Shloka 24

गङ्गाजन्मवर्णनम् / The Origin of the Ganga

Tripathagā Narrative

Devanagari script

सैषा सुरनदी रम्या शैलेन्द्रस्य सुता तदा।सुरलोकं समारूढा विपापा जलवाहिनी।।1.35.24।।

Transliteration

saiṣā suranadī ramyā śailendrasya sutā tadā |

suralokaṃ samārūḍhā vipāpā jalavāhinī || 1.35.24 ||

Translation

ਤਦ ਉਹ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਸੁਰਨਦੀ—ਸ਼ੈਲੇਂਦ੍ਰ ਹਿਮਵਾਨ ਦੀ ਧੀ—ਦੇਵਲੋਕ ਨੂੰ ਚੜ੍ਹ ਗਈ; ਪਾਪ-ਨਾਸ਼ਕ ਜਲਵਾਹਿਨੀ ਬਣ ਕੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਜਲ ਨੂੰ ਵਹਾਉਂਦੀ ਅੱਗੇ ਵਧੀ।

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• एषा: this (same one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• सुरनदी: divine river
• सुरनदी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura + nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष): surāṇāṃ nadī (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष). Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• रम्या: beautiful
• रम्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective (विशेषण), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying सुरनदी

• शैलेन्द्रस्य: of the lord of mountains (Himavān)
• शैलेन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष): śailānām indraḥ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष). Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• सुता: daughter
• सुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sutā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• सुरलोकम्: the heaven-world (world of gods)
• सुरलोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष): surāṇāṃ lokaḥ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष). Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• समारूढा: having ascended / ascended
• समारूढा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa / Predicative (क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-ruh (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त/भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle used predicatively

• विपापा: sinless
• विपापा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective (विशेषण), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying सुरनदी

• जलवाहिनी: water-bearing river
• जलवाहिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala + vāhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष): jalaṃ vahati iti (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय). Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"O knower of Brahman! Clean waters of this river are adorned with sand-banks. This Sona is deep. Which way shall we cross this river?

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Himavān (Śailendra)
• Suraloka (heaven)

FAQs

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

Dharma as purification and uplift: the sacred is portrayed as that which removes moral taint and elevates beings toward higher order.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra states the outcome of the gods receiving Gaṅgā: she becomes the divine river established in heaven.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Gaṅgā’s beneficent nature—purifying and sustaining—symbolizing compassionate power aligned with cosmic good.