Shloka 16

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

मत्स्यकच्छपसङ्घैश्च शिंशुमारगणैस्तदा।।।।पतद्भि: पतितैश्चान्यैर्व्यरोचत वसुन्धरा।

Transliteration

matsya-kacchapa-saṅghaiś ca śiṃśumāra-gaṇais tadā | patadbhiḥ patitaiś cānyair vyarocata vasundharā ||

Translation

那时大地熠熠生辉，满布鱼群与龟鳖之众，又有尸摩舒摩罗（江豚）成群，以及其他生灵——有的正坠落，有的已坠落——在那降临之际交相映现。

Word by Word

• मत्स्यकच्छपसङ्घैः: by shoals of fish and turtles
• मत्स्यकच्छपसङ्घैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य + कच्छप + सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (copulative): 'मत्स्याश्च कच्छपाश्च (तेषां) सङ्घाः'; पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• शिंशुमारगणैः: by groups of śiṃśumāras (aquatic animals)
• शिंशुमारगणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिंशुमार + गण (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: 'शिंशुमाराणां गणाः'; पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्ययम् (adverb: then)

• पतद्भिः: by (those) falling
• पतद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः वर्तमान-कर्तरि (present active participle); तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; प्राणिभिः इत्यर्थे करणत्वेन

• पतितैः: by (those) fallen
• पतितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past participle); तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• अन्यैः: by other (creatures)
• अन्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; 'अन्यैः (प्राणिभिः)' इत्यर्थे

• व्यरोचत: shone
• व्यरोचत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• वसुन्धरा: the earth
• वसुन्धरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुन्धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

Context

Then devarshis, gandharvas, yakshas and hosts of siddhas looked on with astonishment at Ganga falling from the sky and descending on the earth.

Characters & Entities

• earth (vasundharā)
• fish (matsya)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes reverence for life and ecological wholeness: the sacred descent is depicted as involving many beings, not humans alone.

What is the narrative situation?

As Gaṅgā descends and rushes onward, aquatic beings appear in the spectacle, making the earth seem radiant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Awe and attentiveness to the sacred (bhakti/ādarśa) implied in witnessing nature’s divine dimension.