Shloka 34

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

ततो हि यजमानस्य जह्नोरद्भुतकर्मण:।।।।गङ्गा सम्प्लावयामास यज्ञवाटं महात्मन:।

Transliteration

tato hi yajamānasya jahnor adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ |

gaṅgā samplāvayāmāsa yajña-vāṭaṃ mahātmanaḥ ||

Translation

随后，恒河竟淹没了大德仙人阇奴的祭场；阇奴以奇妙功业著称，正主持祭祀之时。

Word by Word

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• avalēpanam: arrogance/pride
• avalēpanam: Karma (कर्म; object of jñātvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avalēpana (प्रातिपदिक; from ava+√lip लिप्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having known’

• kruddhaḥ: angered
• kruddhaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (कृदन्त; √krudh क्रुध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), विशेषणम् (of yajvā)

• yajvā: the sacrificer (Jahnu)
• yajvā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajvan (प्रातिपदिक; from √yaj यज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• rāghava: O Rāghava
• rāghava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• apibat: drank
• apibat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (पा धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sarvam: all/entire
• sarvam: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies jalam)

• gaṅgāyāḥ: of Gaṅgā
• gaṅgāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• parama-adbhutam: most astonishing
• parama-adbhutam: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक) + parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (supremely wondrous); विशेषणम् (qualifies jalam)

Context

Then while Ganga was flowing, it inundated the sacrificial ground of the great sage Jahnu. Jahnu who used to work wonders was performing a sacrifice.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Jahnu
• Yajña (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Even sacred power must respect dharmic boundaries: righteousness includes honoring others’ rightful rites and spaces, not overwhelming them through force.

What is the narrative situation?

As Gaṅgā proceeds, her waters overflow into Jahnu’s ongoing sacrificial ground.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jahnu’s steadfast guardianship of ritual propriety (yajña-maryādā).