Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 22

गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना

Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

मनोरथो महानेष भगीरथ महारथ।एवं भवतु भद्रं ते इक्ष्वाकुकुलवर्धन।।1.42.22।।

Transliteration

manoratho mahān eṣa bhagīratha mahāratha | evaṁ bhavatu bhadraṁ te ikṣvākukulavardhana ||1.42.22||

Translation

Hỡi Bhagīratha, bậc đại chiến xa, chí nguyện của ngài thật là vĩ đại. Xin được như vậy; phúc lành đến với ngài, đấng làm rạng rỡ dòng Ikṣvāku.

Word by Word

• मनोरथः: desire/wish
• मनोरथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas-ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मनसः रथः = desire)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• भगीरथ: O Bhagiratha
• भगीरथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagīratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• महारथ: O great charioteer
• महारथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् रथः/रथी)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus')

• भवतु: let it be
• भवतु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भद्रम्: welfare/prosperity
• भद्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (आशीर्वादे)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4) एकवचन (dative singular)

• इक्ष्वाकुकुलवर्धन: O increaser of the Ikshvaku line
• इक्ष्वाकुकुलवर्धन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku-kula-vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (इक्ष्वाकूणां कुलस्य वर्धनः)

Context

'This Hymavati (Ganga) is Himavat's eldest daughter and only lord Siva is capable to hold (the force of her descent to earth). Therefore let Siva be entreated'.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Bhagīratha
• Ikṣvāku dynasty

FAQs

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

Dharma honors selfless intention: a wish aimed at ancestral welfare and dynastic responsibility is affirmed as ‘great’ and worthy.

What is the narrative situation?

Brahmā grants Bhagīratha’s requests and offers a benediction, acknowledging the magnitude of his aim.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral grandeur—greatness is defined by service to others and commitment to duty, not by personal ambition.