Shloka 8

गङ्गावतरण-समापनः

Conclusion of the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

पूर्वकेण हि ते राजंस्तेनातियशसा तदा।धर्मिणां प्रवरेणापि नैष प्राप्तो मनोरथ:।।1.44.8।।

Transliteration

pūrvakeṇa hi te rājan tenātiyaśasā tadā | dharmiṇāṃ pravareṇāpi naiṣa prāpto manorathaḥ || 1.44.8 ||

Translation

हे राजन्! तुम्हारे पूर्वजों में जो अत्यन्त यशस्वी और धर्मात्माओं में श्रेष्ठ थे, वे भी उस समय इस अभिलषित मनोरथ को प्राप्त न कर सके।

Word by Word

पूर्वकेणby the ancestor

हिindeed, for

तेyour

राजन्O king

तेनby him

अतियशसाby the very renowned

तदाthen

धर्मिणाम्among the righteous

प्रवरेणby the foremost

अपिeven

नnot

एषःthis

प्राप्तःwas obtained

मनोरथःwish, desire

Context

O Child! similarly though Anshuman possessed unparalleled prowess in this world his prayer to Ganga, his vow could not be fulfilled.

Characters & Entities

Sagara (implied as the renowned ancestor in context)

Bhagīratha (implied as the one who succeeds later)

FAQs

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

Dharma acknowledges human limitation: even the righteous may not accomplish every aim; therefore, duty may pass across generations, calling for sustained truthful effort.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker notes that the earlier, famous righteous ancestor did not succeed in fulfilling the objective connected with Gaṅgā and the ancestors’ welfare.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣamā and dhairya (forbearance and perseverance) in pursuing a dharmic goal across time.