Shloka 18

Satyavatī’s Disclosure and the Summoning of Vyāsa

Niyoga for Kuru Succession

Devanagari script

अहं गड्जा जह्ुसुता महर्षिगणसेविता । देवकार्यार्थसिद्धार्थमुषिताहं त्वया सह,मैं जह्ुकी पुत्री और महर्षियोंद्वारा सेवित गंगा हूँ। देवताओंका कार्य सिद्ध करनेके लिये तुम्हारे साथ रह रही थी

Transliteration

ahaṃ gaṅgā jahnu-sutā maharṣi-gaṇa-sevitā | deva-kāryārtha-siddhy-artham uṣitāhaṃ tvayā saha ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Ich bin Gaṅgā, die Tochter Jahnus, verehrt und von Scharen großer ṛṣis umsorgt. Ich habe bei dir geweilt, damit das Vorhaben der Götter zur Erfüllung gelange.“

Word by Word

अहम्I

गङ्गाGanga

जह्नुसुताdaughter of Jahnu

महर्षिगणसेविताserved/attended by hosts of great sages

देवकार्यof the gods' task

अर्थpurpose/aim

सिद्धार्थम्for accomplishing the purpose

उषिताhaving dwelt/stayed

अहम्I

त्वयाby/with you

सहtogether with

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Gaṅgā

Jahnu

Mahārṣis (great sages)

Devas (gods)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames personal relationships within a larger dharmic and cosmic order: even intimate human events can serve a divine purpose (deva-kārya), suggesting that duty and providence may underlie seemingly private choices.

What is happening in the narrative?

Gaṅgā identifies herself—by her epithet as Jahnu’s daughter and as one honored by sages—and explains that her staying with the king is not merely personal but intended to accomplish the gods’ objective within the unfolding story.