Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 24: The History of Sarayū
Text 1.24.10
तस्यायमतुलः शब्दो जाह्नवीमभिवर्तते।
वारिसङ्क्षोभजो राम प्रणामं नियतः कुरु॥
tasyāyam atulaḥ śabdo jāhnavīm abhivartate
vāri-saṅkṣobhajo rāma praṇāmaṁ niyataḥ kuru
tasya = its; ayam = this; atulaḥ = incomparable; śabdaḥ = sound; jāhnavīm = Gaṅgā; abhivartate = when it joins; vāri-saṅkṣobhajaḥ = is caused by the clash of waters; rāma = O Rāma; praṇāmam = your respectful obeisances unto these two rivers; niyataḥ = with a controlled mind; kuru = offer.
This incomparable sound is caused by the clash of the waters when Sarayū joins Gaṅgā. O Rāma, with a controlled mind, offer your respectful obeisances unto these two rivers.
When Lord Rāma asked the sage the question, “What is this sound?” instead of merely stating that it is due to the confluence of Sarayū with Gaṅgā, Viśvāmitra spoke about Sarayū’s origin. This is to make it understood that both the rivers are worthy of respectful obeisances.