Shloka 38

Devanagari script

तं कालमेघप्रतिमं महोरगनिषेवितम्।अभिगम्य महानादं तीर्थेनैव महोदधिम्।।4.40.37।।ततो रक्तजलं भीमं लोहितं नाम सागरम्।गत्वा प्रेक्ष्यथ तां चैव बृहतीं कूटशाल्मलीम्।।4.40.38।।

Transliteration

tato raktajalaṃ bhīmaṃ lohitaṃ nāma sāgaram | gatvā prekṣyatha tāṃ caiva bṛhatīṃ kūṭaśālmalīm || 4.40.38 ||

Translation

Dann, wenn ihr zum furchterregenden, rotwasserigen Meer namens Lohita gelangt, werdet ihr dort auch den gewaltigen Kūṭaśālmalī-Baum erblicken.

Word by Word

ततःthen/thereafter

रक्तजलम्having red water

भीमम्terrible

लोहितम्red

नामby name/called

सागरम्ocean/sea

गत्वाhaving gone

प्रेक्ष्यथyou (pl.) will see

ताम्that (female/that one)

चand

एवalso/indeed

बृहतीम्huge

कूटशाल्मलीम्the Kūṭa-śālmali (silk-cotton tree)

Context

'Reach out to the great roaring ocean which looks like a black cloud at the time of dissolution, inhabited by great serpents.Go through the bank of the river, and touch the frightening sea named Lohita of red coloured water.You will see a huge silkcotton tree in that place.

FAQs

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

Dharma is unwavering commitment to a righteous search: even frightening regions are treated as navigable stages in fulfilling a truth-driven vow to find Sītā.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva provides the next landmark beyond the great ocean—Lohita sea and the notable Kūṭaśālmalī tree.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Persistence—continuing step-by-step, guided by landmarks, until the mission’s truth is realized.