Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 5

गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना

Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

दिलीपस्तु महातेजाश्श्रुत्वा पैतामहं वधम्।दु:खोपहतया बुद्ध्या निश्चयं नाध्यगच्छत।।1.42.5।।

Transliteration

dilīpas tu mahātejāḥ śrutvā paitāmahaṃ vadham |

duḥkhopahatayā buddhyā niścayaṃ nādhyagacchata || 1.42.5 ||

Translation

然而大威光的帝王迪利帕，听闻祖先亡故，悲痛击中心神；心智为忧伤所覆，竟不能作出坚定的决断。

Word by Word

• दिलीपः: Dilīpa
• दिलीपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिलीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/पक्षान्तरे-निपात (but/on the other hand)

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः; विशेषणम् (दिलीपः)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive)

• पैतामहम्: ancestral/grandfathers’
• पैतामहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वृद्दि-व्युत्पन्न-विशेषण (pertaining to grandfather/ancestors); विशेषणम् (वधम्)

• वधम्: killing/slaughter
• वधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दुःखोपहतया: with (an intellect) afflicted by grief
• दुःखोपहतया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख + उपहत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दुःखेन उपहता) विशेषणम् (बुद्ध्या)

• बुद्ध्या: with his mind/intellect
• बुद्ध्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निश्चयम्: a conclusion/decision
• निश्चयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• अध्यगच्छत: arrived at/attained
• अध्यगच्छत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

When exceedingly brilliant Dilipa heard about the death of his grandfathers, he was overtaken by grief but could not arrive at any conclusion with his intellect (regarding means of bringing down the sacred river).

Characters & Entities

• Dilīpa

FAQs

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

Dharma requires steadiness of mind; grief is human, but the righteous path needs clarity to decide and act for the good of one’s lineage and people.

What is the narrative situation?

Dilīpa learns of his ancestors’ tragic end and becomes mentally unsettled, unable to decide how to secure their uplift through Gaṅgā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sincerity and concern for ancestral duty—paired with the caution that sorrow can obstruct discernment.