Part 13: Conquest of the Gaṅgā by Bharata

Then following the cakra-jewel which had set out, with great magnifìcance he arrived at the bank of the Mandākinī, The only Indra on earth, he established his soldiers not too near and not too far from the home of Jāhnavī. After crossing the Gaṅgā like the Sindhu at the King’s command, General Suṣeṇa conquered the north district of the Gaṅgā. Then he subdued the goddess Gaṅgā by a four days’ fast. Politeness on the part of the powerful is conducive to immediate accomplishment. Gaṅgā gave the King two jeweled thrones and one thousand and eight jeweled pitchers. When she saw Bharata, who was superior to Manmatha in beauty of form, Gaṅgā fell into a state of trembling. Her whole body adorned with pearl-ornaments like shining multitudes of stars following the moon of her face; wearing clothes that resembled (in softness) the inside of a plantain-skin, like the water of her own stream changed into their form; her bodice split by her breast raising the bodice by the bair rising with delight; throwing a dazzling glance like a svayaṃvara wreath,^[1] urging the King in a voice choking from love, wishing dalliance, she led the King to the pleasure-house. Enjoying manifold delights there with her, the King spent a thousand years like a day.