Read Ramayana Baala Kaanda - Sarga 43

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Read Ramayana Baala Kaanda - Sarga 43


Baala Kaanda - Sarga 43
This Sarga describes one of the most revered and celebrated stories of Indian mythology, that of the descent of Gaṅga from the heavens to the earth.
1.43.1
தேவதேவே கதே தஸ்மிந் ஸோऽங்குஷ்டாக்ரநிபீடிதாம் ।
க்ருத்வா வஸுமதீம் ராம ஸம்வத்ஸரமுபாஸத ॥
dēvadēvē gatē tasmin sō'ṅguṣṭhāgranipīḍitām ।
kṛtvā vasumatīṃ rāma saṃvatsaramupāsata ॥
O Rāma! After the lord of lords (Brahma) departed,
He (Bhageeratha) did Tapa for a year,
poised on the tip of a toe that pressed down on the earth.
1.43.2
அத ஸம்வத்ஸரே பூர்ணே ஸர்வலோகநமஸ்க்ருத: ।
உமாபதி: பஸுபதீ ராஜாநமிதமப்ரவீத் ॥
atha saṃvatsarē pūrṇē sarvalōkanamaskṛtaḥ ।
umāpatiḥ paṡupatī rājānamidamabravīt ॥
After a year passed thus, Lord Ṡiva,
the lord of all beings, the lord of Uma,
the one venerated by the peoples of all worlds
spoke to that king as follows:
1.43.3
ப்ரீதஸ்தேऽஹம் நரஸ்ரேஷ்ட கரிஷ்யாமி தவ ப்ரியம் ।
ஸிரஸா தாரயிஷ்யாமி ஸைலராஜஸுதாமஹம் ॥
prītastē'haṃ naraṡrēṣṭha kariṣyāmi tava priyam ।
ṡirasā dhārayiṣyāmi ṡailarājasutāmaham ॥
O best among men! I am pleased with you.
I would do what you would like me to do.
I shall receive on my head the daughter of
the king of mountains (Gaṅga) on my head.
1.43.4-5a
ததோ ஹைமவதீ ஜ்யேஷ்டா ஸர்வலோகநமஸ்க்ருதா ।
ததா ஸாऽதிமஹத்ரூபம் க்ருத்வா வேகம் ச துஸ்ஸஹம் ॥
ஆகாஸாதபதத்ராம ஸிவே ஸிவஸிரஸ்யுத ।
tatō haimavatī jyēṣṭhā sarvalōkanamaskṛtā ।
tadā sā'timahadrūpaṃ kṛtvā vēgaṃ ca dussaham ॥
ākāṡādapatadrāma ṡivē ṡivaṡirasyuta ।
O Rāma! Then Gaṅga, the daughter of Himavān,
the one venerated by peoples of all worlds,
descended upon the auspicious head of Ṡiva
in her majestic form with a speed that none might withstand.
If you had ever been to the foot of a waterfall, and had put your head underneath it, you would understand the weight and impact of falling water.


If a gigantic river like Gaṅga falls on the earth from the heights of heaven, the earth would be shattered. Hence it takes none other than Ṡiva to bear the brunt of that impact on his head.


The richness of the imagination of the ancients of Indian civilization lies in conceiving the need for invoking supernatural power as that of Ṡiva to facilitate a supernatural event as that of divine waters falling from the heavens on to the earth.
1.43.5b-6a
அசிந்தயச்ச ஸா தேவீ கங்கா பரமதுர்த்தரா ॥
விஸாம்யஹம் ஹி பாதாலம் ஸ்ரோதஸா க்ருஹ்ய ஸங்கரம் ।
acintayacca sā dēvī gaṅgā paramadurddharā ॥
viṡāmyahaṃ hi pātālaṃ srōtasā gṛhya ṡaṅkaram ।
The goddess Gaṅga, who is difficult to be held,
for a moment thought that she could even
sweep down Lord Ṡaṅkara into the netherworlds
with her speed and impact.
1.43.6b-7a
தஸ்யா வலேபநம் ஜ்ஞாத்வா க்ருத்தஸ்து பகவாந் ஹர: ॥
திரோபாவயிதும் புத்திம் சக்ரே த்ரிணயநஸ்ததா ।
tasyā valēpanaṃ jñātvā kruddhastu bhagavān haraḥ ॥
tirōbhāvayituṃ buddhiṃ cakrē triṇayanastadā ।
Bhagawān Hara (Ṡiva), the one with three eyes
sensed her arrogance and became angry
and thought of resisting her.
1.43.7b-8a
ஸா தஸ்மிந் பதிதா புண்யா புண்யே ருத்ரஸ்ய மூர்த்தநி ॥
ஹிமவத்ப்ரதிமே ராம ஜடாமண்டலகஹ்வரே ।
sā tasmin patitā puṇyā puṇyē rudrasya mūrddhani ॥
himavatpratimē rāma jaṭāmaṇḍalagahvarē ।
O Rāma! Then the auspicious Gaṅga,
descended on the head of auspicious Ṡiva,
whose locks were strong and undulated
like the Himalayan mountain range.
1.43.8b-9a
ஸா கதஞ்சிந்மஹீம் கந்தும் நாஸக்நோத்யத்நமாஸ்திதா ॥
நைவ நிர்கமநம் லேபே ஜடாமண்டலமோஹிதா ।
sā kathañcinmahīṃ gantuṃ nāṡaknōdyatnamāsthitā ॥
naiva nirgamanaṃ lēbhē jaṭāmaṇḍalamōhitā ।
Held in those locks of Ṡiva,
she could not find a way to get on to the earth,
in spite of her hard efforts.
1.43.9b-10a
தத்ரைவாபம்ப்ரமத்தேவீ ஸம்வத்ஸரகணாந் பஹூந் ॥
தாமபஸ்யந் புநஸ்தத்ர தப: பரமமாஸ்தித: ।
tatraivābambhramaddēvī saṃvatsaragaṇān bahūn ॥
tāmapaṡyan punastatra tapaḥ paramamāsthitaḥ ।
For many, many years, Gaṅga was revolving right there.
Not seeing Gaṅga coming down to earth,
(Bhageeratha) went on to do Tapa again.
1.43.10b-11a
அநேந தோஷிதஸ்சாபூதத்யர்தம் ரகுநந்தந ॥
விஸஸர்ஜ ததோ கங்காம் ஹரோ பிந்துஸர: ப்ரதி ।
anēna tōṣitaṡcābhūdatyarthaṃ raghunandana ॥
visasarja tatō gaṅgāṃ harō bindusaraḥ prati ।
O prince of Raghu dynasty!
Ṡiva was very pleased with that Tapa
and released Gaṅga in the Lake Bindu.
1.43.11b-12
தஸ்யாம் விஸ்ருஜ்யமாநாயாம் ஸப்த ஸ்ரோதாம்ஸி ஜஜ்ஞிரே ॥
ஹ்லாதிநீ பாவநீ சைவ நலிநீ ச ததாऽபரா ।
திஸ்ர: ப்ராசீம் திஸம் ஜக்முர்கங்காஸ்ஸிவஜலாஸ்ஸுபா: ॥
tasyāṃ visṛjyamānāyāṃ sapta srōtāṃsi jajñirē ॥
hlādinī pāvanī caiva nalinī ca tathā'parā ।
tisraḥ prācīṃ diṡaṃ jagmurgaṅgāṡṡivajalāṡṡubhāḥ ॥
As that Gaṅga was released by Ṡiva,
she flowed into seven different streams.
three of them, Hlādini, Pāvani and Nalini
with auspicious waters flowed eastwards.
1.43.13
ஸுசக்ஷுஸ்சைவ ஸீதா ச ஸிந்துஸ்சைவ மஹாநதீ ।
திஸ்ரஸ்த்வேதா திஸம் ஜக்மு: ப்ரதீசீம் து ஸுபோதகா: ॥
sucakṣuṡcaiva sītā ca sindhuṡcaiva mahānadī ।
tisrastvētā diṡaṃ jagmuḥ pratīcīṃ tu ṡubhōdakāḥ ॥
Another three with auspicious waters known as
Sucakshu, Seetā and the great river Sindhu flowed westwards.
1.43.14b-15a
ஸப்தமீ சாந்வகாத்தாஸாம் பகீரதமதோ ந்ருபம் ।
பகீரதோऽபி ராஜர்ஷிர்திவ்யம் ஸ்யந்தநமாஸ்தித: ॥
ப்ராயாதக்ரே மஹாதேஜா கங்கா தம் சாப்யநுவ்ரஜத் ।
saptamī cānvagāttāsāṃ bhagīrathamathō nṛpam ।
bhagīrathō'pi rājarṣirdivyaṃ syandanamāsthitaḥ ॥
prāyādagrē mahātējā gaṅgā taṃ cāpyanuvrajat ।
The seventh stream, followed the
supremely radiant Rājarshi Bhageeratha,
who went ahead of her on a divine Ratha.
1.43.15b-16a
ககநாச்சங்கரஸிரஸ்ததோ தரணிமாஸ்ரிதா ॥
வ்யஸர்பத ஜலம் தத்ர தீவ்ரஸப்தபுரஸ்க்ருதம் ।
gaganācchaṅkaraṡirastatō dharaṇimāṡritā ॥
vyasarpata jalaṃ tatra tīvraṡabdapuraskṛtam ।
The waters fell from the heavens on the head of Ṡiva
and then inundated the earth with a roaring sound.
1.43.16b-17a
மத்ஸ்யகச்சபஸங்கைஸ்ச ஸிம்ஸுமாரகணைஸ்ததா ॥
பதத்பி: பதிதைஸ்சாந்யைர்வ்யரோசத வஸுந்தரா ।
matsyakacchapasaṅghaiṡca ṡiṃṡumāragaṇaistadā ॥
patadbhiḥ patitaiṡcānyairvyarōcata vasundharā ।
The earth was resplendent with the fish, turtles, crocodiles
and many other such species that fell along with the waters.
1.43.17b-18a
ததோ தேவர்ஷிகந்தர்வா யக்ஷாஸ்ஸித்தகணாஸ்ததா ॥
வ்யலோகயந்த தே தத்ர ககநாத்காம் கதாம் ததா ।
tatō dēvarṣigandharvā yakṣāssiddhagaṇāstadā ॥
vyalōkayanta tē tatra gaganādgāṃ gatāṃ tathā ।
Dēvas, Ṛshis, Gandharvas, Yakshas and Siddhas
could not take their eyes off the spectacle
of the descent of Gaṅga.
Waterfalls are always spectacular. No one can take the eyes off such a spectacle. What to speak of the spectacle of Gaṅga herself falling from such heights as the heavens?


Even Dēvas and other non-earthly beings could not take their eyes off that spectacle that had never been seen before by anyone.


And in the vivid and rich imagination of Maharshi Vālmeeki, that spectacle comes alive and vibrant, as you can see from these Ṡlōkas.






1.43.18b-19a
விமாநைர்நகராகாரைர்ஹயைர்கஜவரைஸ்ததா ॥
பாரிப்லவகதைஸ்சாபி தேவதாஸ்தத்ர விஷ்டிதா: ।
vimānairnagarākārairhayairgajavaraistadā ॥
pāriplavagataiṡcāpi dēvatāstatra viṣṭhitāḥ ।
The Dēvas set themselves on top of Vimānas
that were as big as cities, and on top of fast moving horses
and atop the best elephants to watch that spectacle.
1.43.19b-20a
ததத்புததமம் லோகே கங்காபதநமுத்தமம் ॥
தித்ருக்ஷவோ தேவகணாஸ்ஸமீயுரமிதௌஜஸ: ।
tadadbhutatamaṃ lōkē gaṅgāpatanamuttamam ॥
didṛkṣavō dēvagaṇāssamīyuramitaujasaḥ ।
The supremely radiant Dēvas thus came
to see that spectacle of Gaṅga's descent to the earth.
1.43.20b-21a
ஸம்பதத்பிஸ்ஸுரகணைஸ்தேஷாம் சாபரணௌஜஸா ॥
ஸதாதித்யமிவாபாதி ககநம் கததோயதம் ।
sampatadbhissuragaṇaistēṣāṃ cābharaṇaujasā ॥
ṡatādityamivābhāti gaganaṃ gatatōyadam ।
As the sky slowly became clear of the waters of Gaṅga,
the many diamonds worn by the Dēvas
could be seen shining in the sky with
the luminescence equivalent to that of a hundred suns.
1.43.21b-22a
ஸிம்ஸுமாரோரககணைர்மீநைரபி ச சஞ்சலை: ॥
வித்யுத்பிரிவ விக்ஷிப்தமாகாஸமபவத்ததா ।
ṡiṃṡumārōragagaṇairmīnairapi ca cañcalaiḥ ॥
vidyudbhiriva vikṣiptamākāṡamabhavattadā ।
The falling fish, snakes and crocodiles
filled the skies like flashes of lightning.
1.43.22b-23a
பாண்டரைஸ்ஸலிலோத்பீடை: கீர்யமாணை: ஸஹஸ்ரதா ॥
ஸாரதாப்ரைரிவாகீர்ணம் ககநம் ஹம்ஸஸம்ப்லவை: ।
pāṇḍaraissalilōtpīḍaiḥ kīryamāṇaiḥ sahasradhā ॥
ṡāradābhrairivākīrṇaṃ gaganaṃ haṃsasamplavaiḥ ।
The rushing waters from the sky created white froth
that reminded one of the post-monsoon sky
filled with white clouds and flying white swans.
1.43.23b-24a
க்வசித்த்ருததரம் யாதி குடிலம் க்வசிதாயதம் ॥
விநதம் க்வசிதுத்பூதம் க்வசித்யாதி ஸநைஸ்ஸநை: ।
kvaciddrutataraṃ yāti kuṭilaṃ kvacidāyatam ॥
vinataṃ kvacidudbhūtaṃ kvacidyāti ṡanaiṡṡanaiḥ ।
That Gaṅga created rapids at places.
She created beautiful curves at others.
She flowed straight and unbent at some places.
Her pace and flow were subdued at times.
At times she rose to the skies.
At places she flowed slowly and leisurely.
1.43.24b-25a
ஸலிலேநைவ ஸலிலம் க்வசிதப்யாஹதம் புந: ॥
முஹுரூர்த்த்வமுகம் கத்வா பபாத வஸுதாதலம் ।
salilēnaiva salilaṃ kvacidabhyāhataṃ punaḥ ॥
muhurūrddhvamukhaṃ gatvā papāta vasudhātalam ।
At places the water itself was pushing water to make it
rise high, only to fall back on the ground again.
1.43.25b-26a
தச்சங்கரஸிரோப்ரஷ்டம் ப்ரஷ்டம் பூமிதலே புந: ॥
வ்யரோசத ததா தோயம் நிர்மலம் கதகல்மஷம் ।
tacchaṅkaraṡirōbhraṣṭaṃ bhraṣṭaṃ bhūmitalē punaḥ ॥
vyarōcata tadā tōyaṃ nirmalaṃ gatakalmaṣam ।
Finally, after falling from the skies on to Ṡiva's head
and then on to the earth, the waters shined clear and clean.
1.43.26b-27a
தத்ர தேவர்ஷிகந்தர்வா வஸுதாதலவாஸிந: ॥
பவாங்கபதிதம் தோயம் பவித்ரமிதி பஸ்ப்ருஸு: ।
tatra dēvarṣigandharvā vasudhātalavāsinaḥ ॥
bhavāṅgapatitaṃ tōyaṃ pavitramiti paspṛṡuḥ ।
The Dēvas, Ṛshis, Gandharvas
and the beings that lived on the earth
touched those waters with reverence,
since it came down after touching the body of Ṡiva.
1.43.27b-28a
ஸாபாத்ப்ரபதிதா யே ச ககநாத்வஸுதாதலம் ॥
க்ருத்வா தத்ராபிஷேகம் தே பபூவுர்கதகல்மஷா: ।
ṡāpātprapatitā yē ca gaganādvasudhātalam ॥
kṛtvā tatrābhiṣēkaṃ tē babhūvurgatakalmaṣāḥ ।
Those who fell to the earth because of a curse became
free of afflictions by taking bath in those waters.
1.43.28b-29a
தூதபாபா: புநஸ்தேந தோயேநாத ஸுபாஸ்வதா ॥
புநராகாஸமாவிஸ்ய ஸ்வாந் லோகாந் ப்ரதிபேதிரே ।
dhūtapāpāḥ punastēna tōyēnātha subhāsvatā ॥
punarākāṡamāviṡya svān lōkān pratipēdirē ।
Their Pāpas washed off by those glistening waters,
they ascended back to their upper worlds.
1.43.29b-30a
முமுதே முதிதோ லோகஸ்தேந தோயேந பாஸ்வதா ॥
க்ருதாபிஷேகோ கங்காயாம் பபூவ விகதக்லம: ।
mumudē muditō lōkastēna tōyēna bhāsvatā ॥
kṛtābhiṣēkō gaṅgāyāṃ babhūva vigataklamaḥ ।
Washed by those glistening waters, the entire
earth felt happy, excited and energetic.
1.43.30b-31a
பகீரதோऽபி ராஜர்ஷிர்திவ்யம் ஸ்யந்தநமாஸ்தித: ॥
ப்ராயாதக்ரே மஹாதேஜாஸ்தம் கங்கா ப்ருஷ்டதோऽந்வகாத் ।
bhagīrathō'pi rājarṣirdivyaṃ syandanamāsthitaḥ ॥
prāyādagrē mahātējāstaṃ gaṅgā pṛṣṭatō'nvagāt ।
The supremely radiant Rājarshi Bhageeratha,
proceeded on a divine Ratha and
Gaṅga followed him from behind.
1.43.31b-33a
தேவாஸ்ஸர்ஷிகணாஸ்ஸர்வே தைத்யதாநவராக்ஷஸா: ॥
கந்தர்வயக்ஷப்ரவராஸ்ஸகிந்நரமஹோரகா: ।
ஸர்வாஸ்சாப்ஸரஸோ ராம பகீரதரதாநுகாம் ॥
கங்காமந்வகமந் ப்ரீதாஸ்ஸர்வே ஜலசராஸ்ச யே ।
dēvāssarṣigaṇāssarvē daityadānavarākṣasāḥ ॥
gandharvayakṣapravarāssakinnaramahōragāḥ ।
sarvāṡcāpsarasō rāma bhagīratharathānugām ॥
gaṅgāmanvagaman prītāssarvē jalacarāṡca yē ।
O Rāma! All the Dēvas, Ṛshis, Daityas, Dānavas,
Rākshasas, Gandharvas, the great Yakshas, Kinnaras,
great Uragas and Apsaras followed Gaṅga,
who was following Bhageeratha.
All the water borne species also followed Gaṅga.
1.43.33b-34a
யதோ பகீரதோ ராஜா ததோ கங்கா யஸஸ்விநீ ॥
ஜகாம ஸரிதாம் ஸ்ரேஷ்டா ஸர்வபாபவிநாஸிநீ ।
yatō bhagīrathō rājā tatō gaṅgā yaṡasvinī ॥
jagāma saritāṃ ṡrēṣṭhā sarvapāpavināṡinī ।
That Gaṅga, the best among rivers,
the one that removes all Pāpas
the one that is revered by all,
went along with Bhageeratha wherever he went.
1.43.34b-35a
ததோ ஹி யஜமாநஸ்ய ஜஹ்நோரத்புதகர்மண: ॥
கங்கா ஸம்ப்லாவயாமாஸ யஜ்ஞவாடம் மஹாத்மந: ।
tatō hi yajamānasya jahnōradbhutakarmaṇaḥ ॥
gaṅgā samplāvayāmāsa yajñavāṭaṃ mahātmanaḥ ।
Gaṅga then, flooded over the place of Yajña
of the highly accomplished Ṛshi and Mahātma Jahnu,
just as he was performing Yajña.
1.43.35b-36a
தஸ்யா வலேபநம் ஜ்ஞாத்வா க்ருத்தோ ஜஹ்நுஸ்ச ராகவ ॥
அபிபச்ச ஜலம் ஸர்வம் கங்காயா: பரமாத்புதம் ।
tasyā valēpanaṃ jñātvā kruddhō jahnuṡca rāghava ॥
apibacca jalaṃ sarvaṃ gaṅgāyāḥ paramādbhutam ।
O prince of Raghu Dynasty!
That performer of Yajña became angry with her arrogance
and drank all the waters of Gaṅga in an astonishing manner.
1.43.36b-37
ததோ தேவாஸ்ஸகந்தர்வா ருஷயஸ்ச ஸுவிஸ்மிதா: ॥
பூஜயந்தி மஹாத்மாநம் ஜஹ்நும் புருஷஸத்தமம் ।
கங்காம் சாபி நயந்தி ஸ்ம துஹித்ருத்வே மஹாத்மந: ॥
tatō dēvāssagandharvā ṛṣayaṡca suvismitāḥ ॥
pūjayanti mahātmānaṃ jahnuṃ puruṣasattamam ।
gaṅgāṃ cāpi nayanti sma duhitṛtvē mahātmanaḥ ॥
The amazed Dēvas, Gandharvas and Ṛshis
prayed to that Mahātma and the great human being Jahnu
to consider Gaṅga as his own daughter and release her.
1.43.38
ததஸ்துஷ்டோ மஹாதேஜாஸ்ஸ்ரோத்ராப்யாமஸ்ருஜத் புந: ।
தஸ்஺மாஜ்ஜஹ்நுஸுதா கங்கா ப்ரோச்யதே ஜாஹ்நவீதி ச ॥
tatastuṣṭō mahātējāṡṡrōtrābhyāmasṛjat punaḥ ।
tasऺmājjahnusutā gaṅgā prōcyatē jāhnavīti ca ॥
Pleased with their prayers, that supremely radiant Jahnu
released the waters of Gaṅga through his ears.
For that reason, Gaṅga came to be known as
Jahnavi or Jahnu Suta, the daughter of Jahnu.
1.43.39
ஜகாம ச புநர்கங்கா பகீரதரதாநுகா ।
ஸாகரம் சாபி ஸம்ப்ராப்தா ஸா ஸரித்ப்ரவரா ததா ॥
ரஸாதலமுபாகச்சத் ஸித்த்யர்தம் தஸ்ய கர்மண: ।
jagāma ca punargaṅgā bhagīratharathānugā ।
sāgaraṃ cāpi samprāptā sā saritpravarā tadā ॥
rasātalamupāgacchat siddhyarthaṃ tasya karmaṇaḥ ।
Gaṅga started her journey again following Bhageeratha's path.
That great river then entered the ocean and
further on to the nether worlds, to complete her mission.
1.43.40
பகீரதோऽபி ராஜர்ஷிர்கங்காமாதாய யத்நத: ॥
பிதாமஹாந் பஸ்மக்ருதாநபஸ்யத்தீநசேதந: ।
bhagīrathō'pi rājarṣirgaṅgāmādāya yatnataḥ ॥
pitāmahān bhasmakṛtānapaṡyaddīnacētanaḥ ।
That Rājarshi Bhageeratha who succeeded
in bringing Gaṅga along with him,
felt sad upon seeing his ancestors
who were lying there for long as ashes.
1.43.41
அத தத்பஸ்மநாம் ராஸிம் கங்காஸலிலமுத்தமம் ॥
ப்லாவயத்தூதபாப்மாநஸ்ஸ்வர்கம் ப்ராப்தா ரகூத்தம ।
atha tadbhasmanāṃ rāṡiṃ gaṅgāsalilamuttamam ॥
plāvayaddhūtapāpmānassvargaṃ prāptā raghūttama ।
O best among the Raghu dynasty!
Then the waters of Gaṅga doused those ashes
and with that all the Pāpas were washed off
and Sagara’s sons reached the heavens.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
ஸ்ரீமத்பாலகாண்டே த்ரிசத்வாரிம்ஸ: ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ṡrīmadbālakāṇḍē tricatvāriṃṡaḥ sargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the forty third Sarga
in Bāla Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.

We completed reading 1324 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.