Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 43: Gaṅgā Descends to the Earth
Text 1.43.12
तत्रैवाबम्भ्रमद्देवी संवत्सरगणान्बहून्।
तामपश्यन्पुनस्तत्र तपः परममास्थितः॥
tatraivābambhramad devī saṁvatsara-gaṇān bahūn
tām apaśyan punas tatra tapaḥ paramam āsthitaḥ
tatra eva = within the Lord’s matted hair; abambhramat = repeatedly wandered; devī = the goddess; saṁvatsara-gaṇān = for years; bahūn = several; tām = her; apaśyan = not seeing; punaḥ = again; tatra = there; tapaḥ = austerity; paramam = severe; āsthitaḥ = King Bhagīratha performed.
The goddess repeatedly wandered within the Lord’s matted hair for several years. Not seeing her, King Bhagīratha again performed severe austerity there.