Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 11

कुमारसम्भवः—गङ्गायां तेजोनिक्षेपः

The Birth of Kumāra/Skanda and the Deposition of Śiva’s Energy through Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

देवकार्यमिदं देव संविधत्स्व हुताशन।शैलपुत्र्यां महातेजो गङ्गायां तेज उत्सृज।।1.37.11।।

Transliteration

devakāryam idaṃ deva saṃvidhatsva hutāśana | śailaputryāṃ mahātejo gaṅgāyāṃ teja utsṛja ||

Translation

“神啊，火神胡塔沙那，请成就此天界之事：大威光者，将湿婆的炽盛神力注入山之女恒河。”

Word by Word

• devakāryam: divine task
• devakāryam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; Tatpuruṣa: devānāṃ kāryam (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• deva: O god
• deva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• saṃvidhatsva: accomplish/arrange
• saṃvidhatsva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√vidh (विध् धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• hutāśana: O Agni
• hutāśana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hutāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular; epithet of Agni; Tatpuruṣa: hutaṃ aśnātīti

• śailaputryām: in Śailaputrī (Umā)
• śailaputryām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila-putrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: śailasya putrī

• mahātejo: O mighty-lustrous one
• mahātejo: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular; Karmadhāraya: mahad tejaḥ yasya (as address)

• gaṅgāyām: in Gaṅgā
• gaṅgāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• tejaḥ: seed/energy
• tejaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• utsṛja: release/emit
• utsṛja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√sṛj (सृज् धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

Context

'O lustrous Fire-god, accomplish this divine work. O god, possessed of mighty energy, release the vital fluid of Iswara in Ganga, daughter of the king of mountains.

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Hutāśana)
• Gaṅgā
• Śiva (implied by “tejas” to be deposited)
• Devas

FAQs

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

Dharma operates through rightful means: sacred power is transferred via appropriate agents (Agni) and proper receptacles (Gaṅgā), preventing disorder.

What is the narrative situation?

The gods direct Agni to carry and deposit Śiva’s energy into Gaṅgā to enable the destined birth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Obedience to divine duty: Agni is entrusted with a precise, welfare-oriented mission.