The Restless Souls and the Unyielding Penance
The ashes of sixty thousand princes lay neglected in the deep underworld, incinerated by the fiery gaze of Sage Kapila whom they had falsely accused of stealing their father's sacrificial horse. Generations of the Ikshvaku lineage had tried and failed to liberate their souls. Finally, King Bhagiratha took up the heavy mantle. Leaving his kingdom behind, he traveled to the freezing wilderness of the Himalayas. For thousands of years, Bhagiratha performed grueling, single-minded penance, standing on one leg under the scorching sun and the freezing snow, subsisting only on air. Pleased by his unmatched dedication, , the Creator, appeared before him. 'Ask for a boon, O Bhagiratha,' said softly. Bhagiratha bowed, saying, 'O Creator, let the sacred river Ganga flow from heaven to Earth, that her holy waters may wash over the ashes of my ancestors and grant them salvation.' sighed, 'Your wish is noble, but the Earth cannot bear the immense, destructive shock of Ganga's torrent as she falls from the celestial realms. Only of Mount Kailash is strong enough to break her fall. You must seek his divine grace.'
✦ Visual cue — King Bhagiratha standing on a single leg on a high, snow-bound Himalayan cliff, his body thin but radiating a bright, golden spiritual light under a cold blue sky.