Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 42: Bhagīratha’s Austerities for Gaṅgā’s Descent
Text 1.42.25
गङ्गायाः पतनं राजन्पृथिवी न सहिष्यति।
तां वै धारयितुं वीर नान्यं पश्यामि शूलिनः॥
gaṅgāyāḥ patanaṁ rājan pṛthivī na sahiṣyati
tāṁ vai dhārayituṁ vīra nānyaṁ paśyāmi śūlinaḥ
gaṅgāyāḥ = Gaṅgā’s; patanam = fall; rājan = O king; pṛthivī = the earth; na sahiṣyati = cannot bear; tām vai = her; dhārayitum = as being capable of bearing her; vīra = O hero; na anyam paśyāmi śūlinaḥ = I don’t see anyone other than the trident bearing Lord Śiva.
O king, the earth cannot bear Gaṅgā’s fall [from the heavens]. O hero, I don’t see anyone other than the trident-bearing Lord Śiva as being capable of bearing her.