Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 10

गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना

Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

इन्द्रलोकं गतो राजा स्वार्जितेनैव कर्मणा।राज्ये भगीरथं पुत्रमभिषिच्य नरर्षभ:।।1.42.10।।

Transliteration

indralokaṃ gato rājā svārjitenaiva karmaṇā |

rājye bhagīrathaṃ putram abhiṣicya nararṣabhaḥ ||

Translation

ذلك الملكُ، خيرُ الرجال، بعدما توَّج ابنه بهاجيراثا على المُلك، مضى إلى عالمِ إندرا، وقد ناله بعمله الصالح الذي اكتسبه بنفسه.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रलोकम्: to Indra's world
• इन्द्रलोकम्: Gati-karma (गति-कर्म; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (indrasya lokaḥ)

• गतः: having gone
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate of राजा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम्) धातु
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'gone'

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्वार्जितेन: self-earned
• स्वार्जितेन: Karaṇa (करण; agrees with कर्मणा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + ārjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (svayam ārjitam) qualifying कर्मणा

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कर्मणा: by (his) deeds
• कर्मणा: Karaṇa (करण; means/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• राज्ये: in the kingdom
• राज्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• भगीरथम्: Bhagīratha
• भगीरथम्: Karma (कर्म; object of अभिषिच्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagīratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• पुत्रम्: (his) son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (कर्म; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भगीरथम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणार्थे (appositional)

• अभिषिच्य: having crowned/anointed
• अभिषिच्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + sic (सिच्) धातु
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), 'having anointed/coronated'

• नरर्षभः: the best of men
• नरर्षभः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to राजा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (narāṇāṃ ṛṣabhaḥ)

Context

The king (Dilipa) performed the coronation of his son Bhagiratha and reached the region of Indra as a reward for virtuous acts done by him.

Characters & Entities

• Indraloka
• Bhagiratha
• Indra

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma links rulership with personal merit: the king responsibly installs a successor and attains higher realms through self-earned righteous action.

What is the narrative situation?

The reigning king crowns Bhagiratha and then departs for Indra’s realm, indicating a completed life of duty and virtue.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible kingship and accountability—both in ensuring succession and in earning spiritual reward through one’s own deeds.