Valmiki Ramayana 6.21.29: Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 29

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

Rama’s Vigil at the Ocean and the Rise of Wrath

Setting: Mahodadhi (the great ocean) at the crossing pointPlaces named: MahodadhiOcean’s upheaval in response to Rāma’s rite/resolve

Devanagari script

महोर्मिकुलाविततश्शङ्खजालसमावृतः ।

सधूमःपरिवृत्तोर्मिस्सहसासीन्महोदधिः ॥२९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 6.21.29

Transliteration

mahor mikulāvitataḥ śaṅkhajālasamāvṛtaḥ |

sadhūmaḥ parivṛttormis sahasā āsīn mahodadhiḥ ||29||

Translation

وفجأةً صار المحيط العظيم—وقد انبسطت أمواجه العريضة وتغطّت مياهه بالأصداف والمحار—محمّلًا بالدخان، وأخذت أمواجه تدور وتعلو في اضطراب.

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Word by Word

• महोर्मिकुलाविततः: spread with masses of huge waves
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (पूर्वपद) + ऊर्मि (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + आवितत (आ + वितन् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘महा-ऊर्मि-कुलेन आविततः’ (spread with masses of great waves)
• Role: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• शङ्खजालसमावृतः: covered with conch-heaps
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक) + समावृत (सम् + आ + वृ धातु + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शङ्खजालेन समावृतः’ (covered with a net/heap of conches)
• Role: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• सधूमः: smoky
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (सह) (पूर्वपद) + धूम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘धूमेन सह’ (with smoke)
• Role: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• परिवृत्तोर्मिः: with whirling waves
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि (उपसर्ग) + वृत्त (वृत् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + ऊर्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘परिवृत्ता ऊर्मिः यस्य’ (having whirling waves)
• Role: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• सहसा: suddenly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक/कालवाचक-अव्यय (suddenly)
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverb)

• आसीत्: was/became
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)

• महोदधिः: the great ocean
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (पूर्वपद) + उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् उदधिः’ (great ocean)
• Role: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• महोर्मिकुलाविततश् → महा + ऊर्मि + कुल + आविततः
• शङ्खजालसमावृतः → शङ्ख + जाल + समावृतः
• परिवृत्तोर्मिः → परिवृत्त + ऊर्मिः
• सहसासीन्महोदधिः → सहसा + आसीत् + महोदधिः

Context

With the movement of the sea water filled with the conchs and shells suddenly terrific smoke whirling round and rising played around.

The teaching

When a righteous resolve confronts a great obstacle, even the elements may tremble—nature mirrors the intensity of moral purpose.

Ethical theme

Portent/omen; consequence of tapas

For your practice

Meditation on the 'ocean of saṃsāra'—agitation arises, but steadiness enables crossing.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Turbulent, ominous, awe-struck

Themes

• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Dharma

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Ocean (Mahodadhi)

FAQs

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

Nature itself responds to righteous power when order is challenged; the verse frames dharma as a force that can shake even the elements when a just cause meets obstruction.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma’s resolve intensifies at the shore, the sea becomes violently disturbed—waves churn, and ominous signs appear.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s unwavering determination (satya-like firmness in resolve), whose moral intensity is mirrored by cosmic disturbance.