Shloka 1.42.5
गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना (Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā)
दिलीपस्तु महातेजाश्श्रुत्वा पैतामहं वधम्।दु:खोपहतया बुद्ध्या निश्चयं नाध्यगच्छत।।1.42.5।।
dilīpas tu mahātejāḥ śrutvā paitāmahaṃ vadham |
duḥkhopahatayā buddhyā niścayaṃ nādhyagacchata || 1.42.5 ||
But mighty, radiant Dilīpa, hearing of the death of his forefathers, was struck by grief; his mind overwhelmed by sorrow, he could not arrive at a firm resolve.
When exceedingly brilliant Dilipa heard about the death of his grandfathers, he was overtaken by grief but could not arrive at any conclusion with his intellect (regarding means of bringing down the sacred river).
Dharma requires steadiness of mind; grief is human, but the righteous path needs clarity to decide and act for the good of one’s lineage and people.
Dilīpa learns of his ancestors’ tragic end and becomes mentally unsettled, unable to decide how to secure their uplift through Gaṅgā.
Sincerity and concern for ancestral duty—paired with the caution that sorrow can obstruct discernment.