Valmiki Ramayana 1.43.34: Bala Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 34

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Spoken by Viśvāmitra to RamaSetting: जह्नोः यज्ञवाटःPlaces named: यज्ञवाट, गङ्गाGaṅgā’s descent continues; her waters reach the yajña-site

Devanagari script

ततो हि यजमानस्य जह्नोरद्भुतकर्मणः ॥३४॥

गङ्गा सम्प्लावयामास यज्ञवाटं महात्मनः ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.43.34

Transliteration

tato hi yajamānasya jahnor adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ ||34||

gaṅgā samplāvayāmāsa yajña-vāṭaṃ mahātmanaḥ |

Translation

फिर गंगा जह्नु रिशि के यज्ञ स्थल में आ गई। जह्नु बड़े रिशि थे। गंगा ने उनका पूरा यज्ञ स्थल पानी में डूब दिया।

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Word by Word

• tasyāḥ: of her
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• avalēpanam: arrogance/pride
• Type: Noun
• Root: avalēpana (प्रातिपदिक; from ava+√lip लिप्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म; object of jñātvā)

• jñātvā: having known
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having known’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)

• kruddhaḥ: angered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (कृदन्त; √krudh क्रुध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), विशेषणम् (of yajvā)
• Role: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)

• yajvā: the sacrificer (Jahnu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajvan (प्रातिपदिक; from √yaj यज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tu: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• rāghava: O Rāghava
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• apibat: drank
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (पा धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

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

• jalam: water
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• sarvam: all/entire
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies jalam)
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)

• gaṅgāyāḥ: of Gaṅgā
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• parama-adbhutam: most astonishing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक) + parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (supremely wondrous); विशेषणम् (qualifies jalam)
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• तस्यावलेपनं → तस्याः अवलेपनम्
• अपिबच्च → अपिबत् च
• परमाद्भुतम् → परम्-अद्भुतम्/परम-अद्भुतम् (कर्मधारय)

Context

Then while Ganga was flowing, it inundated the sacrificial ground of the great sage Jahnu. Jahnu who used to work wonders was performing a sacrifice.

The teaching

Even sacred forces must respect dharmic boundaries; ritual order (yajña-maryādā) is a form of cosmic order.

Duties in tension

• गङ्गा-प्रवाह/दैवी-आज्ञा का पालन

Ethical theme

अनुष्ठानधर्म/मर्यादा

How it resolves

Authority of the sage asserted; later reconciliation through adoption-as-daughter motif

For your practice

Reminder to protect one’s sādhana ‘enclosure’ (niyama, maryādā) so spiritual power does not become distraction.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Raudra (fury)

Mood

Startling, disruptive, ritual-tension

Themes

• Dharma
• Ritual Order
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Consequences

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Jahnu
• Yajña (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Even sacred power must respect dharmic boundaries: righteousness includes honoring others’ rightful rites and spaces, not overwhelming them through force.

What is the narrative situation?

As Gaṅgā proceeds, her waters overflow into Jahnu’s ongoing sacrificial ground.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jahnu’s steadfast guardianship of ritual propriety (yajña-maryādā).