Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 1

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

देवदेवे गते तस्मिन् सोऽङ्गुष्ठाग्रनिपीडिताम्।कृत्वा वसुमतीं राम संवत्सरमुपासत।।।।

Transliteration

devadeve gate tasmin so 'ṅguṣṭhāgranipīḍitām |

kṛtvā vasumatīṃ rāma saṃvatsaram upāsata || 1.43.1 ||

Translation

Oh Rāma, cuando el Dios de los dioses se hubo marchado, Bhagīratha emprendió austeridad durante un año, oprimiendo la tierra con la punta de su gran dedo del pie, firme en la meditación.

Word by Word

• देवदेवे: when Devadeva (the god of gods)
• देवदेवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); sense: 'in/when Devadeva (Brahmā)'

• गते: having departed
• गते: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine/Neuter agreement with 'देवदेवे'; meaning 'having gone/departed'

• तस्मिन्: in that (time/condition)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अङ्गुष्ठाग्रनिपीडिताम्: pressed down by the tip of (his) great toe
• अङ्गुष्ठाग्रनिपीडिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ-अग्र-निपीडित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: अङ्गुष्ठस्य अग्रेण निपीडिता = 'pressed by the tip of the thumb/toe'; qualifies 'वसुमतीम्'

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable in form; denotes prior action (पूर्वक्रिया)

• वसुमतीम्: the earth
• वसुमतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• राम: O Rāma
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• संवत्सरम्: for a year
• संवत्सरम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); duration (कालाधिकरणार्थे द्वितीया)

• उपासत: he worshipped/meditated upon
• उपासत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Context

"O Rama! when that God of the gods (Brahma) departed, Bhagiratha, pressing the earth with the tip of his big toe (standing supported by the big toe) penanced (meditated upon Siva) for one year.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagīratha
• Brahmā
• Rāma
• Earth (Vasumatī)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through disciplined effort: when a righteous aim is difficult, one pursues it with sustained tapas rather than abandoning it.

What is the narrative situation?

After Brahmā departs, Bhagīratha intensifies his austerities to win divine support for Gaṅgā’s descent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Austerity and unwavering resolve in service of a collective good (ancestral uplift).