Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 11
गङ्गावतरण-समापनः
Conclusion of the Descent of Gaṅgā
राजर्षिणा गुणवता महर्षिसमतेजसा।मत्तुल्यतपसा चैव क्षत्रधर्मस्थितेन च।।1.44.10।। दिलीपेन महाभाग तव पित्राऽति तेजसा।पुनर्न शङ्किताऽनेतुं गङ्गां प्रार्थयताऽनघ।।1.44.11।।
rājarṣiṇā guṇavatā maharṣi-sama-tejasā |
mat-tulya-tapasā caiva kṣatra-dharma-sthitena ca ||
dilīpena mahābhāga tava pitrāti-tejasā |
punar na śaṅkitā netuṃ gaṅgāṃ prārthayatānagha ||
Hỡi bậc cao quý, hỡi Bhagiratha vô tội lỗi! Ngay cả Dilīpa—phụ vương rực rỡ của ngài—đức hạnh như bậc vương tiên, uy quang ngang bậc đại hiền, khổ hạnh sánh với ta, lại kiên trụ trong kṣatriya-dharma; dẫu chí thành cầu thỉnh, cũng không thể đưa sông Hằng trở lại (giáng xuống) trần gian.
O Sinless one (Bhagiratha)! O Distinguished one! on the part of Dilipa brilliant your father who had the virtuous of a rajarshi, who was equal to a maharshi in splendour, and to me in austerities and abiding to the duties of a kshatriya it was even not possible to bring Ganga through prayer.
FAQs
Dharma is not guaranteed by status or merit alone; outcomes depend on alignment of effort, grace, and right conditions. The verse teaches humility: even the most qualified may fail, so one must persist without ego.
Viśvāmitra highlights that Dilīpa—despite exceptional virtues and austerity—was unable to bring Gaṅgā, underscoring the magnitude of Bhagiratha’s later achievement.
Steadfast adherence to kṣatriya-dharma combined with tapas (in Dilīpa), and the implied lesson that perseverance must continue beyond even great qualifications.