Shloka 8

गङ्गावतरणम्

The Descent of the Gaṅgā and Bhagiratha’s Fulfilment

Devanagari script

सा कथञ्चिन्महीं गन्तुं नाशक्नोद्यत्नमास्थिता।।।।नैव निर्गमनं लेभे जटामण्डलमोहिता।

Transliteration

sā kathañcin mahīṃ gantuṃ nāśaknod yatnam āsthitā |

naiva nirgamanam lebhe jaṭā-maṇḍala-mohitā ||

Translation

她虽竭力欲达大地，却终不能；迷困于那发髻之丛，竟寻不得一处出口。

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• कथञ्चित्: by any means
• कथञ्चित्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (रीतिवाचक-अव्यय)

• महीम्: the earth
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; goal (गत्यर्थे द्वितीया)

• गन्तुम्: to go/reach
• गन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), purpose/ability context

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• अशक्नोत्: was able
• अशक्नोत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यत्नम्: effort
• यत्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of 'आस्थिता' (undertook effort)

• आस्थिता: having undertaken
• आस्थिता: Kriyā (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; 'having undertaken'

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• निर्गमनम्: an exit
• निर्गमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of 'लेभे'

• लेभे: obtained/found
• लेभे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• जटामण्डलमोहिता: bewildered by the matted locks
• जटामण्डलमोहिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा-मण्डल-मोहित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; compound: जटामण्डलेन मोहिता = 'bewildered/ensnared by the matted locks'

Context

Trapped in the matted locks, she (Ganga) could not come out. With all her efforts she could not reach the earth.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Mahī (earth)

FAQs

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

Unchecked intention meets rightful restraint. Dharma is not merely strength or speed; it is alignment with order—without that, even effort fails.

What is the narrative situation?

Gaṅgā, held within Śiva’s matted locks, cannot find a passage to descend to earth despite her attempts.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śiva’s controlling discipline (and, indirectly, the lesson against Gaṅgā’s impulsive pride).