FROM VALMIKI

BHAGĪRATHA AND THE GAṄGA.

Bhagīratha was Amshumān’s grandson.

They did strict austerity with this goal in mind:

They wanted River Gaṅga down to earth.

Brahmā grants a book to Bhagīratha.

He also urged him to appeal to Lord Shiva

To let him host the Gaṅga on his head.

Lord Shiva was much sufficiently pleased

With the devotions of Bhagīratha,

And so consented to having

The Gaṅga on his head, and furthermore

He let it flow into Bindusarovara.

The river splits into seven different streams.

Then it went with Bhagīratha to Rasātala,

It also released his forebears as it moved along.

Brahmā applauded Bhagīratha for this.

And He instructed him to bring peace

To the souls of his ancestors with Gaṅga water.

Bhagīratha acted accordingly, and went back

to his capital, recognizing the spiritual value

In knowing about the genesis of the Gaṅga.

Now Vishvāmitra spoke to Rāma about

The event of Churning of the Ocean

During which devas and asuras joined hands

And churned the primordial Ocean of Milk,

Using Mount Manda as the rod for doing this.

It was then that Lord Shiva gulped the poison

That first came out of it, but dis not drink it fully,

Thus, leaving blue the color of his throat.

During this Churning Dhanvantari appeared,

As also a throng of beautiful apsaras.

At the same time came out of the Ocean

The magical horse Ucchaishvara,

The magical beverage vāruni, as also

The Kaustubha gem and nectar.

It was during that ominous conflict between

Devas and Asuras, that the Daityas who were

Demons descending from Kashyapa and Diti,

Were one and all fully destroyed.

All her sons now dead, Diti was in full grief.

She now began a series of austerities

At a place called Kushālplava.

This she did with the full consent

Of her husband Sage Kashyapa.

The goal of these penances, for her,

Was to get a son who can kill Indra.

Indra became aware of Diti’s plan.

He is at her service while she was

Dedicated to achieving this.

So, at one time, while she was fast asleep,

Placing her head unknowingly

in a wrong posture, which broke the rules

Of purity, Indra sneaked into her womb

And he cut the fetus to pieces.

Vishvāmitra told Rāma exactly where

Diti did her austerities. The current ruler Vishāla,

One of Ikshvāku’s sons, built the city

Of Vishālā where they were now welcome

As highly honored guests.

They stayed there as guests of Sumati,

The second queen of King Sagara,

Then they left for their destination:

Mithilā, Janakā’s kingdom’s capital.