Valmiki Ramayana 6.21.32: Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 32

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

Rama’s Vigil at the Ocean and the Rise of Wrath

Devanagari script

आघूर्णिततरङ्गौघस्सम्भ्रान्तोरगराक्षसः ।

उद्वर्तितमहाग्राहस्संवृत्तस्सलिलाशयः ॥३२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 6.21.32

Transliteration

āghūrṇitataraṅgaughaḥ sambhrāntoragarākṣasaḥ |

udvartitamahāgrāhaḥ saṃvṛttaḥ salilāśayaḥ ||32||

Translation

Die Wasserweite geriet in Aufruhr: die Wogenmassen wirbelten; Nāgas und Rākṣasas wurden in Verwirrung gestürzt, und gewaltige Krokodile wurden aufgewühlt und hin und her geschleudert.

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Word by Word

• आघूर्णिततरङ्गौघः: with a whirling flood of waves
• आघूर्णिततरङ्गौघः: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग) + घूर्णित (घूर्ण्/घूर्ण् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + तरङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘आघूर्णितः तरङ्गौघः यस्य’ / ‘आघूर्णित-तरङ्ग-ओघः’ (whose mass of waves is whirling)

• सम्भ्रान्तोरगराक्षसः: with agitated serpents and rākṣasas
• सम्भ्रान्तोरगराक्षसः: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्भ्रान्त (सम् + भ्रान्त/भ्रम् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + उरग (प्रातिपदिक) + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (उरग-राक्षस) + विशेषण ‘सम्भ्रान्त’ (agitated): ‘सम्भ्रान्ताः उरगाः राक्षसाश्च यस्मिन्’

• उद्वर्तितमहाग्राहः: with huge crocodiles upheaved
• उद्वर्तितमहाग्राहः: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् (उपसर्ग) + वर्तित (वृत् धातु + णिच्? + क्त, कृदन्त) + महा (पूर्वपद) + ग्राह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘उद्वर्तिताः महाग्राहाः यस्मिन्’ (where huge crocodiles are thrown up/turned over)

• संवृत्तः: having become
• संवृत्तः: कर्तृविशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग) + वृत्त (वृत् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (having become/turned into)

• सलिलाशयः: the water-reservoir (ocean)
• सलिलाशयः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक) + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘सलिलस्य आशयः’ (repository of waters = ocean)

Context

The waves rose up tossing and whirling about. The agitated Nagas and Rakshasas were thrown up by a highly disturbed ocean that produced a great sound.

Characters & Entities

• Ocean/Sea (Salilāśaya)
• Rākṣasas
• Grāha (crocodiles)

FAQs

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

When rightful duty meets delay or denial, disorder intensifies until a path is made—suggesting that dharma ultimately compels resolution rather than stagnation.

What is the narrative situation?

The sea turns violent; beings within it and beneath it are disturbed and thrown about by the churning waters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral seriousness: Rāma’s purpose is so firm that the environment reflects the urgency of justice.