Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 7

गङ्गाजन्मवर्णनम् / The Origin of the Ganga

Tripathagā Narrative

Devanagari script

ते गत्वा दूरमध्वानं गतेऽर्धदिवसे तदा।जाह्नवीं सरितां श्रेष्ठां ददृशुर्मुनिसेविताम्।।1.35.7।।

Transliteration

te gatvā dūram adhvānaṃ gate 'rdha-divase tadā |

jāhnavīṃ saritāṃ śreṣṭhāṃ dadṛśur muni-sevitām ||1.35.7||

Translation

Après avoir parcouru une longue étape, et lorsque la moitié du jour fut écoulée, ils aperçurent la Jahnavī, la plus excellente des rivières, vénérée et fréquentée par les sages.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• दूरम्: far
• दूरम्: Deśa/Parimāṇa (देश/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• अध्वानम्: a journey/road
• अध्वानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of गत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गते: when (it) had passed
• गते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• अर्धदिवसे: in half a day
• अर्धदिवसे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha + divasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अर्धः दिवसः (half-day)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (time adverb)

• जाह्नवीम्: Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)
• जाह्नवीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of ददृशुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāhnavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नदी-नाम

• सरिताम्: of rivers / among rivers
• सरिताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘among rivers’ (partitive genitive)

• श्रेष्ठाम्: the best
• श्रेष्ठाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; जाह्नवीम् इति विशेषण

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनिसेविताम्: attended by sages
• मुनिसेविताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of जाह्नवीम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muni + sevita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: मुनिभिः सेविता (served/attended by sages)

Context

After travelling a long distance for half a day, they saw Jahnavi, the best among rivers haunted or worshipped by ascetics.

Characters & Entities

• Jahnavī (Gaṅgā)
• sages (munis/maharṣis)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to sacred spaces that sustain righteous living: rivers like the Jahnavī are portrayed as supports for ascetic discipline and spiritual purity.

What is the narrative situation?

The traveling party reaches sight of the Jahnavī (Gaṅgā) after half a day’s journey.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for sanctity—recognizing and honoring places associated with sages and spiritual practice.