कालधर्मं गते राम सगरे प्रकृती जनाः ।
राजानं रोचयामासुः अंशुमंतं सुधार्मिकम् ॥
Oh Rama! When King Sagara passed away , the prop le wanted righteous Ansuman to be the king.

Balakanda
Forty second Sarga

Viswamitra continued:

'Oh Rama! When King Sagara passed away , the people wanted righteous Ansuman to be the king. Oh Raghunandana ! Ansuman indeed became the king. It is well known that his Dilipa also became the king. Having left the kingdom under the charge of Dilipa , he ( Ansuman) performed severe penances in the Himalayan mountains. After completing thirty two thousand years of penance, that person with wealth of penance departed'.

The King Dilipa too heard of the death of his forefathers with full of sorrow. But he could not decide on further action.
How to bring Ganga down ? How can the water rituals be completed? How will they get liberated ?Thinking as above he was worried. Ever performing righteous acts and knowing about Atman , he obtained a son by name Bhagiratha. He too was a very righteous person. King Dilipa liked to perform sacrifices etc. He ruled for thirty two thousand years. Then O Tiger among men ! he too passed away without deciding on any course of action. O Tiger among men ! Having anointed Bhagiratha as the king , Dilipa attained Indra's world due to his own good deeds.

'Oh Raghunandana ! Bhagiratha was a righteous man, and a Rajarshi but he had no children. He is desirous of children but did not have any. He handed over the kingdom to his ministers. and he performed severe penance to bring Ganga to earth. Having conquered the indriyas , with arms raised , taking food only once a month he performed severe penance between the five sacrificial fires for more than thousand years.

Brahma ,the creator was pleased with the severe penance of that king who is a great soul with powerful arms. Then he came along with the entourage of Suras and addressed Bhagiratha who was doing penance. "Oh Great one ! leader of people ! Bhagiratha I am satisfied with the severe penance performed by you. O King ask for a boon".

Then Bhagiratha, the great soul , folded his hands and spoke to Brahma the father of all creation. "O Bhagavan If you are satisfied with my penance then as result of that penance ensure that water rituals can be completed for all my forefathers. Once the ashes of my fore fathers are sprinkled with Ganga waters they will attain their heavenly abode. Oh Lord ! Our line , The Ikshwaku line is ending , please give us a progeny for continuation of the Ikshvaku line".

Hearing those words of king Bhagiratha , the creator replied with sweet words. " O Maharatha ! Bhagiratha ! your wishes are most appropriate. The Ikshwaku race will get a progeny . May all auspicious things happen for you. Ganga is the eldest daughter of Himavan. Only Siva has the capability to bear her . Hence he must be approached. Oh Rajan ! The earth cannot bear the force of Ganga. O Heroic one , I cannot think of any other person who is capable ".

Having told this to the king , and also telling Ganga , Brahma then returned along with all the entourage of Devas etc.

|| Thus the forty second chapter of Balakanda in Srimad Valmiki Ramayan comes to an end||
|| om tat sat ||

तमेवमुक्त्वा राजानं गंगां चाभाष्य लोककृत् ।
जगाम त्रिदिवं देवस्सह देवैः मरुद्गणैः ॥

Having told this to the king , and also telling Ganga , Brahma then returned along with all the entourage of Devas etc.

||om tat sat ||

|| Om tat sat ||