Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 42: Bhagīratha’s Austerities for Gaṅgā’s Descent
Text 1.42.20
गङ्गायाः सलिलक्लिन्ने भस्मन्येषां महात्मनाम्।
स्वर्गं गच्छेयुरत्यन्तं सर्वे मे प्रपितामहाः॥
gaṅgāyāḥ salila-klinne bhasmany eṣāṁ mahātmanām
svargaṁ gaccheyur atyantaṁ sarve me prapitāmahāḥ
gaṅgāyāḥ = of Gaṅgā; salila-klinne = when are wet with the water of Gaṅgā; bhasmani = the ashes; eṣām = of these; mahā-ātmanām = great souls; svargam = svarga; gaccheyuḥ = will be able to go; atyantam = to the extremely great abode; sarve = all; me = my; prapitāmahāḥ = great grandfathres.
When the ashes of these great souls are wet with the water of Gaṅgā, all my great-grandfathers will be able to go to the extremely great abode, Svarga.
Bhagīratha was not just offering ordinary oblations for his great-grandfathers. He wanted them to attain the practically inexhaustible benefit of residence in Svarga.