Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 7

गङ्गाजन्मवर्णनम् / The Origin of the Ganga

Tripathagā Narrative

Devanagari script

ते गत्वा दूरमध्वानं गतेऽर्धदिवसे तदा।जाह्नवीं सरितां श्रेष्ठां ददृशुर्मुनिसेविताम्।।1.35.7।।

Transliteration

te gatvā dūram adhvānaṃ gate 'rdha-divase tadā |

jāhnavīṃ saritāṃ śreṣṭhāṃ dadṛśur muni-sevitām ||1.35.7||

Translation

長い道のりを進み、日が半ばを過ぎたころ、彼らはジャーナヴィー（Jahnavī）—諸河のうち最勝にして、牟尼たちに敬われ親しまれる大河—を目にした。

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• दूरम्: far
• दूरम्: Deśa/Parimāṇa (देश/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• अध्वानम्: a journey/road
• अध्वानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of गत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गते: when (it) had passed
• गते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• अर्धदिवसे: in half a day
• अर्धदिवसे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha + divasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अर्धः दिवसः (half-day)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (time adverb)

• जाह्नवीम्: Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)
• जाह्नवीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of ददृशुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāhnavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नदी-नाम

• सरिताम्: of rivers / among rivers
• सरिताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘among rivers’ (partitive genitive)

• श्रेष्ठाम्: the best
• श्रेष्ठाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; जाह्नवीम् इति विशेषण

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनिसेविताम्: attended by sages
• मुनिसेविताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of जाह्नवीम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muni + sevita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: मुनिभिः सेविता (served/attended by sages)

Context

After travelling a long distance for half a day, they saw Jahnavi, the best among rivers haunted or worshipped by ascetics.

Characters & Entities

• Jahnavī (Gaṅgā)
• sages (munis/maharṣis)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to sacred spaces that sustain righteous living: rivers like the Jahnavī are portrayed as supports for ascetic discipline and spiritual purity.

What is the narrative situation?

The traveling party reaches sight of the Jahnavī (Gaṅgā) after half a day’s journey.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for sanctity—recognizing and honoring places associated with sages and spiritual practice.