Shloka 27

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

शापात्प्रपतिता ये च गगनाद्वसुधातलम्।।।।कृत्वा तत्राभिषेकं ते बभूवुर्गतकल्मषा:।

Transliteration

śāpāt prapatitā ye ca gaganād vasudhā-talam | kṛtvā tatrābhiṣekaṃ te babhūvur gata-kalmaṣāḥ ||

Translation

又有那些因诅咒而自天界坠落至地上的众生，在彼处行沐浴灌顶之后，皆成离垢，罪染消除。

Word by Word

• शापात्: from/due to a curse
• शापात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case, Ablative), एकवचन; हेतुवाचक (cause)

• प्रपतिताः: fallen down
• प्रपतिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-पत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ये इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• गगनात्: from the sky
• गगनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अपादान (source)

• वसुधा-तलम्: to the earth/ground
• वसुधा-तलम्: Karma (कर्म/गति-लक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• अभिषेकम्: ablution/bath
• अभिषेकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; निर्देश (they)

• बभूवुः: became
• बभूवुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• गत-कल्मषाः: freed from sin/impurity
• गत-कल्मषाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (गम्-धातु, क्त) + कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (येषां कल्मषं गतं ते)

Context

Those cursed to fall from heaven to earth were absolved of their sins after bathing there (in the waters of Ganga).

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā (bathing place implied)
• earth (vasudhā)

FAQs

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

Dharma affirms moral restoration: even the consequences of wrongdoing or curse can be alleviated through purifying, rightful means and sincere reorientation.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrative explains the salvific effect of bathing in Gaṅgā after her descent—cursed fallers regain purity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hope and accountability: one acknowledges affliction (curse/karma) and seeks cleansing through sanctioned sacred practice.