An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s4.149

c5.s4.149

Dilipa on the throne. Dilipa in vain tried to effect the descent of Gaṅgā in order to raise his forefathers. He then anointed his son Bhagiratha as king, and practised austerities in the forest, and then ascended to heaven (III, 107). Bhagiratha made over his kingly duties to his minister (*sacive*), and (b) practised austerities in the Himavat during 1000 celestial years, living upon fruits, roots, and water. Then Gaṅgā Haimavatī appeared in a material form (*mūrtimatī*), and promised to besprinkle the bodies of his forefathers and carry them to heaven, and as there existed none in the three worlds except Śiva, who was able to sustain her fall, she caused Bhagiratha to go to Kailāsa, where he, by his austerities, obtained the favour of Śiva (III, 108), who, surrounded by his awful attendants (*pāriṣadaiḥ*), came to Himavat. There he caused Bhagiratha to pray to Gaṅgā. Gaṅgā immediately came down from the sky, in the presence of the gods, maharṣis, Gandharvas, snakes, and Yakṣas, and Śiva received her on his forehead, whence she fell to the earth, divided into three streams. At her request Bhagiratha led her to the spot where the bodies of Sagara's sons lay, while Śiva went to Kailāsa with the celestials. Gaṅgā filled the sea, and Bhagiratha adopted her as his daughter and offered libations of water to his forefathers (III, 109).