Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 12

गङ्गाजन्मवर्णनम् / The Origin of the Ganga

Tripathagā Narrative

Devanagari script

अथ तत्र तदा रामो विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्।।1.35.11।। भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छामि गङ्गां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।त्रैलोक्यं कथमाक्रम्य गता नदनदीपतिम्।।1.35.12।।

Transliteration

codito rāmavākyena viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ | vṛddhiṃ janma ca gaṅgāyā vaktum evopacakrame ||

Translation

Pressé par les paroles de Rāma, le grand muni Viśvāmitra entreprit de raconter la naissance de la Gaṅgā, ainsi que son cours et son accroissement ultérieurs.

Word by Word

• चोदितः: prompted
• चोदितः: विशेषण (predicate of viśvāmitraḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चुद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रामवाक्येन: by Rāma's words
• रामवाक्येन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रामस्य वाक्येन = by Rāma's words)

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महामुनिः: the great sage
• महामुनिः: कर्ता (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक: महा + मुनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• वृद्धिम्: growth/prosperity
• वृद्धिम्: कर्म (object of vaktum)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जन्म: birth/origin
• जन्म: कर्म (object of vaktum)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• गङ्गायाः: of Gaṅgā
• गङ्गायाः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• वक्तुम्: to tell
• वक्तुम्: प्रयोजन (purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive (to speak/tell)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• उपचक्रमे: began
• उपचक्रमे: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: उप-; अर्थ: 'began/commenced'

Context

Then Rama said to Viswamitra "O venerable one I wish to know why Ganga flowing in three directions, occupy (purified) the three worlds before entering the sea, the lord of rivers?"

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Gaṅgā

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through right transmission of knowledge: a qualified teacher responds to a sincere student, preserving sacred history through truthful narration.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma’s inquiry, Viśvāmitra formally begins the Gaṅgā-upākhyāna (the episode explaining Gaṅgā’s origin and course).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s readiness to teach and Rāma’s respectful prompting together highlight the ideal learning relationship.