.

 1. A class of inferior deities who, according to vishnupurana, were the  grandchildren of Dakşhas-Prajapati. 

Brahmā said: 

61-63. The delighted Bhagiratha bowed down to lord Siva and said.

Bhagiratha said: 

In order to sanctify my ancestors, O lord of Devas, give me the excellent river stationed within your matted hair. Everything will be complete thereby.

Brahmā said: 

Mahesa smiled and said to Bhagiratha.

Siva said: 

64-68. O son, she is given unto you by me. O dear, of good vow, eulogize her once more.

 Brahmā said: 

On hearing the words of the lord, Bhagiratha of pure mind performed penance for that purpose. With devotion he eulogized Ganga. 

He attained her grace too, like a mature man although he was only a boy. Leading Gangå derived from Maheśhvara he went to the nether world. He intimated everything to the noble sage Kapila. 

After establishing Ganga in the manner mentioned before and strenuously circumambulating her he spoke with palms joined in reverence.

Bhagiratha said: 

69. O goddess, my ancestors have fallen as a result of the curse of sage Kapila. O mother, it behoves you to save them therefrom. Brahmā said:

70-73. "So be it”, said the divine river who helps everyone. In order to help the worlds and to sanctify the ancestors, particularly in order to fill up the sea drunk up by Agastya¹, in order to destroy sins merely by being remembered, the divine river did what she was told by Bhagiratha. She splashed the princes, the sons of Sagara who had been reduced to ashes by the curse of brahmin, in the nether region. She filled up the holes dug up by the Sagaras, the river flooded the mountain Meru and stopped. The young king spoke to her thus: 

1. The sage Agastya drank up the ocean because, according to Mahābhārata, the latter was hiding demons who could be killed by the gods only after this act of Agastya.

74-77. “You must remain in the land of holy rites." 

Saying "So be it" she came to Himalaya. From that holy mountain, she came to the subcontinent Bharata. From its middle the holy river flowed towards the eastern sea. Thus this river Gangå brought by a Kşhatriya, O great sage, has been mentioned to you. 

This same river belongs to Maheśhvara, Vişhnu and Brahmā. It is sacred. Bhāgirathi the divine river is stationed on the peak of Himavan. 

Thus, the water stationed within the matted hair of Maheshvara attained two forms. To the south of the Vindhya, Ganga is called Gautami. In the north of the Vindhya, she is called Bhagirathi.