Shloka 72

The Greatness of the Gaṅgā: Purification, Ancestor Rites, and Liberation

Devanagari script

गंगाजले प्रयास्यंति ते जीवाः पथि ये मृताः । कीटाः पंतंगाश्शलभाः पादाघातेन गच्छतां

Transliteration

gaṃgājale prayāsyaṃti te jīvāḥ pathi ye mṛtāḥ | kīṭāḥ paṃtaṃgāśśalabhāḥ pādāghātena gacchatāṃ

Translation

Maging ang mga nilalang na namamatay sa daan habang patungo sa tubig ng Gaṅgā—mga uod, mga insektong lumilipad, at mga gamu-gamo—ay umaangat din sa mas mataas na kalagayan sa mismong pagdampi ng mga yapak ng mga naglalakbay.

Word by Word

• गङ्गाजले: in the water of the Ganga
• गङ्गाजले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• प्रयास्यन्ति: go forth / proceed
• प्रयास्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• जीवाः: beings
• जीवाः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथ् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषण

• कीटाः: worms/insects
• कीटाः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• पतङ्गाः: flying insects/moths
• पतङ्गाः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• शलभाः: grasshoppers/locusts
• शलभाः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शलभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• पादाघातेन: by the striking of the foot (being trampled)
• पादाघातेन: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + आघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणवाचक

• गच्छताम्: of those who are walking
• गच्छताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘गच्छत्’ (of those who go)

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa; exact dialogue frame not provided in the excerpt)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: गंगाजले → गङ्गा + जले (तत्पुरुष); पंतंगाश्शलभाः → पतङ्गाः + शलभाः (आगम/श्-सन्धि); गच्छतां → गच्छताम् (anusvāra for final m).

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

What does this verse teach about the sanctity of a pilgrimage route (tīrtha-yātrā-mārga)?

It portrays the route to the Gaṅgā as itself sacred: merit is generated not only at the destination (Gaṅgā-jala) but also along the journey, with even incidental contact (footsteps of pilgrims) being spiritually efficacious.

How does the verse convey compassion and universality in sacred merit?

By explicitly including tiny creatures (worms, insects, moths), it universalizes the reach of tīrtha merit—suggesting that sacred intention and proximity to holy acts can uplift even the most overlooked forms of life.

What ethical lesson is implied for pilgrims and devotees?

It encourages reverence and carefulness during pilgrimage: since the journey is holy and affects other beings, one should travel mindfully, with humility and non-harm, recognizing the broader spiritual impact of one’s actions.