Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 18

गङ्गाजन्मवर्णनम् / The Origin of the Ganga

Tripathagā Narrative

Devanagari script

ददौ धर्मेण हिमवान् तनयां लोकपावनीम्।स्वच्छन्दपथगां गङ्गां त्रैलोक्यहितकाम्यया।।1.35.18।।

Transliteration

dadau dharmeṇa himavān tanayāṃ lokapāvanīm |

svacchandapathagāṃ gaṅgāṃ trailokyahitakāmyayā || 1.35.18 ||

Translation

Vì cầu lợi ích cho ba cõi, núi vương Himavān thuận theo chánh pháp đã hiến dâng ái nữ Gaṅgā—đấng tẩy tịnh các thế gian—dòng chảy tự do theo con đường của chính mình.

Word by Word

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dharmeṇa: in accordance with duty
• dharmeṇa: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘according to duty’

• himavān: Himavān
• himavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• tanayām: (his) daughter
• tanayām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• lokapāvanīm: purifier of the world
• lokapāvanīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka + pāvanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: लोकं पावयति इति

• svacchanda-pathagām: moving along her own free course
• svacchanda-pathagām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svacchanda + patha + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: स्वच्छन्देन पथा गच्छती

• gaṅgām: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• trailokya-hita-kāmyayā: with the wish for the welfare of the three worlds
• trailokya-hita-kāmyayā: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + loka + hita + kāmyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: त्रैलोक्यस्य हितं (welfare) तस्य काम्या (desire)

Context

O Delight of the Raghus! The other daughter of the mountain Himavan was a maiden whose wealth was tapas. She pursued a vow and observed severe austerities.

Characters & Entities

• Himavān
• Gaṅgā
• trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

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

Dharma as lokahita: rightful action is measured by its benefit to the many; Himavān’s gift is framed as service to the three worlds.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra narrates how Himavān consented to give Gaṅgā to the gods for a cosmic purpose.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Himavān’s dharmic generosity and public-spiritedness (placing universal welfare above private attachment).