Shloka 12

Adhyaya 56 — The Descent and Fourfold Course of the Ganga; Jambudvipa’s Varshas and Their Conditions

Sanskrit

प्रविवेश त्रिधा प्राच्यां प्लावयन्ती महानदी ।

भगिरथरथस्यानु स्रोतसैकेन दक्षिणाम् ॥

Transliteration

praviveśa tridhā prācyāṃ plāvayantī mahānadī | bhagīratharathasyānu strotasaikena dakṣiṇām ||

Translation

وہ عظیم ندی تین شاخوں میں مشرقی سمت داخل ہوئی اور زمین کو سیراب کرتی ہوئی پھیل گئی؛ اور ایک دھارا سے وہ بھگیرتھ کے رتھ کے راستے کی پیروی کرتے ہوئے جنوب کی طرف بہہ نکلی۔

Word by Word

• praviveśa: entered
• praviveśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• tridhā: in three ways
• tridhā: Prakaraṇa (प्रकार/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tridhā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• prācyām: in the eastern (region)
• prācyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prācī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• plāvayantī: flooding
• plāvayantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √plu (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mahā-nadī: the great river
• mahā-nadī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bhagīratha-rathasya: of Bhagiratha’s chariot
• bhagīratha-rathasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagīratha (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• anu: along/after
• anu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preverb/adverb) अर्थ: ‘along, following’

• srotasā: by a stream/channel
• srotasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: srotas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• ekena: by one (single)
• ekena: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-रूप, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; विशेषण

• dakṣiṇām: the southern (region)
• dakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; (दिशा/region)

Speakers

• Purāṇic narrator in the Jambudvīpa geographical account

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Gaṅgā (as sacred river)

Key Themes

• Sacred Geography
• River mythology
• Directional cosmography

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The river’s orderly distribution into branches suggests a Purāṇic vision of providence: sacred power does not remain concentrated but is apportioned for the welfare of many lands.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

It belongs to the descriptive cosmography (bhū-varṇana) commonly embedded in Purāṇas alongside genealogies and manvantaras.

What is the esoteric significance?

“Following Bhagīratha’s chariot” can symbolize dharma guiding natural force: when righteous intent leads, even overwhelming power becomes a beneficent, directed flow.