Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 26

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

तत्र देवर्षिगन्धर्वा वसुधातलवासिन:।।।।भवाङ्गपतितं तोयं पवित्रमिति पस्पृशु:।

Transliteration

tatra devarṣi-gandharvā vasudhā-tala-vāsinaḥ | bhavāṅga-patitaṃ toyaṃ pavitram iti paspṛśuḥ ||

Translation

そこでは、神々と聖仙（リシ）、ガンダルヴァ、そして地上の者たちが、バヴァの御身より落ちた水を「清き聖水」として触れた。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• देवर्षि-गन्धर्वाः: gods, sages, and gandharvas
• देवर्षि-गन्धर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (देवाश्च ऋषयश्च गन्धर्वाश्च)

• वसुधा-तल-वासिनः: dwellers on the earth
• वसुधा-तल-वासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (वसुधातले वासिनः)

• भव-अङ्ग-पतितम्: fallen from Bhava's (Śiva's) body
• भव-अङ्ग-पतितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + पतित (पत्-धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भवस्य अङ्गात् पतितम्)

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पवित्रम्: holy, purifying
• पवित्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तोयम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• पस्पृशुः: touched
• पस्पृशुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Considering the waters fallen from the head of Siva sacred, devatas, rishis and gandharvas and those living on earth touched it (with reverence).

Characters & Entities

• Bhava (Śiva)
• Devas
• Ṛṣis
• Gandharvas
• Gaṅgā (as sacred water, implied)

FAQs

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

Reverence for the sacred and recognition of purity: dharma includes honoring what elevates life—here, sanctified water associated with divine guardianship.

What is the narrative situation?

After Gaṅgā reaches earth purified through Śiva, celestial beings and humans approach and touch the waters as holy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śraddhā (reverent faith): the community’s respectful approach to what is deemed purifying and dharmically potent.