Shloka 24

गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना

Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

गङ्गाया: पतनं राजन् पृथिवी न सहिष्यति।तां वै धारयितुं वीर नान्यं पश्यामि शूलिन:।।1.42.24।।

Transliteration

gaṅgāyāḥ patanaṁ rājan pṛthivī na sahiṣyati | tāṁ vai dhārayituṁ vīra nānyaṁ paśyāmi śūlinaḥ ||1.42.24||

Translation

हे राजन्! गंगेचे अवतरण पृथ्वी सहन करणार नाही. हे वीरा! तिला धारण करण्यास शूलधारी (शिव) यांच्यावाचून दुसरा कोणी मला दिसत नाही॥

Word by Word

गङ्गायाःof Ganga

पतनम्descent/fall

राजन्O king

पृथिवीthe earth

नnot

सहिष्यतिwill endure/bear

ताम्her

वैindeed

धारयितुम्to hold/bear

वीरO hero

नnot

अन्यम्another (person)

पश्यामिI see

शूलिनःof the trident-bearer (Shiva)

Context

The Creator of the worlds having thus addressed the king and conversing with Ganga went towards heaven along with devatas and maruts".ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē dvicatvāriṅśassarga:৷৷Thus ends the fortysecond sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

Gaṅgā

Earth (Pṛthivī)

Śiva (Śūlin)

Bhagīratha

FAQs

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

Dharma requires non-harm and proportionality: immense power must be restrained and guided so that the world is not damaged by even sacred forces.

What is the narrative situation?

Brahmā clarifies the danger of Gaṅgā’s uncontrolled descent and identifies Śiva as the necessary bearer.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility before cosmic law—recognizing that even kings and gods work within limits and must act responsibly.