Shloka 23

गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना

Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

इयं हैमवती गङ्गा ज्येष्ठा हिमवतस्सुता।तां वै धारयितुं शक्तो हरस्तत्र नियुज्यताम्।।1.42.23।।

Transliteration

iyaṁ haimavatī gaṅgā jyeṣṭhā himavataḥ sutā | tāṁ vai dhārayituṁ śakto haras tatra niyujyatām ||1.42.23||

Translation

Ito ang Gaṅgā na Haimavatī, ang panganay na anak ni Himavat; si Hara (Śiva) lamang ang may lakas na magdala sa kanya—kaya siya ang italaga sa gawaing iyon.

Word by Word

• इयम्: this (she)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• हैमवती: Haimavati (daughter of Himavat)
• हैमवती: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: haimavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (हिमवत्-सम्बन्धिनी)

• गङ्गा: Ganga
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठा: eldest
• ज्येष्ठा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• हिमवतः: of Himavat
• हिमवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

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

• 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 (emphatic particle)

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

• शक्तः: capable
• शक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (प्रातिपदिक) [śak (धातु) + kta]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त

• हरः: Hara (Shiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: 'there')

• नियुज्यताम्: let (him) be appointed/entreated
• नियुज्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (धातु) उपसर्गः नि-
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

Context

'O King! Ganga's descent cannot be sustained by earth. O Hero! I do not see any other person to hold her than the wielder of the trident (Siva)'.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Himavat
• Śiva (Hara)

FAQs

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

Dharma as right means: even a righteous goal must be achieved through proper, lawful capability—power must be mediated to prevent harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Brahmā explains that Gaṅgā’s descent requires Śiva to bear her force, directing Bhagīratha to seek Śiva’s support.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom—recognizing limits and seeking the correct support rather than forcing outcomes.