Shloka 11

Bhāgīratha’s Tapas and the Petition to Gaṅgā (गङ्गावतरण-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

ततः काले बहुतिथे व्यतीते भरतर्षभ । दीक्षित: सगरो राजा हयमेधेन वीर्यवान्‌,भरतश्रेष्ठ] तदनन्तर बहुत समय बीत जानेपर पराक्रमी राजा सगरने अश्वमेधयज्ञकी दीक्षा ली

Transliteration

tataḥ kāle bahutithe vyatīte bharatarṣabha | dīkṣitaḥ sagaro rājā hayamedhena vīryavān ||

Translation

Darauf, nachdem lange Zeit verstrichen war, o Stier unter den Bhāratas, nahm der tapfere König Sagara die Weihe (dīkṣā) für das Aśvamedha-Opfer auf sich.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya

• काले: in time / when time
• काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• बहुतिथे: after many days (lit. in a time of many dates/days)
• बहुतिथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु-तिथि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• व्यतीते: having passed / elapsed
• व्यतीते: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अति + इ (धातु) → व्यतीत
• Form: Past passive participle, Locative, Singular (agreeing with काले)

• भरतर्षभ: O bull among the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• दीक्षितः: initiated / having taken consecration
• दीक्षितः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दिक्ष् (धातु) → दीक्षित
• Form: Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सगरः: Sagara
• सगरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हयमेधेन: by/with the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)
• हयमेधेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयमेध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• वीर्यवान्: mighty, valorous
• वीर्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

लोगश उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• Bharatarṣabha (address to the listener, typically a Bharata prince)
• Aśvamedha (Hayamedha) sacrifice

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic kingship: legitimate power is affirmed through disciplined preparation and sanctioned Vedic rites (dīkṣā and yajña), emphasizing responsibility, restraint, and adherence to tradition.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a considerable time passes, King Sagara formally takes dīkṣā (ritual initiation) to perform the Aśvamedha sacrifice, marking the commencement of a major royal rite.