Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 43: Gaṅgā Descends to the Earth
Text 1.43.2
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्निरालम्बो वायुभक्षो निराश्रयः।
अचलः स्थाणुवत्स्थित्वा रात्रिं दिवमरिन्दम॥
ūrdhva-bāhur nirālambo vāyu-bhakṣo nirāśrayaḥ
acalaḥ sthāṇuvat sthitvā rātriṁ divam arindama
ūrdhva-bāhuḥ = with his hands upraised; nirālambaḥ = without any support; vāyu-bhakṣaḥ = eating only the air; nirāśrayaḥ = or shelter; acalaḥ = motionless; sthāṇuvat = like a pillar; sthitvā = he stood [and waited for Lord Śiva to appear before him]; rātrim divam = day and night; arindama = O destroyer of foes.
O destroyer of foes, day and night he stood with his hands upraised, without any support or shelter, eating only the air, motionless like a pillar [and waited for Lord Śiva to appear before him].