Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 18

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

विमानैर्नगराकारैर्हयैर्गजवरैस्तदा।।।।पारिप्लवगतैश्चापि देवतास्तत्र विष्ठिता:।

Transliteration

vimānair nagarākārair hayair gajavarais tadā | pāriplava-gataiś cāpi devatās tatra viṣṭhitāḥ ||

Translation

तदा देवताः नगराकारैर्विमानैः, हयैर्गजवरैश्च। पारिप्लवगतैश्चापि तत्र स्थिताः समन्ततः॥

Word by Word

• विमानैः: by aerial chariots
• विमानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• नगराकारैः: city-shaped (huge)
• नगराकारैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नगर + आकार (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: 'नगरस्य आकारः इव' (city-like in form); पुं/नपुंसक-तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; विमानैः इति विशेषणम्

• हयैः: by horses
• हयैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• गजवरैः: by excellent elephants
• गजवरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + वर (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः: 'वराः गजाः' (excellent elephants); पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्ययम्

• पारिप्लवगतैः: moving in restless motion
• पारिप्लवगतैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारिप्लव + गत (प्रातिपदिक + कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: 'पारिप्लवेन गताः' (moving restlessly); पुं/नपुंसक-तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; (विमानैः/हयैः/गजवरैः) इत्यादीनां विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (also)

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्ययम्

• विष्ठिताः: were stationed
• विष्ठिताः: Kriya (क्रिया-विशेषण/कर्तृवाचक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past participle); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; देवताः इति कर्तरि विशेषणम् (having stood/being stationed)

Context

Gods with great lustre arrived to witness the most wonderful, grand descent of Ganga.

Characters & Entities

• devatās (gods)
• vimānas (aerial chariots)
• horses
• elephants

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as worthy of communal attention: even the gods assemble to honor a righteous, world-benefiting occurrence.

What is the narrative situation?

The heavens fill with gods and their conveyances as they gather to witness Gaṅgā’s descent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective reverence and readiness to support dharmic outcomes.