Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 7

कुमारसम्भवः—गङ्गायां तेजोनिक्षेपः

The Birth of Kumāra/Skanda and the Deposition of Śiva’s Energy through Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

इयमाकाशगा गङ्गा यस्यां पुत्रं हुताशन:।जनयिष्यति देवानां सेनापतिमरिन्दमम्।।1.37.7।।

Transliteration

iyam ākāśa-gā gaṅgā yasyāṃ putraṃ hutāśanaḥ | janayiṣyati devānāṃ senāpatim arindamam || 1.37.7 ||

Translation

ಇವಳು ಆಕಾಶಗಾಮಿನಿಯಾದ ಗಂಗಾ; ಇವಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹುತಾಶನ ಅಗ್ನಿದೇವನು ದೇವತೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಶತ್ರುದಮನನಾದ ಪುತ್ರನನ್ನು ಜನಯಿಸಿ, ಅವನು ದೇವಸೇನೆಯ ಸೇನಾಪತಿಯಾಗುವನು॥

Word by Word

• iyam: this
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• ākāśagā: moving in the sky/celestial
• ākāśagā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākāśa-gā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; adjective qualifying gaṅgā; Tatpuruṣa: ākāśe gacchatīti (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• gaṅgā: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• yasyām: in whom/in which
• yasyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• putram: a son
• putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• hutāśanaḥ: Agni (fire-god)
• hutāśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hutāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: hutaṃ aśnātīti (उपपद-तत्पुरुष), epithet of Agni

• janayiṣyati: will beget/produce
• janayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (जन् धातु) + ṇic (णिच्)
• Form: Causative stem (णिजन्त), Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• devānām: of the gods/for the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural

• senāpatim: army-commander
• senāpatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: senāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: senāyāḥ patiḥ

• arindamam: enemy-subduing
• arindamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ari-ndama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying senāpatim; Tatpuruṣa: arīn damayatīti (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Context

"Ganga keeps flowing in the celestial regions. Through Ganga the Fire-god will beget a son who will be capable of destroying enemies. He will become the army general of the gods".

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Agni (Hutāśana)
• Devas
• Senāpati (Skanda/Kārttikeya implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma as cosmic protection: extraordinary means are sanctioned to establish a defender who restores balance and safeguards the divine order.

What is the narrative situation?

Brahmā identifies Gaṅgā as the medium through which Agni will produce the future divine general, resolving the gods’ need for a powerful leader.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Leadership in service of righteousness: the future son is defined by his role—subduing hostility to uphold order.