Shloka 17

गङ्गादर्शनम् तथा गुहसमागमः

Vision of the Gaṅgā and Meeting with Guha

Devanagari script

क्वचित् स्तिमितगम्भीरां क्वचिद्वेगजलाकुलाम्।क्वचिद्गम्भीरनिर्घोषां क्वचिद्भैरवनिस्वनाम्।।2.50.17।।

Transliteration

kvacit stimitagambhīrāṃ kvacid vega-jalākulām |

kvacid gambhīra-nirghoṣāṃ kvacid bhairava-nisvanām ||2.50.17||

Translation

कहीं वह स्थिर और गम्भीर थी, कहीं वेगवान धाराओं से व्याकुल; कहीं उसका नाद गम्भीर-गर्जन-सा था, और कहीं वह भयानक शब्द से गर्जित होती थी॥

Word by Word

• jala-āghāta-aṭṭa-hāsa-ugrām: fierce with loud-laughter-like water-dashing
• jala-āghāta-aṭṭa-hāsa-ugrām: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier of Gaṅgā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + āghāta (प्रातिपदिक) + aṭṭa-hāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + ugra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā singular; tatpurusha: 'jalāghātaiḥ aṭṭahāsa iva ugraḥ yasyāḥ' (fierce as loud laughter caused by water-dashing)

• phena-nirmala-hāsinīm: smiling with pure foam
• phena-nirmala-hāsinīm: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phena (प्रातिपदिक) + nirmala (प्रातिपदिक) + hāsinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā singular; karmadhāraya: 'nirmalā hāsinī' qualified by 'phena' (smiling with pure foam)

• kvacit: in some places
• kvacit: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• veṇī-kṛta-jalām: having water arranged like a braid
• veṇī-kṛta-jalām: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ 'to make', kta) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā singular; tatpurusha: 'veṇīvat kṛtaṃ jalaṃ yasyāḥ' (whose water is made like a braid/streaming in a braid-like line)

• kvacit: in some places
• kvacit: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place

• āvarta-śobhitām: beautified by whirlpools
• āvarta-śobhitām: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āvarta (प्रातिपदिक) + śobhita (कृदन्त; √śubh/√śobh, kta)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā singular; tatpurusha: 'āvartaiḥ śobhitām' (adorned by whirlpools)

Context

Here hosts of celestials take their ablutions and there she shines with lilies of pure blue. Here her banks are curved and there her bed is dotted with patches of white sand.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā

FAQs

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

Dharma as attentiveness to sacred reality: the text trains the mind to perceive the Gaṅgā as both beautiful and formidable, encouraging reverent, disciplined engagement with the world.

What is the narrative situation?

The epic describes the Gaṅgā’s varying currents and sounds as Rāma’s party approaches and travels along her banks.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and restraint (saṃyama): the implied need to move carefully and respectfully near powerful natural forces.