Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 21

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

शिंशुमारोरगगणैर्मीनैरपि च चञ्चलै:।।।।विद्युद्भिरिव विक्षिप्तमाकाशमभवत्तदा।

Transliteration

śiṃśumāroraga-gaṇair mīnair api ca cañcalaiḥ | vidyudbhir iva vikṣiptam ākāśam abhavat tadā ||

Translation

Da schien der Himmel wie von Blitzen zerstreut, gleichsam erfüllt von ruhelosen Fischen, von Śiṃśumāras und von Scharen von Schlangen.

Word by Word

• शिंशुमार-उरग-गणैः: by multitudes of dolphins and serpents
• शिंशुमार-उरग-गणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिंशुमार (प्रातिपदिक) + उरग (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/साधन, 3rd case), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिंशुमाराणां च उरगाणां च गणैः)

• मीनैः: by fishes
• मीनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

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

• चञ्चलैः: restless, moving about
• चञ्चलैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चञ्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) शिंशुमारोरगगणैः/मीनैः इत्यस्य

• विद्युद्भिः: by lightnings
• विद्युद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Upamana (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (simile marker)

• विक्षिप्तम्: scattered, tossed about
• विक्षिप्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; आकाशम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आकाशम्: the sky
• आकाशम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

Context

The sky strewn with lightnings appeared as if it was inhabited by sea-animals, serpents and fishes fickle.

Characters & Entities

• sky (ākāśa)
• fish (mīna)
• serpents (uraga)

FAQs

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

Dharma is the recognition of the extraordinary within rightful order: the universe responds vividly when a righteous aim is fulfilled.

What is the narrative situation?

During the spectacle of Gaṅgā’s descent, the sky appears alive with darting forms, likened to lightning-scatter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wonder joined with discernment—seeing sacred meaning in powerful natural imagery rather than mere chaos.