Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 43: Gaṅgā Descends to the Earth
Text 1.43.34
भगीरथो हि राजर्षिर्दिव्यं स्यन्दनमास्थितः।
प्रायादग्रे महातेजास्तं गङ्गा पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात्॥
bhagīratho hi rāja-rṣir divyaṁ syandanam āsthitaḥ
prāyād agre mahā-tejās taṁ gaṅgā pṛṣṭhato ’nvagāt
bhagīrathaḥ hi = Bhagīratha; rāja-ṛṣiḥ = the saintly king; divyam = a divine; syandanam = chariot; āsthitaḥ = standing on; prāyāt = went; agre = in front; mahā-tejāḥ = of great prowess; tam = him; gaṅgā = [while] Gaṅgā; pṛṣṭhataḥ = followed; anvagāt = from behind.
Standing on a divine chariot, the saintly King Bhagīratha of great prowess went in front [while] Gaṅgā followed him from behind.