Shloka 1.44.11
गङ्गावतरण-समापनः (Conclusion of the Descent of Gaṅgā)
राजर्षिणा गुणवता महर्षिसमतेजसा।मत्तुल्यतपसा चैव क्षत्रधर्मस्थितेन च।।1.44.10।। दिलीपेन महाभाग तव पित्राऽति तेजसा।पुनर्न शङ्किताऽनेतुं गङ्गां प्रार्थयताऽनघ।।1.44.11।।
rājarṣiṇā guṇavatā maharṣisamatejasā |
mat-tulyatapasā caiva kṣatradharmasthitena ca || 1.44.10 ||
dilīpena mahābhāga tava pitrā ’ti-tejasā |
punar na śaṅkitānetuṃ gaṅgāṃ prārthayatā ’nagha || 1.44.11 ||
O blessed, sinless one—though your father Dilīpa was a virtuous royal sage, equal in splendor to great seers, equal to me in austerity, and steadfast in kṣatriya-dharma—still, even by earnest supplication he could not bring Gaṅgā down again.
O Sinless one (Bhagiratha) O Distinguished one on the part of Dilipa brilliant your father who had the virtuous of a rajarshi, who was equal to a maharshi in splendour, and to me in austerities and abiding to the duties of a kshatriya it was even not possible to bring Ganga through prayer.
Dharma includes humility before cosmic law: even great merit and kingship do not guarantee success; one must persist without pride and accept limits.
The narrative recalls Dilīpa’s failed attempt to bring Gaṅgā, setting the stage for Bhagīratha’s extraordinary success through greater tapas and divine alignment.
Dilīpa’s righteousness and disciplined kṣatriya-conduct, and—by implication—the need for perseverance beyond even exemplary virtue.