Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 35: The History of Gaṅga
Text 1.35.1
उपास्य रात्रिशेषं तु शोणाकूले महर्षिभिः।
निशायां सुप्रभातायां विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत॥
upāsya rātri-śeṣaṁ tu śoṇā-kūle maha-rṣibhiḥ
niśāyāṁ suprabhātāyāṁ viśvāmitro ’bhyabhāṣata
upāsya = fell asleep; rātri-śeṣam tu = for the rest of the night; śoṇā-kūle = on the banks of Śoṇā; mahā-ṛṣibhiḥ = and the great sages; niśāyām = when the night; suprabhātāyām = turned into early morning; viśvāmitraḥ = Viśvāmitra; abhyabhāṣata = he spoke as follows.
Viśvāmitra and the great sages fell asleep for the rest of the night on the banks of Śoṇā. When the night turned into early morning, Viśvāmitra spoke as follows.
In order to broadcast in this world the glory of Gaṅgā who has emanated from His lotus feet, Lord Śrī Rāma inquired about her history in this chapter. They had gone to sleep at midnight.
Viśvāmitra worshipped the Supreme Soul Nārāyaṇa early morning at Brāhma-muhūrta in accordance with the Smṛti injunction—brāhme muhūrta utthāya cintayed ātmano hitam: “Waking up at Brāhma-muhūrta, one should meditate on that which benefits his soul.”