Individual verses with meanings
Let us begin the thirty fifth sarga of the bAlakAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
That night was spent on the banks of river SONa by viSwAmitra, rAma and lakshmaNa. At daybreak the sage called out, O rAma, auspiciousness be to you! It’s dawn please wake up and and be enthusiastic for the onward journey! Responding to the sage’s call rAma and lakshmaNa got up, finished their morning ablutions and prayers and were ready.
rAma then asked the sage, “O lord, the waters of the river SONa decked with sandbanks are clear and deep, how are we to cross this”. viSwAmitra said, “I’m determined to tread the path trodden earlier by ascetics” and they walked along quite far for half a day exploring the forests. At this time, they saw the river jAhNavi (other name of river ganga), the hallowed and the holiest among rivers and worshipped by sages. rAma, lakshmaNa and others were delighted to behold the holy river, home to cranes and swans.
rAma and lakshmaNa took a dip in the holy waters, offered libations (tarpaNam) to their forefathers and lit sacrificial fire. They offered oblations into the fire and partook of the remnants of those offerings. They were very pleased in the mind in those environs and entered the sacred banks of the river jAhNavi along with the great viSwAmitra.
rAma then inquired, “O sage I’m curious to know about the three fold paths of river ganga, how it flows in the three worlds before meeting with the lord of all rivers, the ocean. Thus prompted by rAma, the sage commenced the narration of the origin and enhancement of the river ganga.
“O rAma, the king of mountains himavAn is a rich source of minerals. manOrama, the charming daughter of mEru is his consort. The beauty of their two daughters was unrivaled in this world! Their names are ganga and uma respectively.
The gods desirous of fulfilling their wishes, proposed that the elder daughter, flowing as a river in a three fold path be given to them. With a great sense of dharma (doing the right thing) himavAn offered his free flowing sanctifying daughter ganga for the good of the three worlds. dEvatas, the do-gooders of the three worlds felt fulfilled having secured ganga.
The other daughter of himavAn, uma was an embodiment of terrific vows and penance. himAvAn offered her to the unrivalled rudra in marriage. O rAma, these are the daughters of himavAn who are worshipped by all. Trifold ganga, divine and sinless, first ascended the heavens with copius amount of waters.
Here we conclude the thirtyfifth sarga of the bAla kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
