Valmiki Ramayana 6.21.32: Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 32

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

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

Setting: Mahodadhi/Samudra (the ocean before Lanka)Places named: Samudra, Salilāśaya (watery expanse)Vanara host halted at the seashore seeking passage to Lanka

Devanagari script

आघूर्णिततरङ्गौघस्सम्भ्रान्तोरगराक्षसः ।

उद्वर्तितमहाग्राहस्संवृत्तस्सलिलाशयः ॥३२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 6.21.32

Transliteration

āghūrṇitataraṅgaughaḥ sambhrāntoragarākṣasaḥ |

udvartitamahāgrāhaḥ saṃvṛttaḥ salilāśayaḥ ||32||

Translation

غدا امتدادُ الماءِ هياجًا عظيمًا: دارتْ كُتَلُ الأمواج، واضطربتِ النّاغا والرّاكشاسا، وزُعزِعتِ التماسيحُ العظامُ فاندفعتْ تتقاذفها المياه.

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Word by Word

• आघूर्णिततरङ्गौघः: with a whirling flood of waves
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग) + घूर्णित (घूर्ण्/घूर्ण् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + तरङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘आघूर्णितः तरङ्गौघः यस्य’ / ‘आघूर्णित-तरङ्ग-ओघः’ (whose mass of waves is whirling)
• Role: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• सम्भ्रान्तोरगराक्षसः: with agitated serpents and rākṣasas
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्भ्रान्त (सम् + भ्रान्त/भ्रम् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + उरग (प्रातिपदिक) + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (उरग-राक्षस) + विशेषण ‘सम्भ्रान्त’ (agitated): ‘सम्भ्रान्ताः उरगाः राक्षसाश्च यस्मिन्’
• Role: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)
• Compound: Dvandva

• उद्वर्तितमहाग्राहः: with huge crocodiles upheaved
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् (उपसर्ग) + वर्तित (वृत् धातु + णिच्? + क्त, कृदन्त) + महा (पूर्वपद) + ग्राह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘उद्वर्तिताः महाग्राहाः यस्मिन्’ (where huge crocodiles are thrown up/turned over)
• Role: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• संवृत्तः: having become
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग) + वृत्त (वृत् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (having become/turned into)
• Role: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)

• सलिलाशयः: the water-reservoir (ocean)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक) + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘सलिलस्य आशयः’ (repository of waters = ocean)
• Role: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• आघूर्णिततरङ्गौघः → आघूर्णित + तरङ्ग + ओघः
• सम्भ्रान्तोरगराक्षसः → सम्भ्रान्त + उरग + राक्षसः
• उद्वर्तितमहाग्राहः → उद्वर्तित + महा + ग्राहः
• सलिलाशयः → सलिल + आशयः

Context

The waves rose up tossing and whirling about. The agitated Nagas and Rakshasas were thrown up by a highly disturbed ocean that produced a great sound.

The teaching

When righteous purpose is obstructed, patience may yield to decisive action—but must remain governed by discipline.

Duties in tension

• Rāma’s duty to rescue Sītā promptly
• Respecting cosmic order/sea’s domain vs using force to compel passage

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma / yuddha-nīti

How it resolves

Escalation toward coercion (threat of force) preceding negotiated compliance

For your practice

Meditation on inner 'ocean' agitation and the need for steadiness before action.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Bhayanaka (fear), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Tumultuous, ominous, awe-struck

Themes

• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Dharma

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Ocean/Sea (Salilāśaya)
• Rākṣasas
• Grāha (crocodiles)

FAQs

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

When rightful duty meets delay or denial, disorder intensifies until a path is made—suggesting that dharma ultimately compels resolution rather than stagnation.

What is the narrative situation?

The sea turns violent; beings within it and beneath it are disturbed and thrown about by the churning waters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral seriousness: Rāma’s purpose is so firm that the environment reflects the urgency of justice.