Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 20

गङ्गाजन्मवर्णनम् / The Origin of the Ganga

Tripathagā Narrative

Devanagari script

या चान्या शैलदुहिता कन्यासीद्रघुनन्दन।उग्रं सा व्रतमास्थाय तपस्तेपे तपोधना।।1.35.20।।

Transliteration

yā cānyā śailaduhitā kanyāsīd raghunandana |

ugraṃ sā vratam āsthāya tapas tepe tapodhanā || 1.35.20 ||

Translation

At ang isa pang anak na babae ng bundok, O ligaya ng angkan ni Raghu, ay isang dalagang ang yaman ay tapas; tinanggap niya ang isang mabagsik na panata at nagsagawa ng matinding pag-aayuno at pagninilay.

Word by Word

• yā: she who
• yā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• anyā: the other
• anyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• śaila-duhitā: daughter of the mountain
• śaila-duhitā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila + duhitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): शैलस्य दुहिता

• kanyā: maiden
• kanyā: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• raghunandana: O delight of the Raghus
• raghunandana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: रघोः नन्दनः

• ugram: severe
• ugram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies vratam)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• vratam: vow
• vratam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• āsthāya: having undertaken
• āsthāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund); ‘having undertaken/adopted’

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• tepe: practised / performed
• tepe: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• tapodhanā: having austerity as her wealth
• tapodhanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: तपः धनं यस्याः

Context

O son of the Raghus! Ganga, the holiest of rivers and Uma devi are two daughters of the king of the mountains, (Himavan). They are worshipped by the entire world.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Raghunandana)
• Himavān
• Umā (implied as the other daughter)
• tapas
• vrata

FAQs

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

Dharma as self-purification: vows and austerity are shown as legitimate means to cultivate inner strength and worthiness.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra continues the genealogy: besides Gaṅgā, Himavān had another daughter who pursued severe ascetic practice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ascetic resolve (tapas), steadfastness in vows (vrata), and spiritual wealth over material wealth.