4
Śrimad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 9, Ch. 9]
TEXT 3
दर्शयामास तं देवी प्रसन्ना वरदासि ते । इत्युक्तः स्वमभिप्रायं शशंसावनतो नृपः ॥ ३ ॥
darśayām āsa tam devī prasannā varadāsmi te ity uktaḥ svam abhiprāyam śaśamsāvanato nṛpaḥ
darśayām āsa —appeared;  tam —unto him, King Bhagiratha;  devī —mother Ganges;  prasannā —being very much satisfied;  varadā asmi —I shall bless with my benediction;  te —unto you;  iti uktaḥ —thus being addressed;  svam —his own;  abhiprāyam —desire;  śaśamsa —explained;  avanataḥ —very respectfully bowing down;  nṛpaḥ —the King (Bhagiratha).
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, mother Ganges appeared before King Bhagiratha and said, “I am very much satisfied with your austerities and am now prepared to give you benedictions as you desire.” Being thus addressed by Gangādevi, mother Ganges, the King bowed his head before her and explained his desire.
PURPORT
The King’s desire was to deliver his forefathers, who had been burnt to ashes because of disrespecting Kapila Muni.
TEXT 4
कोऽपि धारयिता वेगं पतन्त्या मे महीतले । अन्यथा भूतलं भित्त्वा नृप यास्ये रसातलम् ॥ ४ ॥
ko 'pi dhārayitā vegam patantyā me mahī-tale anyathā bhū-talam bhittvā nṛpa yāsye rasātalam