Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

रामस्यवचनंश्रुत्वातंचदृष्टवामहाशरम् ।महोदधिर्महातेजाराघवंवाक्यमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

rāmasya vacanaṃ śrutvā taṃ ca dṛṣṭvā mahāśaram | mahodadhir mahātejā rāghavaṃ vākyam abravīt ||

Translation

فلما سمع المحيط العظيم كلام راما ورأى السهم الجليل، تكلّم البحرُ العظيم المتألّق إلى راغهافا (راما).

Word by Word

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• वचनम्: words; statement
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having heard)

• तम्: him; that one
• तम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having seen)

• महाशरम्: the mighty arrow
• महाशरम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाशर = महा + शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (great + arrow)

• महोदधिः: the great ocean
• महोदधिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदधि = महा + उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• महातेजाः: of great brilliance
• महातेजाः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस् = महा + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of महोदधिः; कर्मधारय-समास

• राघवम्: to Raghava (Rama)
• राघवम्: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/recipient; addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: speech; words
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: spoke; said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

On hearing the question of Rama, the mighty ocean seeing the brilliant arrow spoke these words to him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Sāgara (Mahodadhi)

FAQs

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

Dharma is supported by timely accountability: when confronted with rightful authority, the Ocean responds and enters dialogue rather than remaining indifferent.

What is the narrative situation?

This is the transition where the Ocean, intimidated by the prepared arrow, begins to address Rāma directly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsiveness and humility before righteous power: the Ocean recognizes Rāma’s seriousness and chooses dialogue.