Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 21

गङ्गाजन्मवर्णनम् / The Origin of the Ganga

Tripathagā Narrative

Devanagari script

उग्रेण तपसा युक्तां ददौ शैलवरस्सुताम्।रुद्रायाप्रतिरूपाय उमां लोकनमस्कृताम्।।1.35.21।।

Transliteration

ugreṇa tapasā yuktāṃ dadau śailavaras sutām |

rudrāyāpratirūpāya umāṃ lokanamaskṛtām || 1.35.21 ||

Translation

山々の最勝たるヒマヴァーンは、厳しいタパスを具え世に礼拝される娘ウマーを、比類なきルドラに授けた。

Word by Word

• ugreṇa: severe
• ugreṇa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (contextually instrumental as adjective to tapasā), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies tapasā)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• yuktām: endowed; joined
• yuktām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्यय from √yuj)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; विशेषणम् (qualifies umām/sutām)

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śaila-varaḥ: the best of mountains (Himavān)
• śaila-varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: शैलः एव वरः (best mountain)

• sutām: daughter
• sutām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sutā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• rudrāya: to Rudra
• rudrāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• apratirūpāya: of unmatched form
• apratirūpāya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-pratirūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies rudrāya); नञ्-समास

• umām: Umā
• umām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: umā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• loka-namaskṛtām: worshipped by the world
• loka-namaskṛtām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka + namaskṛta (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from √kṛ with namas-)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: लोकेन नमस्कृता; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त

Context

O child with a marvellous gait! I have related to you about Ganga flowing across the three worlds, Ganga who reached the heaven first and all that.

Characters & Entities

• Himavān
• Umā
• Rudra (Śiva)
• tapas

FAQs

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

Dharma as rightful alliance: marriage is portrayed as a dharmic giving, grounded in merit (tapas) and cosmic suitability.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra states that Umā, famed for austerity, was given by Himavān in marriage to Rudra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Umā’s ascetic excellence and Himavān’s adherence to social-religious propriety in arranging a fitting union.