Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 6

गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना

Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

कथं गङ्गावतरणं कथं तेषां जलक्रिया।तारयेयं कथं चैतानिति चिन्तापरोऽभवत्।।1.42.6।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ gaṅgāvataraṇaṃ kathaṃ teṣāṃ jalakriyā |

tārayeyaṃ kathaṃ caitān iti cintāparo 'bhavat || 1.42.6 ||

Translation

“Làm sao thỉnh Gaṅgā giáng hạ? Làm sao cử hành thủy lễ cho họ? Và làm sao ta cứu độ được các ngài?”—nghĩ vậy, ông hoàn toàn chìm trong nỗi lo âu trăn trở.

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• गङ्गावतरणम्: the descent of the Ganga
• गङ्गावतरणम्: Karma (कर्म; object/theme)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā + avataraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gaṅgāyāḥ avataraṇam)

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• तेषाम्: of them / their
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; possession/for them)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• जलक्रिया: water-rites (funeral rites with water)
• जलक्रिया: Karma (कर्म; object/theme)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (jalasya kriyā)

• तारयेयम्: may I deliver / help cross
• तारयेयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tṝ (तॄ) धातु
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; causative sense not expressed (simple: 'may I ferry/bring across')

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एतान्: these (persons)
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• चिन्तापरः: absorbed in worry/thought
• चिन्तापरः: Karta (कर्ता; subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cintā + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (cintāyāṃ paraḥ = intent on thought)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू) धातु
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

How to bring about the descent of Ganga? How to perform funeral rites of the ancestors with Ganga water? How to liberate them Thus Dilipa was constantly engaged in such thoughts.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā

FAQs

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

Pitṛ-dharma: honoring and uplifting one’s ancestors through rightful rites and determined effort; dharma is expressed as responsibility across generations.

What is the narrative situation?

Dilīpa searches for a way to bring Gaṅgā to earth so that the proper rites can be done and his ancestors can be released.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Earnestness in duty—his mind is fixed on the welfare of others (his forefathers), not personal gain.