Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 41, Shloka 19

अंशुमान्—अश्वान्वेषणम्, दिशागजसंवादः, कपिलदाहवृत्तान्तः, गङ्गोपदेशः

Anshuman’s Search for the Horse and the Counsel to Bring Ganga

Devanagari script

गङ्गा हिमवतो ज्येष्ठा दुहिता पुरुषर्षभ।तस्यां कुरु महाबाहो पितृ़णां तु जलक्रियाम्।।।।

Transliteration

gaṅgā himavato jyeṣṭhā duhitā puruṣarṣabha | tasyāṃ kuru mahābāho pitṝṇāṃ tu jalakriyām ||

Translation

Gaṅgā is the eldest daughter of Himavat. O best of men, O mighty-armed one—perform with her waters the water-rites for your forefathers.

Word by Word

• गङ्गा: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper noun

• हिमवतः: of Himavat
• हिमवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठा: eldest
• ज्येष्ठा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘eldest’ (qualifying दुहिता/गङ्गा)

• दुहिता: daughter
• दुहिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरुष-ऋषभ: O best among men
• पुरुष-ऋषभ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पुरुषेषु ऋषभः)

• तस्याम्: in her (in that river)
• तस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कुरु: do/perform
• कुरु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (महान्तौ बाहू यस्य)

• पितॄणाम्: of the fathers (paternal uncles)
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• जल-क्रियाम्: water-rite (libations)
• जल-क्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष

Context

'O Best among men! O Mighty-armed one! perform the traditional rites of your uncles with water from river Ganga, the eldest daughter of Himavat'.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Himavat (Himalaya)
• Garuḍa
• Anśumān

FAQs

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

Dharma is fulfilled through sanctifying means: sacred resources (Gaṅgā) are prescribed to complete duties toward ancestors properly.

What is the narrative situation?

Garuḍa directs Anśumān to use Gaṅgā’s water for the rites, indicating a future solution to liberate the departed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for sacred tradition and obedience to righteous counsel.