Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 31

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

देवास्सर्षिगणा: सर्वे दैत्यदानवराक्षसा:।।।।गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवरास्सकिन्नरमहोरगा:।सर्वाश्चाप्सरसो राम भगीरथरथानुगाम्।।।।गङ्गामन्वगमन् प्रीतास्सर्वे जलचराश्च ये।

Transliteration

devāḥ sarṣigaṇāḥ sarve daityadānavarākṣasāḥ |

gandharvayakṣapravarāḥ sa-kinnara-mahoragāḥ |

sarvāś cāpsaraso rāma bhagīratha-rathānugām |

gaṅgām anvagaman prītāḥ sarve jalacarāś ca ye ||

Translation

Ô Rāma, tous les dieux avec les multitudes de ṛṣis—ainsi que les Daityas, Dānavas et Rākṣasas—les plus éminents Gandharvas et Yakṣas, les Kinnaras et les grands serpents, et toutes les Apsaras, suivirent avec joie Gaṅgā lorsqu’elle allait derrière le char du roi Bhagīratha ; et de même toutes les créatures des eaux.

Word by Word

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sa-ṛṣi-gaṇāḥ: groups along with sages
• sa-ṛṣi-gaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; समासः—सह-तत्पुरुष (with-sages group)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (adjective)

• daitya-dānava-rākṣasāḥ: Daityas, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas
• daitya-dānava-rākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + dānava (प्रातिपदिक) + rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• gandharva-yakṣa-pravarāḥ: the foremost Gandharvas and Yakṣas
• gandharva-yakṣa-pravarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravara (प्रातिपदिक) + gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (foremost among Gandharvas and Yakṣas)

• sa-kinnara-mahā-uragāḥ: along with Kinnaras and great serpents
• sa-kinnara-mahā-uragāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uraga (प्रातिपदिक) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक/उपसर्गसदृश) + kinnara (प्रातिपदिक) + sa (अव्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—सह-तत्पुरुष (along with Kinnaras and great serpents)

• sarvāḥ: all (female beings)
• sarvāḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• apsarasaḥ: Apsarases
• apsarasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• rāma: O Rāma
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• bhagīratha-ratha-anugām: following Bhagīratha’s chariot
• bhagīratha-ratha-anugām: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anugā (प्रातिपदिक; from anu+√gā) + bhagīratha (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (following Bhagīratha's chariot); विशेषणम् (qualifies gaṅgām)

• gaṅgām: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• anvagaman: followed
• anvagaman: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu+√gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम

• prītāḥ: pleased, delighted
• prītāḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (कृदन्त; √prī प्रीञ् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृत्/क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), विशेषणम् (of the followers)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• jala-carāḥ: aquatic creatures
• jala-carāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (प्रातिपदिक; from √car चर्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (those who move in water)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ye: who/those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

Context

O Rama! besides acquatic beings, rishis, devatas, daityas, danavas, rakshasas along with kinnaras, serpents, foremost of gandharvas, yakshas and apsaras all followed the chariot of Bhagiratha. They were happy to follow Ganga.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bhagīratha
• Gaṅgā
• Devas
• Ṛṣis
• Daityas
• Dānavas
• Rākṣasas
• Gandharvas
• Yakṣas
• Kinnaras
• Mahoragas (great serpents)
• Apsarases

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as collective reverence for a righteous, truth-driven undertaking: when Bhagīratha’s vow and purpose are aligned with the welfare of others, even diverse beings support and follow that sacred course.

What is the narrative situation?

As Gaṅgā descends and proceeds behind Bhagīratha’s chariot, gods, sages, celestial beings, and even aquatic creatures accompany her in joyful procession.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bhagīratha’s steadfastness (dhṛti) and truthfulness in purpose (satya-saṅkalpa), which draws universal assent and support.