Shloka 20

युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च

Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel

Devanagari script

कथंसागरमक्षोभ्यंतरिष्यन्तिवनौकसः ।।6.12.20।।बहुसत्त्वसमाकीर्णंतौवादशरथात्मजौ ।

Transliteration

kathaṃ sāgaram akṣobhyaṃ tariṣyanti vanaukasaḥ |

bahusattvasamākīrṇaṃ tau vā daśarathātmajau ||6.12.20||

Translation

Wie werden die im Wald lebenden Vānara-Heere—ja selbst die beiden Söhne Daśarathas—den unerschütterlichen, uneinnehmbaren Ozean überqueren, der von vielen furchterregenden Wesen wimmelt?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: क्रियाविशेषणम् (प्रकार/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: अव्ययम् (प्रश्नार्थक-अव्ययम्) — interrogative adverb

• सागरम्: the ocean
• सागरम्: कर्म (object of ‘cross’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् — masculine, accusative singular

• अक्षोभ्यम्: unshakable / unassailable
• अक्षोभ्यम्: विशेषणम् (of कर्म ‘सागरम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षोभ्य (प्रातिपदिकम्; a- + क्षोभ्य ‘to be shaken’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् — adjective agreeing with ‘सागरम्’ (masc. acc. sg.)

• तरिष्यन्ति: will cross
• तरिष्यन्ति: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातुः) — √tṝ ‘to cross’
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (भविष्यत्कालः), प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् — simple future, 3rd person plural, parasmaipada

• वनौकसः: the Vanaras / forest-dwellers
• वनौकसः: कर्ता (subject of ‘तरिष्यन्ति’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनौकस् (प्रातिपदिकम्) = वन + ओकस् (समासः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् — masculine, nominative plural; समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वनस्य ओकः यस्य/ये) ‘forest-dwellers’

• बहुसत्त्वसमाकीर्णम्: filled/infested with many creatures
• बहुसत्त्वसमाकीर्णम्: विशेषणम् (of कर्म ‘सागरम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + सत्त्व + समाकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिकम्; कृदन्त-आधारितम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् — adjective agreeing with ‘सागरम्’ (masc. acc. sg.); समासः: तत्पुरुषः (बहुभिः सत्त्वैः समाकीर्णः) ‘filled with many creatures’

• तौ: those two / the two (of them)
• तौ: कर्ता (alternative subject with ‘दशरथात्मजौ’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम् — pronoun, nominative dual (referring to two persons)

• वा: or / even
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प-सूचक (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्ययम्)
• Form: अव्ययम् (विकल्पार्थक-निपातः) — disjunctive particle ‘or/even’ (here: rhetorical alternative)

• दशरथात्मजौ: the two sons of Dasaratha
• दशरथात्मजौ: कर्ता (alternative subject; appositional to ‘तौ’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिकम्) = दशरथस्य आत्मजौ (समासः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम् — masculine, nominative dual; समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दशरथस्य आत्मजौ) ‘the two sons of Daśaratha’

Context

"O Chief of the army! You order those who are well versed in the knowledge of all kinds of war and entrust those warriors of four divisions of the army to safeguard the city. Likewise, you ought to order them to be more alert."

Characters & Entities

• Ocean (Sāgara)
• Vānaras (vanaukasaḥ)
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

It indirectly shows that dharma-backed resolve can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles; skepticism rooted only in material calculation often fails before righteous determination.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa questions how Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and the Vānara army could cross the vast ocean to reach Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

On the dharmic side (implied), perseverance and faith in a righteous mission; on the speaker’s side, strategic caution mixed with disbelief.