Shloka 40

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षि: गङ्गामादाय यत्नत:।पितामहान् भस्मकृतानपश्यद्दीनचेतन:।।।।

Transliteration

bhagīratho’pi rājarṣiḥ gaṅgām ādāya yatnataḥ |

pitāmahān bhasma-kṛtān apaśyad dīna-cetanaḥ ||

Translation

婆伽罗陀这位王仙，虽竭尽心力引来恒河，却见祖先尽成灰烬，心中悲恸沉重。

Word by Word

• भगीरथः: Bhagīratha
• भगीरथः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगीरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

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

• राजर्षिः: royal sage
• राजर्षिः: कर्ता (Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'royal sage'); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; अप्पोजिशन to भगीरथः

• गङ्गाम्: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of bringing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• आदाय: having brought
• आदाय: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having taken/brought'

• यत्नतः: with effort
• यत्नतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्नतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• पितामहान्: forefathers/grandfathers
• पितामहान्: कर्म (Karma/Object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• भस्मकृतान्: reduced to ashes
• भस्मकृतान्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म + कृ (धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'made into ashes'); क्त-प्रत्यय (Past participle/क्त), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् to पितामहान्

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दीनचेतनः: with a sorrowful mind
• दीनचेतनः: कर्ता (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन + चेतन (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: 'grieved-minded'); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् to भगीरथः

Context

Rajarshi Bhagiratha, having brought Ganga with supreme efforts, saw with a sad heart his grandfathers reduced to ashes.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagīratha
• Gaṅgā

FAQs

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

Pitṛ-dharma: the righteous duty of a descendant to care for the spiritual welfare of ancestors. Bhagīratha’s sorrow and resolve show that dharma includes gratitude and responsibility across generations.

What is the narrative situation?

After successfully bringing Gaṅgā, Bhagīratha reaches the place where his ancestors (the sons/line of Sagara) lie as ashes and sees their condition directly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance joined with filial piety—Bhagīratha’s sustained effort is guided by a compassionate sense of obligation toward his forefathers.