Shloka 16
गङ्गाधारणम् (Gaṅgādhāraṇa) — Śiva Bears the Descent of Gaṅgā
एवमुक्त: प्रत्युवाच राजा हैमवर्ती तदा । (नदीं भगीरथो राजन् प्रणिपत्य कृताञ्जलि: ।) पितामहा मे वरदे कपिलेन महानदि
evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca rājā haimavartī tadā (nadīṃ bhagīratho rājan praṇipatya kṛtāñjaliḥ) pitāmahā me varade kapilena mahānadi
Thus addressed, the king of the Himalayan region replied at that time: “O King, Bhagiratha—having bowed down to the river with folded hands—said, ‘O grandsire, O giver of boons! O great river, (connected) with Kapila…’” The passage frames Bhagiratha’s approach as one of reverent humility and supplication, emphasizing the ethical force of devotion and respectful speech when seeking a boon for the good of one’s ancestors.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct in petitioning: humility (praṇipāta), reverence (kṛtāñjali), and respectful address to elders/ancestral figures and sacred powers. Ethical persuasion is shown as grounded in devotion and proper speech rather than force.
A Himalayan-region king begins recounting or quoting Bhagiratha’s reverent approach: Bhagiratha bows to a great river with folded hands and addresses it (and/or an ancestral figure) as a boon-giver, invoking the name of Kapila in the context of his request.