“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 35 Vishvamitra Narrates the Origin of the Ganges Summary Sage Vishvamitra along with others reach the banks of River Ganga and they make their sojourn [for a temporary stay] on that riverbank. There when Rama inquisitively [curiously] enquires about River Ganga Vishvamitra narrates the legend of Ganga, as to how she is taken to heavens by Gods from her father Himalayas. Chapter [Sarga] 35 in Detail upaasya raatri shesam tu shonaa kuule maharsibhih | nishaayaam suprabhaataayaam vishvaamitro abhyabhaasata || 1-35-1 On sojourning [staying temporarily] the remaining night on the bank of river Sona along with great-sages, Visvamitra spoke when that night is elapsing into a sunny daybreak. [1-35-1] suprabhaataa nishaa raama puurvaa sa.ndhyaa pravartate | uttistha uttistha bhadram te gamanaaya abhirocaya || 1-35-2 "Oh, Rama, night fared into a sunny morning, eastern day-spring is set in, hence awake and arise, you be safe, ready yourself for further travel." [1-35-2] Page 1 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 35 tat shrutvaa vacanam tasya kritvaa paurva aahnika kriyah | gamanam rocayaamaasa vaakyam ca idam uvaaca ha || 1-35-3 On hearing the words of Sage Vishvamitra, Rama woke up and on completion of morning time religious activities he readied himself for further journey and indeed spoke this sentence to the sage. [1-35-3] ayam shonah shubha jalo gaadhah pulina manditah | katarena pathaa brahman sa.mtarisyaamahe vayam || 1-35-4 "This River Sona is with auspicious waters and even adorned with dunes [sand piled up by the wind], where it is not so deep. Oh, Brahman, in which of the two ways, namely by fordless [not shallow part] waters or by fordable [shallow part] water with dunes [sand piled up by the wind], we have to cross this river?" [1-35-4] evam uktah tu raamena vishvaamitro abraviit idam | esa pa.nthaa mayaa uddisto yena yaanti maharsayah || 1-35-5 When Rama spoke to him thus sage Vishvamitra replied, "I propose the same route by which these great sages are going. [1-35-5] evam uktvaa maharsayo vishvamitrena dhiimataa | pashyantah te prayaataa vai vanaani vividhaani ca || 1-35-6 Thus spoken by that astute [shrewd] Sage Vishvamitra, the other great sages traveled on, indeed beholding diverse forests and their environs. [1-35-6] te gatvaa duuram adhvaanam gate ardha divase tadaa | jaahnaviim saritaam shresthaam dadrishur muni sevitaam || 1-35-7 On going a distance on their way, and after a lapse of half a day, then they perceived the prominent one among rivers and the one adored by sages, namely River Ganga. [1-35-7] Page 2 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 35 taam dristvaa punya salilaam ha.msa saarasa sevitaam | babhuuvur munayah sarve muditaa saha raaghavaah || 1-35-8 On seeing River Ganga with her pious [virtuous] waters and adored by swans and saarasa waterfowls, all the sages felt delighted together with both of the Raghava-s, namely Rama and Lakshmana. [1-35-8] tasyaah tiire tatah cakruh te aavaasa parigraham | tatah snaatvaa yathaa nyaayam sa.mtarpya pitri devataah || 1-35-9 hutvaa caiva agnihotraani praashya ca amritavat havih | vivishur jaahnavii tiire shubhaa mudita maanasaah || 1-35-10 vishvaamitram mahaatmaanam parivaarya sama.ntatah | Then they sojourned [stayed temporarily] on the riverbank of Ganga, and next on taking bath in Ganga they have customarily offered that river's water as oblations to their manes [forefathers]. After that, on enkindling [lighting] the ritual-fire they have also offered fire-oblations into it for Gods. Later, dining on their part of those ambrosia [something extremely pleasing to taste or smell] oblations with which they have oblated [offered] the fire, those sages perched [rested or settled] on the propitious banks of Ganga, surrounding the great-souled Vishvamitra from all sides, to the contentment of their heart in having performed religious chores on the riverbank of Ganga. [1-35-9, 10, 11a] vistitaah ca yathaa nyaayam raaghavo ca yathaa arham | samprahrista manaa raamo vishvaamitram atha abraviit || 1-35-11 When sages are sitting at ease then even Rama and Lakshmana sat down according to their admissibility and custom of sitting before their teachers, and then Rama highly gladdened at heart has spoken to Vishvamitra. [1-35-11] Page 3 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 35 bhagavan shrotum icchaami gangaam tri patha gaam nadiim | trailokyam katham aakramya gataa nada nadiipatim || 1-35-12 "Oh, Godly sage, I wish to listen about Ganga, the river that has a trinal [threefold] course, and as to how she is reaching the husband of rivulets [a small stream] and rivers, namely the ocean, on pervading all the three worlds." Thus Rama asked Vishvamitra. [1-35-12] codito raama vaakyena vishvaamitro mahaamunih | vriddhim janma ca gangaayaa vaktum eva upacakrame || 1-35-13 Motivated by Rama's words the eminent-sage Vishvamitra commenced to narrate about the emergence and that way even about the progression of River Ganga. [1-35-13] shailendro himavaan raama dhaatuunaam aakaro mahaan | tasya kanyaa dvayam raama ruupena apratimam bhuvi || 1-35-14 "The lordly mountain Himavan who is the greatest treasure trove of minerals, Rama, also treasures up a pair of daughters who by their comeliness [having a pleasing appearance] are unequalled on earth. [1-35-14] yaa meru duhitaa raama tayor maataa sumadhyamaa | naamnaa menaa manojnaa vai patnii himavatah priyaa || 1-35-15 "The slender-waist and fascinating daughter of Mt. Meru, oh, Rama, renowned by her name Mena, is the dear wife of Himavan and the mother of those two daughters, indeed. [1-35- 15] tasyaam ganga iyam abhavat jyesthaa himavatah sutaa | umaa naama dvitiiyaa abhuut kanyaa tasya eva raaghava || 1-35-16 "This Ganga has emerged as an elder daughter to Himavan through Mena, oh, Raghava, and that way a girl renowned by the name Uma has become a second daughter to him. [1-35-16] Page 4 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 35 atha jyesthaam suraah sarve deva kaarya cikiirsayaa | shailendram varayaamaasuh ga.ngaam tri patha gaam nadiim || 1-35-17 "Later, all of the divinities intending to fulfill a divine purpose have sought the lordly mountain Himavan to spare Ganga, who is scheduled to become a tri-way-cruising river. [1-35- 17] dadau dharmena himavaan tanayaam loka paavaniim | svacchanda patha gaam ga.ngaam trailokya hita kaamyayaa || 1-35-18 "With a righteous thinking and hopeful of the welfare in triadic [three] worlds, Himavan then spared his daughter Ganga whose flow is at her own volition [will]. [1-35-18] pratigrihya triloka artham triloka hita kaa.nkshinah | gangaam aadaaya te agacchan kritaarthena a.ntaraatmanaa || 1-35-19 "Those divinities who are the well-wishers of the well-being of tri-world welcomed Ganga, who is incidentally intended for the purpose of the tri-world, and they came back to heaven fetching Ganga with them, with a heartfelt joy for their purpose is fulfilled. [1-35-19] yaa ca anyaa shaila duhitaa kanyaa aasiit raghuna.ndana | ugram suvratam aasthaaya tapah tepe tapodhanaa || 1-35-20 "The other daughter of Himavanta, oh, Raghu's descendent, that unmarried girl namely Uma, she performed a rigorous sacrament [a religious rite or observance] taking hold of a supreme devoutness as her asceticism itself is her wealth. [1-35-20] ugrena tapasaa yuktaam dadau shailavarah sutaam | rudraaya apratiruupaaya umaam loka namaskritaam || 1-35-21 "As for Uma who is unified with her rigorous sacrament and who is adored by all the world, that best one among mountains Himavanta gave such a daughter to the unique God Rudra. [1-35-21] Page 5 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 35 ete te shaila raajasya sute loka namaskrite | ga.ngaa ca saritaam shresthaa umaadevii ca raaghava || 1-35-22 "Oh, Raghava, the prominent one among rivers namely Ganga and Uma Devi as well, these are the two daughters of the king of mountains that are highly revered by the world. [1-35- 22] etat te sarvam aakhyaatam yathaa tri patha gaaminii | kham gataa prathamam taata gatim gatimataam vara || 1-35-23 "Dear boy Rama with beautiful gait [a manner of walking or moving on foot], as to how the triply coursing Ganga has cruised to heaven in the first phase, I have related all about that cruise to you. [1-35-23] sa esaa sura nadii ramyaa shailendra tanayaa tadaa | sura lokam samaaruudhaa vipaapaa jala vaahinii || 1-35-24 "As such, that marvelous and sinless daughter of the lordly mountain Himavanta, ever- flowing in the form of water, ascended to the abode of divinities and became Deva Ganga , Divine River. [1-35-24] iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande panca trimshah sargah Thus, this is the 35th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India. Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate References Desiraju Hanumanta Rao. (1998). Balakanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties. Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com. Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com. Page 6 of 6 .