Shloka 1.43.11

गङ्गावतरणम् (The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment)

Devanagari script

तस्यां विसृज्यमानायां सप्तस्रोतांसि जज्ञिरे।।।।ह्लादिनी पावनी चैव नलिनी च तथाऽपरा।तिस्र: प्राचीं दिशं जग्मु: गङ्गाश्शिवजलाश्शुभा:।।।।

Transliteration

tasyāṃ visṛjyamānāyāṃ saptasrotāṃsi jajñire |

hlādinī pāvanī caiva nalinī ca tathā 'parā |

tisraḥ prācīṃ diśaṃ jagmur gaṅgāḥ śivajalāḥ śubhāḥ || 1.43.11–12 ||

Translation

As Gaṅgā was being released, seven streams came into being. Three auspicious currents—Hlādinī, Pāvanī, and Nalinī—flowed eastward, bearing Śiva’s blessed waters.

Context

As she (Ganga) was released, she branched out into seven streams. Three streamsknown as Hladini, Pavani and Nalini having auspicious waters and conferring prosperity flowed eastwards.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Śiva (Hara)
• Hlādinī
• Pāvanī
• Nalinī
• Prācī diś (East)
• Bindusaras (implied by prior verse context)

FAQs

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

Purification and welfare are portrayed as dharmic outcomes: sacred waters become channels for cleansing and prosperity across the land.

What is the narrative situation?

Upon Śiva’s release of Gaṅgā, she divides into multiple streams; the text names three that flow eastward.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes sacred beneficence rather than a single person’s trait—Gaṅgā as a dharmic instrument of purification, enabled by Bhagīratha’s resolve.