Shloka 18

गङ्गावतरण-समापनः

Conclusion of the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

भगीरथोऽपि राजर्षि: कृत्वा सलिलमुत्तमम्।यथाक्रमं यथान्यायं सागराणां महायशा:।।1.44.17।।कृतोदकश्शुची राजा स्वपुरं प्रविवेश ह।समृद्धार्थो रघुश्रेष्ठ स्वराज्यं प्रशशास ह।।1.44.18।।

Transliteration

kṛtodakaś śucī rājā svapuraṃ praviveśa ha | samṛddhārtho raghuśreṣṭha svarājyaṃ praśaśāsa ha || 1.44.18 ||

Translation

王既完成水供而得清净，便进入自己的城都。噢，罗瞿族之最胜者，他所愿已成，遂治理其国。

Word by Word

• कृत-उदकः: having performed ablutions
• कृत-उदकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: कृतम् उदकम् येन (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष; 'having performed water-ablution')

• शुची: pure
• शुची: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वपुरम्: his own city
• स्वपुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: स्वस्य पुरम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• प्रविवेश: entered
• प्रविवेश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed (narrative particle)
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: स्मरण/इतिहास-निपात (particle used in narration)

• समृद्ध-अर्थः: having achieved his aim
• समृद्ध-अर्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समृद्ध (कृदन्त; सम् + √ऋध्) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: समृद्धः अर्थः यस्य (बहुव्रीहि-भाव; adjectival 'whose purpose is fulfilled')

• रघुश्रेष्ठ: O best of the Raghus
• रघुश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघुश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: रघोः श्रेष्ठः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• स्वराज्यम्: his own kingdom
• स्वराज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: स्वं राज्यं (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष; 'own kingdom')

• प्रशशास: ruled
• प्रशशास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √शास् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: इतिहास-निपात (narrative particle)

Context

The illustrious rajarshi Bhagiratha, performed the rites of offering the sacred water of Ganga, in accordance with proper order and tradition for the sons of Sagara. Purified with the ablutions entered his own city." O Best of the Raghus his desire thus fulfilled he continued to rule the kingdom thereafter".

Characters & Entities

• Bhagīratha
• Rāma (as addressee: raghuśreṣṭha)

FAQs

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

Dharma is duty completed and then sustained: after fulfilling extraordinary obligations, a king must return to orderly governance, maintaining societal stability.

What is the narrative situation?

Bhagiratha finishes the rites, purifies himself, returns to his capital, and resumes ruling after achieving his objective.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible leadership—balancing spiritual obligations with the ongoing duty of just administration.