Part 9: Origin of throwing bones into the Gaṅgā

Wherever she destroyed the houses of the Nāgas as she went along, there Bhagīratha offered oblation to the Nāgas. The bones of Sagara’s sons were carried to the Eastern Ocean by the current of the Gaṅgā. Bhagīratha thought, “This has turned out well, indeed, that the bones of my forefathers^[1] have come to the ocean by the Gaṅgā. Otherwise, adhering to the bills and feet of vultures, etc., they would fall into impure places, like flowers blown up by the wind.”

While he was so reflecting, he was praised for a long time by the people delighted because they were freed from the calamity of the rushing water, saying, “You are a cherisher of the people.” Because he threw his fore-fathers’ bones in the water then, even now the people throw them in. Whatever path has been adopted by the great, that is the path (for the people).

Bhagīratha returned from that place, seated in his chariot, making the earth produce a noise like cymbals by the advance of his chariot. As he was going along, he saw a blessed muni who was omniscient, standing like a kalpa-tree on the road. He descended from his best chariot joyfully, like the sun from the eastern mountain, like Garuḍa from the sky. Bowing to the omniscient muni with devotion as soon as he saw him, he, skilled in devotion, very courteous, circumambulated him three times. After bowing to him, standing before him, Bhagīratha asked, “Because of what karma did my forefathers die together?” The blessed muni, knowing the three periods of time, an ocean of compassion, began to speak in a voice pouring out sweetness: