Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 4

Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation

Devanagari script

कोऽपि धारयिता वेगं पतन्त्या मे महीतले । अन्यथा भूतलं भित्त्वा नृप यास्ये रसातलम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

ko ’pi dhārayitā vegaṁ patantyā me mahī-tale anyathā bhū-talaṁ bhittvā nṛpa yāsye rasātalam

Translation

Mother Ganges replied: When I fall from the sky to the surface of the planet earth, the water will certainly be very forceful. Who will sustain that force? If I am not sustained, I shall pierce the surface of the earth and go down to Rasātala, the Pātāla area of the universe.

Synonyms

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• अपि: even; at all; any
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle (emphasis: ‘even/any’)

• धारयिता: a holder; one who can sustain
• धारयिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृ (धातु) + तृ (तृन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्तृ-नाम (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; future/intentive sense ‘one who will hold’

• वेगम्: the force; speed; rush
• वेगम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पतन्त्याः: of (her) who is falling
• पतन्त्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कर्तरि-शतृ-प्रत्यय; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; agreeing with implied ‘गङ्गा’

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic pronoun

• महीतले: on the surface of the earth
• महीतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही-तल (प्रातिपदिक); मही + तल
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मही-तल = ‘earth-surface’)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण/adverb (‘otherwise’)

• भूतलम्: the ground; earth’s surface
• भूतलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू-तल (प्रातिपदिक); भू + तल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘earth-surface/ground’)

• भित्त्वा: having pierced; having broken through
• भित्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having split/broken’

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• यास्ये: I shall go
• यास्ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रसातलम्: to Rasātala (netherworld)
• रसातलम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसातल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (रसा + तल)

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Sagara (nṛpa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of Gaṅgā’s descent?

This verse depicts Gaṅgā’s descent as overwhelmingly forceful—so powerful that without a capable supporter, her fall could split the earth and carry her into Rasātala.

Why did Gaṅgā-devī speak this to King Sagara?

She warns the king that her divine current cannot simply be dropped onto the earth; a powerful being must first bear and regulate her descent so the world is not harmed.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Even sacred power needs proper guidance and containment—like knowledge, emotion, or leadership—so it benefits others instead of causing damage.