Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच अंशुमांश्च तपस्तेपे गङ्गानयनकाम्यया । कालं महान्तं नाशक्नोत् तत: कालेन संस्थित: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca aṁśumāṁś ca tapas tepe gaṅgānayana-kāmyayā kālaṁ mahāntaṁ nāśaknot tataḥ kālena saṁsthitaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī fuhr fort: König Aṁśumān übte sehr lange Entsagung, in dem Wunsch, die heilige Gaṅgā in diese Welt zu bringen. Dennoch vermochte er den Ganges nicht herabzuführen, und schließlich starb er im Lauf der Zeit.

Synonyms

• श्रीशुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्रीशुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-शुक (प्रातिपदिक; श्री + शुक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘श्रीमान् शुकः’

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अंशुमान्: Aṁśumān
• अंशुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तेपे: performed (austerities)
• तेपे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• गङ्गानयनकाम्यया: with the desire to bring Gaṅgā
• गङ्गानयनकाम्यया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा-अयन-काम्य (प्रातिपदिक; गङ्गा + अयन + काम्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (हेतु/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘गङ्गायाः अयनस्य काम्या’ (desire for bringing Gaṅgā)

• कालम्: for a time
• कालम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (अत्यन्तसंयोग/कालाधिकरण), एकवचन

• महान्तम्: great / long
• महान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying kālam)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अशक्नोत्: was not able
• अशक्नोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शक् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then / therefore
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘thereupon/then’

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• संस्थितः: came to an end / passed away
• संस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्√स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: सम्; अर्थः ‘ceased/ended, passed away’

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Aṁśumān
• Gaṅgā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about bringing the Ganga to earth?

This verse states that King Aṁśumān performed long austerities to bring Gaṅgā down, but he could not complete the task and eventually passed away—showing the mission continued through later generations.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Aṁśumān’s failure despite severe austerity?

To emphasize the role of kāla (time) and divine arrangement in sacred accomplishments—human effort is vital, yet outcomes unfold according to providence and are carried forward through lineage and devotion.

How can we apply this teaching about tapasya and time in modern life?

Practice sincere effort and spiritual discipline, but remain patient and humble—accepting that some goals require time, support, and continuity beyond one’s immediate control.