उपास्य रात्रिशेषं तु शोणाकूले महर्षिभिः। निशायां सुप्रभातायां विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत॥
HAVING in company with the ascetics passed the remainder of the night on the banks of the Sona, Visvāmitra, when the day broke, spoke,
सुप्रभाता निशा राम पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते। उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भद्रं ते गमनायाभिरोचय॥
O Rāma, the night has passed away, and the morn has come. The hour for performing the prior devotions has arrived. Arise! arise! good betide you! Do you prepare for going.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य कृतपूर्वाह्निकक्रियः। गमनं रोचयामास वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह॥
Hearing these words of his, Rāma, having finished his morning devotions and rites, and ready for departure, said,
अयं शोण: शुभजलोऽगाधः पुलिनमण्डितः। कतरेण पथा ब्रह्मन् संतरिष्यामहे वयम् ॥
This is the Sona, of excellent waters, fathomless, and studded with islets. O Brāhmaṇa, by which way shall we repair
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्। एष पन्था मयोद्दिष्टो येन यान्ति महर्षयः॥
Thus addressed by Rāma, Viśvāmitra replied. Even this path has been fixed upon by men, that, namely, by which the Maharșis go.
ते गत्वा दूरमध्वानं गतेऽर्धदिवसे तदा। जाह्नवीं सरितां श्रेष्ठां ददृशुर्मुनिसेविताम्॥
Having proceeded far, when the day had been half spent, they beheld that foremost of streams, the Jahnavi, worshipped by ascetics.
तां दृष्ट्वा पुण्यसलिलां हंससारससेविताम्। बभूवुर्मुनयः सर्वे मुदिताः सहराघवाः॥
Having beheld that river furnished with sacred waters, and frequented by swans and cranes, the ascetics who accompanied Rāghava were exceedingly delighted.
तस्यास्तीरे तदा सर्वे चक्कुर्वासपरिग्रहम्। ततः स्रात्वा यथान्यायं संतl पितृदेवता॥ हुत्वा चैवाग्निहोत्राणि प्राश्य चामृतवद्धविः। विविशुर्जाह्नवीतीरे शुभा मुदितमानसाः॥ विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं परिवार्य समन्ततः।
And they took up their quarters on the banks of the river. And then having bathed and duly offered oblations of water to the gods and the manes of their ancestors, and performed Agnihotra* (Sacrifice with burnt offering.) sacrifices, and partaken of clarified butter like to nectar, those high-souled and auspicious ones, with glad hearts, sat down surrounding Viśvāmitra.
विष्ठिताश्च यथान्यायं राघवौ च यथार्हतः। सम्प्रहृष्टमना रामो विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्॥
And the descendants of Raghu also sat down, occupying prominent places as befitted their rank. Then Rāma with a heart surcharged with cheerfulness spoke to Viśvāmitra, saying,
भगवञ्छोतुमिच्छामि गङ्गां त्रिपथगां नदीम्। त्रैलोक्यं कथमाक्रम्य गता नदनदीपतिम् ॥
O adorable one, I desire to hear how the Gangă flowing in three directions and embracing the three worlds, falls into the lord of streams and rivers.
चोदितो रामवाक्येन विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। वृद्धिं जन्म च गङ्गाया वक्तुमेवोपचक्रमे॥
Influenced by Rama's speech, the mighty ascetic Viśvāmitra entered upon the history of the Gangā's origin and progress.
शैलेन्द्रो हिमवान् राम धातूनामाकरो महान्। तस्य कन्याद्वयं राम रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि ॥
O Rāma, that great mine of ore, Himavat is the foremost of mountains. To him were born two daughters, unparalleled on earth in loveliness.
या मेरुदुहिता राम तयोर्माता सुमध्यमा। नाम्ना मना मनोज्ञा वै पत्नी हिमवतः प्रिया॥
O Rāma, their mother of dainty waist, the amiable daughter of Meru, named Menā, was the beloved wife of Himavat.
तस्यां गङ्गेयमभवज्ज्येष्ठा हिमवतः सुता। उमा नाम द्वितीयाभूत् कन्या तस्यैव राघव॥
She of whom was born Gangā the elder daughter of Himavat; and , O Raghava, a second daughter was also born to him, named Uma.
अथ ज्येष्ठां सुराः सर्वे देवकार्यचिकीर्षया। शैलेन्द्र वरयामासुर्गङ्गां त्रिपथगां नदीम्॥ ददौ धर्मेण हिमवांस्तनयां लोकपावनीम्। स्वच्छन्दपथगां गङ्गां त्रैलोक्यहितकाम्यया॥ प्रतिगृह्य त्रिलोकार्थं त्रिलोकहितकाङ्क्षिणः। गङ्गामादाय तेऽगच्छन् कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना॥
And it came to pass that once upon a time, the deities, with the view of accomplishing some work appertaining to them as divine beings, in a body besought that foremost of mountains for that river flowing in three worlds, Himavat in obedience to duty, conferred upon them his daughter flowing everywhere at will, and sanctifying all creatures. Thereat in the interests of the three worlds, accepting her, those having the welfare of the three worlds, at heart, went away with Ganga, considering themselves as having attained their desire.
या चान्या शैलदुहिता कन्याऽऽसीद् रघुनन्दन। उग्रं सुव्रतमास्थाय तपस्तेपे तपोधना॥
The other daughter of the mountain, O descendant of Raghu, adopting a stern vow, began to carry on austerities, having asceticism for her wealth.
उग्रेण तपसा युक्तां ददौ शैलवरः सुताम्। रुद्रायाप्रतिरूपाय उमां लोकनमस्कृताम्॥
And that best of mountains bestowed upon Rudra of unequalled form his daughter Uma, furnished with fiery asceticism and worshipped of the worlds.
एते ते शैलराजस्य सुते लोकनमस्कृते। गङ्गा च सरितां श्रेष्ठा उमादेवी च राघव॥
And these, O Rāghava, are the daughters of that king of mountains, worshipped of all, viz, Gangā, the foremost of streams, and the divine Uma.
एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथा त्रिपथगामिनी। खं गता प्रथमं तात गतिं गतिमतां वर ॥ सैषा सुरनदी रम्या शैलेन्द्रतनया तदा। सुरलोकं समारूढा विपापा जलवाहिनी॥
Now, O best of those endowed with motion, have I related to you how that sin-destroying one flowing with her waters in three diverse directions, first, O child, went to the firmament and then ascended the celestial regions.