Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 4

गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना

Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

द्वात्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि वर्षाणि सुमहायशा:।तपोवनं गतो राम स्वर्गं लेभे तपोधन:।।1.42.4।।

Transliteration

dvātriṃśac ca sahasrāṇi varṣāṇi sumahāyaśāḥ |

tapovanaṃ gato rāma svargaṃ lebhe tapodhanaḥ || 1.42.4 ||

Translation

罗摩啊，极负盛名的阿奴舒曼前往苦行林，度过三万二千年；唯以苦修之力为资，他得至天界——却未能成就其所愿。

Word by Word

• द्वात्रिंशत्: thirty-two
• द्वात्रिंशत्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वात्रिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्; (अत्र) नपुंसक-द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे वर्षाणि विशेषयति

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक (thousands)

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कालपरिमाणम्

• सुमहायशाः: highly renowned
• सुमहायशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + महायशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः; विशेषणम् (तपोधनः/अंशुमान्)

• तपोवनम्: the forest of austerities (Tapovana)
• तपोवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तपसां वनम्)

• गतः: having gone
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राम: O Rāma
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लेभे: attained
• लेभे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तपोधनः: one whose wealth is austerity (ascetic)
• तपोधनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (तपो धनं यस्य)

Context

O Rama! highly renowned Anshuman, having lived for thirtytwo thousand years in the tapovana, turned an ascetic and attained heaven (without accomplishing his objective).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Anuśumān
• Tapovana
• Svarga

FAQs

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

Tapas is honored, but dharma also includes completing one’s entrusted duty; spiritual attainment alone does not automatically mean the worldly obligation is fulfilled.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra recounts that Anuśumān undertook long austerities, but still did not accomplish the objective connected with his ancestors and Gaṅgā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance in tapas (ascetic discipline), alongside the implied lesson that persistence must be aligned with the right means to complete one’s vow.