Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 17

गङ्गाजन्मवर्णनम् / The Origin of the Ganga

Tripathagā Narrative

Devanagari script

अथ ज्येष्ठां सुरास्सर्वे देवतार्थचिकीर्षया। शैलेन्द्रं वरयामासुर्गङ्गां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।।1.35.17।।

Transliteration

atha jyeṣṭhāṃ surāḥ sarve devatārthacikīrṣayā | śailendraṃ varayāmāsur gaṅgāṃ tripathagāṃ nadīm ||

Translation

ત્યારબાદ દેવકાર્ય સિદ્ધ કરવા ઇચ્છતા સર્વ દેવોએ શૈલેન્દ્ર હિમવત પાસે તેની જ્યેષ્ઠ પુત્રી—ત્રિપથગામિની નદી ગંગા—ને વરવા માંગી.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse-link)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (sequence marker)

• jyeṣṭhām: the eldest
• jyeṣṭhām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (for gaṅgām)

• surāḥ: the gods
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies surāḥ)

• devatā-artha-cikīrṣayā: with the desire to accomplish the gods' purpose
• devatā-artha-cikīrṣayā: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā + artha + cikīrṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: देवतानाम् अर्थः (purpose) तस्य चिकीर्षा (desire to accomplish)

• śailendram: the lord of mountains (Himavān)
• śailendram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): शैलानाम् इन्द्रम्

• varayāmāsuḥ: chose / sought (in marriage)
• varayāmāsuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; √vṛ ‘choose/woo’

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

• tripathagām: flowing in three courses
• tripathagām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri + patha + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: त्रिषु पथेषु गच्छती

• nadīm: the river
• nadīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; gaṅgām apposition

Context

O son of the Raghus! this Ganga was born to Manorama as Himavan's eldest daughter. A second one born to him was well-known by the name of Uma.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Himavān (Śailendra)
• Surās (gods)

FAQs

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

The verse presents dharma as alignment with a larger deva-kārya (divine task): individual or familial ties are situated within responsibilities that serve cosmic welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

In the Gaṅgā origin narrative, the gods approach Himavān to obtain Gaṅgā for fulfilling a divine objective.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A sense of duty to a higher purpose is emphasized—actions are undertaken not merely for desire but for ordained, world-supporting aims.