Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 42, 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

О царь, земля не вынесет нисхождения Ганги. О герой, не вижу никого, кроме Трезубцедержца Шивы, кто мог бы удержать её.

Word by Word

• गङ्गायाः: of Ganga
• गङ्गायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• पतनम्: descent/fall
• पतनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• पृथिवी: the earth
• पृथिवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• सहिष्यति: will endure/bear
• सहिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sah (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• धारयितुम्: to hold/bear
• धारयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• वीर: O hero
• वीर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अन्यम्: another (person)
• अन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• पश्यामि: I see
• पश्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शूलिनः: of the trident-bearer (Shiva)
• शूलिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūlin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (genitive singular: 'of the trident-bearer')

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.