Chapter 43 - History of Ganga (resumed, 7)

When the water of Ganga was offered to Vishnu’s Satvika foot by Brahma that foot became stationary, and Ganga remained supported by it, although the Lord Vishnu disappeared. The circumstances under which Ganga descended down to the earth will be related now.

Once upon a time there was a great and mighty King whose name was Sagara. He had two wives named Sumati and Kesini. The first wife, in consequence of a boon granted to her by a Muni, gave birth to sixty thousand sons, but the second wife, Kesini, gave birth to one son only whose name was Asamanjasa.

In due course of time, when kitng Sagara found that his sons were powerful and fit to rule the earth, he invited the Rishis and gods, and commenced an Asvamedha^[1] sacrifice. The sacrificial horse was let loose at the proper time.

The Nagas became jealous of the king, and, stealing the horse, took it down to Mahatala^[2] and tied it at a spot where the great Muni Kapila was sitting in Samadhi^[3], unconscious of what was going on around him.

When the horse was reported to be missing, the Raja deputed his sixty thousand sons to go in search of it. They searched the nine Varshas^[4], the seven Dvipas^[5], and the seven Svargas^[6], but could get no clue of the horse. Then they commenced digging the earth; and making a hole through it entered Atala^[7], Vitala, Sutala, Tala and Rasatala successively, but still there was no trace of the lost horse. They went on digging till at last they reached the Mahatala where they saw it near the Muni, and taking him to be a thief, began to shout aloud and beat drums and trumpets to arouse him from the trance of Samadhi. Failing to do so, they began to beat him, when, lo! his eyes were opened, and all the princes were consumed by the fire of his wrath at once!

King Sagara waited for a long time for the return of his sons, and did not know what to make of the delay, till one day the renowned sage, Narada, appeared before him and told him the fate of his sons. He ordered his grandson, Amsumana, the son of Asamanjasa, to go and propitiate Kapila and bring back the horse.

Amsumana went to Mahatala and succeeded in winning the favour and blessing of Kapila by his entreaties. He got back the horse, and was told by the Muni that the only means for the salvation of his dead uncles lay in bringing the sacred Ganga down from heaven and washing their ashes with her water; but that it was not an easy task, and required much penance for its accomplishment.

“Go”, said the Muni, “and tell your grandfather, Sagara, to perform the necessary penance. If he does not succeed, you or your son, grandson or great-grandson, may. You may take away the horse.”

Amsumana brought back the horse, and communicated Kapila Muni’s message to his grandfather. The latter, after completing the sacrifice, handed over the reins of Government to Amsumana, and spent the remainder of his life in invoking Ganga, but to no effect.

After him, Amsumana, in due time, made, over the kingdom to his son, Dilipa, and followed in his footsteps, but in vain. On his death, Dilipa entrusted the kingdom to his son, Bhagiratha, and went away to continue the austerities commenced by his predecessors, but he too was. unsuccessful.

Bhagiratha, in his turn, showed uncommon zeal in the enterprise, and his efforts were crowned with success, at last.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A Vedic sacrifice which used to be performed by kings only. A horse was let loose and was allowed to wander at will for a year, attended by a guardian. When it entered a foreign country, the ruler was bound either to submit or to fight. At the end of the year the horse was brought back by the guardian along with the kings whom he had conquered or who had willingly submitted, and then the sacrifice was performed amidst great rejoicings.

[2]:

See footnote [?] at page [?].

[3]:

A trance attained through Yoga.

[4]:

Divisions of the world. Continents.

[5]:

See foot note [?] at page [?].

[6]:

The seven regions above the earth. See footnote at page.

[7]:

See footnote [?] at page.