Bhagírath

Also known as: Blest Monarch · Family: — · Role: king · First appears: Book I, Canto 43 · Bhagírath

In Book I, Canto 43, Bhagírath was born to Dilípa, who left him the kingdom when he died. Bhagírath entrusted the state to his ministers and undertook long austerities at Gokarna. After “Thousands of years,” Brahmá promised to grant his wishes, including a son and the chance to make libations for Sagar’s sons.

In Book I, Canto 44, Śiva agreed to bring Gangá down to earth, and released her at Vindu’s lake so that seven rivers flowed from her. Bhagírath led her toward the depths where Sagar’s sons had dug their way, then poured funeral libations over their dust. Brahmá declared Gangá his eldest child and named her Bhágirathí; Bhagírath returned to his city and ruled his ancestral state. In Book I, Canto 70, Kakutstha is named among his descendants.

Relationship record

Life events

• Bhagírath was born to Dilípa.(Book I, Canto 43 · Bhagírath)
  • With: Dilípa
  • “A son was born, Bhagírath named, Above all men for virtue famed.”
• Dilípa died and left the kingdom to Bhagírath.(Book I, Canto 43 · Bhagírath)
  • With: Dilípa
  • “The lord of men, by sickness tried, Obeyed the law of fate, and died; He left the kingdom to his son,”
• Bhagírath left the care of his state to his ministers and undertook long austerities.(Book I, Canto 43 · Bhagírath · 📍 Gokarna)
  • “Leaving his ministers the care And burden of his state to bear, Dwelling in far Gokarna he Engaged in long austerity.”
• Brahmá promised Bhagírath that his wishes would be granted, including a son and libations for Sagar’s sons.(Book I, Canto 43 · Bhagírath)
  • With: Brahmá
  • “Ikshváku’s line is blest in thee, And as thou prayest it shall be.”
• Śiva granted Bhagírath’s wish to bring Gangá down to earth.(Book I, Canto 44 · The Descent Of Gangá)
  • With: Śiva
  • “The year had past. Then Umá’s lord, King of creation, world adored, Thus spoke to great Bhagírath: ‘I, Well pleased thy wish will gratify, And on my head her waves shall fling The daughter of the Mountains’ King!’”
• Śiva released Gangá, and seven rivers flowed from her.(Book I, Canto 44 · The Descent Of Gangá · 📍 Vindu’s lake)
  • With: Śiva Gangá
  • “Then Śiva, for the hermit’s sake, Bade her long wanderings end, And sinking into Vindu’s lake Her weary waves descend. From Gangá, by the God set free, Seven noble rivers came;”
• Bhagírath poured funeral libations over the dust of Sagar’s sons.(Book I, Canto 44 · The Descent Of Gangá · 📍 Ocean)
  • With: Sagar
  • “Over his kinsmen’s dust the lord His funeral libation poured.”
• Brahmá declared Gangá Bhagírath’s eldest child and named her Bhágirathí.(Book I, Canto 44 · The Descent Of Gangá)
  • With: Gangá
  • “Gangá thine eldest child shall be, Called from thy name Bhágirathí;”
• Bhagírath returned to his city and ruled his ancestral state.(Book I, Canto 44 · The Descent Of Gangá)
  • “The royal sage no more delayed, But, the libation duly paid, Home to his regal city hied With water cleansed and purified. There ruled he his ancestral state,”

Book I, Canto 43 · Bhagírath

• parent: Dilípa “A son was born, Bhagírath named,”
• patron: Brahmá “Thousands of years he thus endured Till Brahmá’s favour was assured, And the high Lord of living things Looked kindly on his sufferings.”

Book I, Canto 44 · The Descent Of Gangá

• child: Gangá “Gangá thine eldest child shall be, Called from thy name Bhágirathí;”
• parent: Dilípa “Nor was she by the sages’ peer, Blest with all virtues, most austere, Thy sire Dilípa, hither brought,”
• with Gangá (Gangá follows Bhagírath on his journey.) “First, in a car of heavenly frame, The royal saint of deathless name, Bhagírath, very glorious rode, And after him fair Gangá flowed.”
• with Sagar (They are described as Bhagírath’s kinsmen.) “He sought the depths which open lay Where Sagar’s sons had dug their way. So leading through earth’s nether caves The river’s purifying waves, Over his kinsmen’s dust the lord His funeral libation poured.”

Book I, Canto 70 · The Maidens Sought

• parent: Dilípa “Begot a son Bhagírath named.”
• child: Kakutstha “From him the great Kakutstha rose:”

Book II, Canto 110 · The Sons Of Ikshváku

• parent: Dilípa “Begot a son Bhagírath named.”
• child: Kakutstha “From him renowned Kakutstha came:”

Book IV, Canto 40 · The Army Of The East

• child: Gangá “To Sarjú, Kauśikí, repair, Bhagírath’s daughter fresh and fair.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Rámáyan of Válmíki. Made with Rho MD.