Shloka 39

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

जगाम च पुनर्गङ्गा भगीरथरथानुगा।सागरं चापि सम्प्राप्ता सा सरित्प्रवरा तदा।।।।रसातलमुपागच्छत्सिद्ध्यर्थं तस्य कर्मण:।

Transliteration

jagāma ca punar gaṅgā bhagīratha-rathānugā |

sāgaraṃ cāpi samprāptā sā sarit-pravarā tadā |

rasātalam upāgacchat siddhy-arthaṃ tasya karmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

恒河再次前行，追随婆伽罗陀的战车。抵达大海后，这条诸河之最便进入罗娑多罗，为成就他的功业而行。

Word by Word

• जगाम: went/proceeded
• जगाम: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• गङ्गा: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• भगीरथरथानुगा: following Bhagiratha's chariot
• भगीरथरथानुगा: कर्ता (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगीरथ + रथ + अनुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'following Bhagiratha's chariot'); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् to गङ्गा

• सागरम्: the ocean
• सागरम्: कर्म (Karma/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: क्रियाविशेषण (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• सम्प्राप्ता: having reached
• सम्प्राप्ता: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past participle/क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; कर्तरि-प्रयोगे विधेय (predicate) to सा/गङ्गा

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• सरित्प्रवरा: the best of rivers
• सरित्प्रवरा: कर्ता (Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् + प्रवरा (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'best of rivers'); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; अप्पोजिशन to सा/गङ्गा

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• रसातलम्: Rasātala (netherworld)
• रसातलम्: कर्म (Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसातल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• उपागच्छत्: reached/went to
• उपागच्छत्: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सिद्ध्यर्थम्: for (the) fulfillment/success
• सिद्ध्यर्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (purpose: 'for the sake of success'); द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative used adverbially), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अर्थ-शब्दः पुंलिङ्ग)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• कर्मणः: of (his) act/undertaking
• कर्मणः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

Context

Ganga, best among rivers, following the chariot of Bhagiratha, reached the ocean. She entered the nether regions of the earth in order to fulfil his mission (salvation of the sons of Sagara).

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Bhagīratha
• Sāgara (ocean)
• Rasātala

FAQs

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

Perseverance in righteous duty: dharma is fulfilled not by beginning well, but by completing the obligation—here, the mission to aid ancestors and uphold truth of purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

After being released by Jahnu, Gaṅgā continues with Bhagīratha, reaches the ocean, and descends into the nether regions to accomplish the goal connected with his rite.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bhagīratha’s unwavering follow-through (kṛta-niścaya) toward a dharmic end.