Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 12

गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना

Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

मन्त्रिष्वाधाय तद्राज्यं गङ्गावतरणे रत:।स तपो दीर्घमातिष्ठद्गोकर्णे रघुनन्दन।।1.42.12।।ऊर्ध्वबाहु: पञ्चतपा मासाहारो जितेन्द्रिय:।

Transliteration

mantriṣv ādhāya tad rājyaṃ gaṅgāvataraṇe rataḥ |

sa tapo dīrgham ātiṣṭhad gokarṇe raghunandana ||

ūrdhvabāhuḥ pañcatapā māsāhāro jitendriyaḥ |

Translation

हे रघुनन्दन! गङ्गा के अवतरण में तत्पर होकर उसने राज्य का भार मंत्रियों को सौंप दिया और गोकर्ण में दीर्घकाल तक तप किया—ऊर्ध्वबाहु होकर, पंचाग्नि का ताप सहकर, मास में एक बार आहार लेकर, और इन्द्रियों को वश में करके।

Word by Word

• मन्त्रिषु: among/on the ministers
• मन्त्रिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; locus/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), बहुवचन

• आधाय: having entrusted
• आधाय: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + dhā (धा) धातु
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), 'having placed/entrusted'

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म; agrees with राज्यं)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (qualifier of राज्यं)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म; object of आधाय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• गङ्गावतरणे: in/for the descent of the Ganga
• गङ्गावतरणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; purpose-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā + avataraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gaṅgāyāḥ avataraṇe)

• रतः: engaged/intent
• रतः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective of सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participial adjective) from √ram/√rañj sense 'attached'

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म; object of आतिष्ठत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दीर्घम्: for a long time
• दीर्घम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण; duration)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन (accusative used adverbially: 'for long')

• आतिष्ठत्: practised/undertook
• आतिष्ठत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + sthā (स्था) धातु
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; 'undertook/practised'

• गोकर्णे: at Gokarṇa
• गोकर्णे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gokarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; स्थाननाम (place name)

• रघुनन्दन: O Raghu's joy (Rāma)
• रघुनन्दन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• ऊर्ध्वबाहुः: with arms raised
• ऊर्ध्वबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhva + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (ūrdhvau bāhū yasya)

• पञ्चतपाः: practising the five-fire austerity
• पञ्चतपाः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca + tapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (pañca tapāṃsi yasya / pañcatapāḥ)

• मासाहारः: one who eats monthly
• मासाहारः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māsa + āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (māse āhāraḥ yasya / māsa-āhāraḥ)

• जितेन्द्रियः: sense-controlled
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (jitāni indriyāṇi yasya)

Context

O son of the Raghus (Rama), Bhagiratha, with a determination to bring down Gangaentrusted the kingdom to his ministers and went to a sacred place known as Gokarna. There with arms uplifted surrounded by four fires, partaking food once a month, with his senses controlled, carried out panchatapa for a number of years.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagiratha
• Gaṅgā
• Ministers (mantri)
• Rāma (Raghunandana)

FAQs

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

Dharma as self-sacrifice for collective welfare: Bhagiratha undertakes severe tapas not for personal gain, but to accomplish a sacred, world-benefiting aim (Gaṅgā’s descent).

What is the narrative situation?

Bhagiratha delegates governance to ministers and begins prolonged, rigorous austerities at Gokarṇa to secure Gaṅgā’s descent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline (jitendriyatā) and unwavering resolve (dṛḍha-saṅkalpa) expressed through extreme austerity and restraint.