Text 1] The Descent of the River Ganges 121

Sri-Sukah uvdca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: tatra—at that time:
bhagavatah—of the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
saksat—directly; yajria-lingasya—the enjoyer of the results of all
sacrifices: vistoh—of Lord Visnu; vikramatah—while taking His second
step; vama-pdda —of His left leg; angustha—of the big toe; nakha—by
the nail; nirbhinna—pierced; tirdhva—upper; anda-kataha—the
covering of the universe (consisting of seven layers—earth, water, fire.
etc.); vivarena—through the hole; antah-pravista—having entered the
universe; ya—which; bdhya-jala-dhara—the flow of water from the
Causal Ocean outside the universe; tat—of Him: carana-parikaja —of
the lotus feet; avanejana —by the washing; aruna-kinjalka —by reddish
powder; uparanjita—being colored: akhila-jagat—of the whole world:
agha-mala—the sinful activities; apahad—destroys: upasparsana—the
touching of which; amala—completely pure; saksat—directly:
bhagavat-padi—emanating from the lotus feet of the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead; iti—thus; anupalaksita—described; vacah—by the
name; abhidhiyamana—being called; ati-mahata kdlena—after a long
time; yuga-sahasra-upalaksanena—consisting of one thousand millen-
niums; divah—of the sky: mirdhani—on the head (Dhruvaloka):
avatatara—descended; yat—which; tat—that; visnu-padam—the lotus
feet of Lord Visnu; a@huh—they call.

TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, Lord Visnu, the enjoyer

of all sacrifices, appeared as Vamanadeva in the sacrificial arena of
Bali Maharaja. Then He extended His left foot to the end of the
universe and pierced a hole in its covering with the nail of His big
toe. Through the hole, the pure water of the Causal Ocean entered
this universe as the Ganges River. Having washed the lotus feet of
the Lord, which are covered with reddish powder, the water of the
Ganges acquired a very beautiful pink color. Every living being
can immediately purify his mind of material contamination by
touching the transcendental water of the Ganges, yet its waters
remain ever pure. Because the Ganges directly touches the lotus
feet of the Lord before descending within this universe, she is
known as Visnupadi. Later she received other names like Jahnavi
