Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 16

गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना

Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

भगीरथ महाभाग प्रीतस्तेऽहं जनेश्वर।तपसा च सुतप्तेन वरं वरय सुव्रत।।1.42.16।।

Transliteration

bhagīratha mahābhāga prītas te 'haṃ janeśvara |

tapasā ca sutaptena varaṃ varaya suvrata ||

Translation

“ഹേ മഹാഭാഗനായ ഭഗീരഥാ! ഹേ ജനേശ്വരാ, മനുഷ്യരിലെ അധിപതേ! നിന്റെ നന്നായി നിർവഹിച്ച തപസ്സാൽ ഞാൻ പ്രസന്നനാകുന്നു; ഹേ സുവ്രതാ, ഇഷ്ടമായ വരം വരിക്ക.”

Word by Word

• भगीरथ: O Bhagiratha
• भगीरथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagīratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• महाभाग: O highly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् भागः यस्य/महाभागः)

• प्रीतः: pleased
• प्रीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prī (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय) → prīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• ते: of/with you; your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6) एकवचन (genitive singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• जनेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• जनेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जनानाम् ईश्वरः)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुतप्तेन: well-performed (well-austered)
• सुतप्तेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-tap (धातु) + kta → sutapta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (तपसा सह सामञ्जस्यात् नपुंसक-तृतीया एकवचन), तृतीया (3), एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (accusative singular)

• वरय: choose/ask (for)
• वरय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (धातु) (वृञ् वरणे)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुव्रत: O one of excellent vows
• सुव्रत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सुन्दरं व्रतम् यस्य)

Context

Thereafter, the Grandsire arrived with the gods and spoke to the noble Bhagiratha engaged in austerities.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Bhagiratha

FAQs

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

Right effort (tapas) aligned with truth and vows is honored; dharma teaches that disciplined striving gains legitimate divine support—not arbitrary favor.

What is the narrative situation?

Brahmā directly addresses Bhagiratha and invites him to ask for a boon, marking the turning point toward Gaṅgā’s descent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bhagiratha’s integrity in vows (suvrata) and properly conducted austerity (sutapta-tapas).