Shloka 16

पुष्पकविमानयात्रा—सेतुबन्धादि-दर्शनम्

Pushpaka Aerial Journey and Survey of Sacred Landmarks

Devanagari script

एषसेतुर्मयाबद्धस्सागरेसलिलार्णवे ।।।।तवहेतोर्विशालाक्षिनलसेतुःसुदुष्करः ।

Transliteration

eṣa setur mayā baddhaḥ sāgare salilārṇave | tava hetor viśālākṣi nalasetuḥ suduṣkaraḥ ||

Translation

O Großäugige, hier ist die Brücke, die ich über den Ozean, über die salzige Flut, habe binden lassen — Nalas Brücke, ein höchst schweres Werk, um deinetwillen errichtet.

Word by Word

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सेतुः: bridge
• सेतुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartrikarana (कर्तृकरण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बद्धः: built/bound
• बद्धः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सागरे: in the sea
• सागरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सलिलार्णवे: in the watery ocean
• सलिलार्णवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल-अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—सलिलः अर्णवः (कर्मधारयः)

• तव: for you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हेतोः: for the sake
• हेतोः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; अर्थे ‘for the sake of’ (genitive of purpose)

• विशालाक्षि: O large-eyed one
• विशालाक्षि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल-अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—विशाले अक्षिणी यस्याः (कर्मधारयः)

• नलसेतुः: Nala's bridge
• नलसेतुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नल-सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—नलस्य सेतुः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• सुदुष्करः: very difficult
• सुदुष्करः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-दुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग ‘सु’ (very) + दुष्कर (hard)

Context

"Broad eyed lady! Here is the bridge built on the salty ocean by Nala, which was difficult to construct."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Nala
• Setu (Rāmasetu/Nalasetu)
• Ocean (sāgara)

FAQs

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

Dharma as selfless duty: immense communal labor is undertaken for a righteous end (rescuing Sītā), without personal gain.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma points out the sea-bridge (Nala’s bridge) used to reach Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Gratitude and recognition—Rāma honors Nala’s contribution, highlighting ethical leadership.