वातस्कन्धनिखातान्तर्वहत्त्रिपथगाजलम् । आश्चर्यालोकनव्यग्रसंचरत्त्रिदशार्भकम् ॥ २८ ॥
vātaskandhanikhātāntarvahattripathagājalam | āścaryālōkanavyagrasaṁcarattridaśārbhakam || 28 ||
Translation
the water of the Gaṅgā of three paths flowing in a channel dug into the currents of the wind; the children of the gods wandering about, eager to see the wonders;
Word by word
- vāta
- of the wind
- skandha
- into the currents
- nikhāta
- dug
- antar
- (antaḥ) in a channel
- vahat
- flowing
- tripathagā
- of the Gaṅgā of three paths
- jalam
- the water
- āścarya
- the wonders
- ālōkana
- to see
- vyagra
- eager
- saṁcarat
- wandering about
- tridaśa
- of the gods
- arbhakam
- the children
Meaning
The Gaṅgā flows in heaven, on earth and below, hence "of three paths". In the sky it runs in a bed cut into the wind; and the gods' children wander about as children do, staring at everything.