Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 43: Gaṅgā Descends to the Earth
Text 1.43.18
भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षिर्दिव्यं स्यन्दनमास्थितः।
प्रायादग्रे महातेजा गङ्गा तं चाप्यनुव्रजत्॥
bhagīratho ’pi rāja-rṣir divyaṁ syandanam āsthitaḥ
prāyād agre mahā-tejā gaṅgā taṁ cāpy anuvrajat
bhagīrathaḥ api = Bhagīratha; rāja-ṛṣiḥ = the saintly king; divyam = a divine; syandanam = on chariot; āsthitaḥ prāyāt = proceeded; agre = in the front; mahā-tejāḥ = of great prowess; gaṅgā = Gaṅgā; tam ca api = him; anuvrajat = followed.
The saintly King Bhagīratha of great prowess proceeded in the front, on a divine chariot. Gaṅgā followed him.
Some say that Gaṅgā is called tri-pathagā, “she who flows through three pathways,” because she flows through the heavens, the skies and on earth. Others say that she is so named because she flowed in three directions [through seven streams].