Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 19

गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना

Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

गङ्गायास्सलिलक्लिन्ने भस्मन्येषां महात्मनाम्।स्वर्गं गच्छेयुरत्यन्तं सर्वे मे प्रपितामहा:।।1.42.19।।

Transliteration

gaṅgāyāḥ salilaklinne bhasmany eṣāṁ mahātmanām | svargaṁ gaccheyur atyantaṁ sarve me prapitāmahāḥ ||1.42.19||

Translation

愿那些大魂者的灰烬，被恒河之水润泽之后，终能引领我所有的祖先升入天界。

Word by Word

• गङ्गायाः: of Ganga
• गङ्गायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• सलिलक्लिन्ने: in (the place) soaked by water
• सलिलक्लिन्ने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: salila-klinna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सलिलेन क्लिन्नम्)

• भस्मनि: in the ashes
• भस्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled ones
• महात्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा येषाम्)

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• गच्छेयुः: may go
• गच्छेयुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अत्यन्तम्: completely/ultimately
• अत्यन्तम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atyantam (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• प्रपितामहाः: great-grandfathers (ancestors)
• प्रपितामहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pra-pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (पितामहस्य पूर्वाः = great-grandfathers/ancestors)

Context

'O Lord! let the progeny be perpuated in our race of the Ikshvakus. Let not that dynasty be terminated with me. This is another boon I seek'.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagīratha
• Gaṅgā
• ancestors (prapitāmahāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma as gratitude to lineage: honoring and redeeming ancestors through rightful rites and sincere intention.

What is the narrative situation?

Bhagīratha specifies the intended result of Gaṅgā’s waters: purification of the ashes and the ascent of the ancestors to heaven.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Filial piety and steadfast devotion—his goal is the welfare of the departed rather than personal gain.