Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 96

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

ततश्शिखरमारुह्य रामो दशरथात्मजः ।कूर्ममीनसमाकीर्णमपश्यत्सलिलाकुलम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śikharam āruhya rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ |

kūrmamīnasamākīrṇam apaśyat salilākulam ||

Translation

ثم إن راما ابنَ دَشَرَثا، لما صعد إلى القمّة، أبصر المحيطَ، ومياهه تضطرب وقد امتلأت بالسلاحف والأسماك.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• śikharam: peak
• śikharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āruhya: having climbed
• āruhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund), अव्यय; ‘having climbed’

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• daśarathātmajaḥ: son of Dasharatha
• daśarathātmajaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha-ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दशरथस्य आत्मजः)

• kūrma-mīna-samākīrṇam: filled with tortoises and fish
• kūrma-mīna-samākīrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kūrma + mīna + sam-ā-√kṝ (धातु) → samākīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle) √kṝ/कॄ ‘to scatter, strew’ with सम्+आ; तत्पुरुषः (कूर्मैः मीनैः च समाकीर्णम्)

• apaśyat: saw
• apaśyat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• salilākulam: the water-tossed sea
• salilākulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila-ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सलिलेन आकुलम्)

Context

Then Rama the son of Dasaratha on climbing to the top (of Mahendra mountain) observed the ocean inhabited by tortoises and fish.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Ocean (samudra/salila)
• Fish (mīna)

FAQs

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

Before acting, Dharma encourages clear seeing and assessment; Rāma surveys the obstacle thoughtfully rather than rushing blindly.

What is the narrative situation?

From Mahendra’s height, Rāma looks out over the ocean that must be crossed to reach Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and strategic clarity (viveka).