Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 1

गङ्गाजन्मवर्णनम् / The Origin of the Ganga

Tripathagā Narrative

Devanagari script

उपास्य रात्रिशेषं तु शोणाकूले महर्षिभि:।निशायां सुप्रभातायां विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.35.1।।

Transliteration

upāsya rātriśeṣaṃ tu śoṇākūle maharṣibhiḥ | niśāyāṃ suprabhātāyāṃ viśvāmitro 'bhyabhāṣata ||

Translation

大いなる聖仙たちとともにショーナー河のほとりで夜の残りを礼拝して過ごし、夜明けの清らかな時、ヴィシュヴァーミトラは語り始めた。

Word by Word

• upāsya: having waited (spent time)
• upāsya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√ās (धातु)
• Form: ल्यबन्त (absolutive/gerund), 'having waited/served'

• rātriśeṣam: the remainder of the night
• rātriśeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri + śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• śoṇākūle: on the bank of the Śoṇā (Sona)
• śoṇākūle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoṇā + kūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (locative, 7th), एकवचन (singular)

• maharṣibhiḥ: with great sages
• maharṣibhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• niśāyām: in the night
• niśāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी (locative, 7th), एकवचन (singular)

• suprabhātāyām: at good dawn
• suprabhātāyām: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + prabhāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी (locative, 7th), एकवचन (singular)

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• abhyabhāṣata: spoke to/addressed
• abhyabhāṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

Context

Viswamitra lay on the bank of Sona with the ascetics, for the rest of the night. (Getting up) at daybreak he said:

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Śoṇā (Sona river)
• Maharṣis (sages)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as disciplined conduct: sages keep proper routine—resting, keeping vigil, and beginning speech or instruction at an auspicious time (dawn).

What is the narrative situation?

The party has halted by the Śoṇā river; as dawn arrives, Viśvāmitra prepares to speak, transitioning the story into the next teaching/narration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s leadership and the sages’ austerity-driven orderliness (niyama) are highlighted.