Shloka 41

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

अथ तद्भस्मनां राशिं गङ्गासलिलमुत्तमम्।प्लावयद्धूतपाप्मानस्स्वर्गं प्राप्ता रघूत्तम।।।।

Transliteration

atha tad-bhasmanāṃ rāśiṃ gaṅgā-salilam uttamam |

plāvayad dhūta-pāpmānaḥ svargaṃ prāptā raghūttama ||

Translation

于是，罗伽族之最胜者啊，恒河至上的清流漫过那一堆堆灰烬；罪垢既除，他们便得升天界。

Word by Word

• अथ: then, thereafter
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक (conjunctive adverb: 'then/thereafter')

• तत्: of those
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (of those)

• भस्मनाम्: of the ashes
• भस्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; 'ashes'

• राशिम्: heap, mass
• राशिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• गङ्गा-सलिलम्: the water of the Ganga
• गङ्गा-सलिलम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of Gaṅgā'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent, supreme
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying gaṅgāsalilam)

• प्लावयत्: inundated, flooded
• प्लावयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्लावय् (धातु; √प्लु/प्लव् causative)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धूत-पाप्मानः: with sins washed away; purified
• धूत-पाप्मानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, implied 'they')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूत (√धू धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त) + पाप्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास (sense: 'sins having been washed off'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन; बहुवचन-विशेष्य (those persons)

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• प्राप्ताः: attained, reached
• प्राप्ताः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Result state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप् (धातु; √प्राप्) (क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन; क्रियार्थे (functioning as finite: 'attained')

• रघूत्तम: O best of the Raghus (Rama)
• रघूत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघु (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (best of the Raghu line); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

Context

O Best of the Raghus! thereafter the holy waters of Ganga inundated those heaps of ashes and the sons of Sagara, purged of their sins, reached heaven" (said Viswamitra).ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে বালকাণ্ডে ত্রিচত্বারিংশস্সর্গ:৷৷Thus ends the fortythird sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Rāma (Raghūttama)
• Svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

Dharma as restorative action: righteous effort (Bhagīratha’s tapas and purpose) culminates in purification and upliftment. The verse frames dharma as something that heals consequences and restores cosmic-moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

Gaṅgā’s waters reach the ashes connected with Sagara’s lineage; the inundation signifies ritual-spiritual completion, resulting in their release to heaven.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bhagīratha’s steadfast responsibility: his long undertaking bears fruit not for personal gain but for ancestral deliverance.