And he with a sorrowful heart made over his kingly duties to his minister, and, O lord of men! for practising austerities, went to the side of the snowy Mountain (the Himalayas). And, O most praiseworthy of men, desirous of extinguishing his sins by leading an austere life, and (thereby) obtaining the favour of the (goddess) Ganga, he visited that foremost of mountains—Himalaya.

In plain words: Sad at heart, the king left his royal duties to his minister and went to the Himalaya mountains. He wanted to live a hard, simple life of prayer to wash away sins and win the favour of the goddess Ganga.