Text 9] The Descent of the River Ganges 131

fiercely; ramhasd—with great force; luthayanti—plundering;
bharatam abhivarsam—on all sides of Bharata-varsa; daksinasyam—in
the southern; disi—direction; jaladhim—the ocean of salt water;
abhipravisati—enters into; yasyam—in which; sndna-artham—for
bathing; ca—and; agacchatah—of one who is coming; purmsah—a per-
son; pade pade—at every step; asvamedha-rdjasitya-adinam—of great
sacrifices like the ASvamedha yajria and Rajasiya yajna; phalam—the
result; na—not; durlabham—very difficult to obtain; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

Similarly, the branch of the Ganges known as Alakananda flows
from the southern side of Brahmapuri [Brahma-sadana]. Passing
over the tops of mountains in various lands, it falls down with
fierce force upon the peaks of the mountains Hemakita and
Himakita. After inundating the tops of those mountains, the
Ganges falls down onto the tract of land known as Bharata-varsa,
which she also inundates. Then the Ganges flows into the ocean of
salt water in the south. Persons who come to bathe in this river are
fortunate. It is not very difficult for them to achieve with every
step the results of performing great sacrifices like the Rajasiya
and Asvamedha yajiias.

PURPORT

The place where the Ganges flows into the salt water of the Bay of
Bengal is still known as Ganga-sagara, or the meeting place of the Ganges
and the Bay of Bengal. On Makara-sankranti, in the month of January-
February, thousands of people still go there to bathe, hoping to be liber-
ated. That they can actually be liberated in this way is confirmed herein.
For those who bathe in the Ganges at any time, the results of great
sacrifices like the ASvamedha and Rajasitya yajfas are not at all difficult
to achieve. Most people in India are still inclined to bathe in the Ganges.
and there are many places where they can do so. At Prayaga (Allahabad).
many thousands of people gather during the month of January to bathe
in the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna. Afterward, many of them
go to the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Ganges to take bath
there. Thus it is a special facility for all the people of India that they can
bathe in the water of the Ganges at so many places of pilgrimage.
