Shloka 1.36.3

बालकाण्ड सर्ग ३६ — गङ्गा-प्रभवप्रश्नः, शिवतेजोधारणं, कार्त्तिकेय-जन्म, उमाशापः

Devanagari script

त्रीन् पथो हेतुना केन प्लावयेल्लोकपावनी।।।।कथं गङ्गा त्रिपथगा विश्रुता सरिदुत्तमा।त्रिषु लोकेषु धर्मज्ञ कर्मभि: कैस्समन्विता।।।।

Transliteration

trīn patho hetunā kena plāvayel loka-pāvanī.

kathaṃ gaṅgā tripathagā viśrutā sarid-uttamā |

triṣu lokeṣu dharmajña karmabhiḥ kaiḥ samanvitā ||

Translation

For what reason does Gaṅgā—the purifier of the worlds—flood the three paths? And how did Gaṅgā, famed as Tripathagā and the foremost of rivers in the three worlds, come to be endowed with such power—through what deeds, O knower of dharma?

Context

Why does Ganga, the purifier of the worlds overflow the three paths (worlds)? O knower of dharma what deed made, Tripathaga (flowing in three directions) Ganga well-known in the three worlds as the best (holiest) of all rivers"?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra
• Gaṅgā
• Tripathagā
• Three worlds (tri-loka)

FAQs

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

It models dharmic inquiry: sincere questioning aimed at understanding sacred phenomena and their moral causes (karman) is itself aligned with dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma asks Viśvāmitra to explain why Gaṅgā is called Tripathagā and how she became renowned across the three worlds as the foremost river.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jijñāsā (earnest desire to know) and humility before a teacher—Rāma seeks truth through respectful questioning.