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Shloka 15

Bhāgīratha’s Tapas and the Petition to Gaṅgā (गङ्गावतरण-प्रसङ्गः)

ततस्ते पितुराज्ञाय दिक्षु सर्वासु तं हयम्‌ । अमार्गन्त महाराज सर्व च पृथिवीतलम्‌,महाराज! तदनन्तर वे पिताकी आज्ञा ले इस सम्पूर्ण भूतलमें सभी दिशाओंमें अश्वकी खोज करने लगे। खोजते-खोजते सभी सगरपुत्र एक-दूसरेसे मिले, परंतु वे अश्व तथा अश्वहर्ताका पता न लगा सके

tataste piturājñayā dikṣu sarvāsu taṃ hayam | amārganta mahārāja sarvaṃ ca pṛthivītalam ||

Entonces, obedeciendo la orden de su padre, oh gran rey, buscaron aquel caballo en todas las direcciones, recorriendo toda la superficie de la tierra. Pero, aun cuando se encontraban unos con otros en el curso de la pesquisa, los hijos de Sagara no pudieron descubrir ni el caballo sacrificial ni a quien lo había tomado—mostrando que el celo, sin discernimiento claro y medios rectos, puede fracasar en alcanzar su fin.

ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
तेthey
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
पितुःof (their) father
पितुः:
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
Formmasculine, genitive, singular
आज्ञायby/with the command
आज्ञाय:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootआज्ञा
Formfeminine, instrumental, singular
दिक्षुin the directions
दिक्षु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदिश्
Formfeminine, locative, plural
सर्वासुin all
सर्वासु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
Formfeminine, locative, plural
तम्that
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
हयम्horse
हयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootहय
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
अमार्गन्they searched
अमार्गन्:
TypeVerb
Rootमृग्
Formimperfect (laṅ), 3rd, plural, parasmaipada
महाराजO great king
महाराज:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाराज
Formmasculine, vocative, singular
सर्वम्entire, all
सर्वम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
Formneuter, accusative, singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
पृथिवीतलम्surface of the earth, earth
पृथिवीतलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपृथिवीतल
Formneuter, accusative, singular

लोगश उवाच

S
Sagara’s sons (Sagaraputrāḥ)
T
their father (Sagara)
T
the horse (aśva/haya)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights dutiful obedience to a rightful command, while also implying that mere effort and zeal are not sufficient; success in dharma-aligned action requires proper means, discernment, and understanding of the situation.

Sagara’s sons, following their father’s order, spread out in all directions and scour the earth to find the (sacrificial) horse, but despite searching widely and regrouping, they fail to locate either the horse or the thief.