Shloka 1.35.17

गङ्गाजन्मवर्णनम् / The Origin of the Ganga (Tripathagā Narrative)

Devanagari script

अथ ज्येष्ठां सुरास्सर्वे देवतार्थचिकीर्षया। शैलेन्द्रं वरयामासुर्गङ्गां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।।1.35.17।।

Transliteration

atha jyeṣṭhāṃ surāḥ sarve devatārthacikīrṣayā |

śailendraṃ varayāmāsur gaṅgāṃ tripathagāṃ nadīm || 1.35.17 ||

Translation

Then all the gods, wishing to accomplish their divine purpose, sought Gaṅgā in marriage—the eldest daughter of the Lord of Mountains, the river that flows in three courses.

Context

Thereupon all the devatas desirous of deriving some advantage proposed that the eldest daughter of the king of mountains, Ganga, flowing in three directions be given to them.

Characters & Entities

• Surāḥ/Devatāḥ (gods)
• Gaṅgā
• Śailendra (Himālaya, king of mountains)
• Tripathagā (epithet of Gaṅgā)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is collective responsibility: the gods act for loka-kalyāṇa (world-benefit), seeking sacred means (Gaṅgā) to fulfill a necessary cosmic task.

What is the narrative situation?

In the Gaṅgā-descent narrative, the gods decide to obtain Gaṅgā from the mountain-king to achieve their intended divine objective.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Purposeful cooperation (saṅghāta) among the gods and reverence for sacred order—seeking Gaṅgā through rightful request rather than force.