Valmiki Ramayana 6.21.6: Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 6

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

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

Setting: Sea-shore before the crossing to Lanka (Mahodadhi-tata)Places named: Sāgara (Mahodadhi)Pre-crossing preparation; confrontation with the ocean

Devanagari script

संयुगेयुगसङ्काशंशत्रूणांशोकवर्धनम् ।

सुहृदानन्दनंदीर्घंसागरान्तव्यपाश्रयम् ॥६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 6.21.6

Transliteration

saṃyuge yugasaṅkāśaṃ śatrūṇāṃ śokavardhanam |

suhṛdānandanaṃ dīrghaṃ sāgarāntavyapāśrayam ||6||

Translation

Im Kampf war er an Macht wie ein Yuga; er mehrte den Kummer der Feinde, erfreute die Freunde und stand gewaltig da – wie die Erde, vom umschließenden Ozean begrenzt.

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Word by Word

• संयुगे: in battle
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन
• Role: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)

• युगसङ्काशम्: vast like a yuga
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युग + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘युगवत् सङ्काशः’ (like an age/yuga)
• Role: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• शत्रूणाम्: of enemies/to enemies
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन
• Role: सम्प्रदान-सम्बन्ध (Genitive of affected party)

• शोकवर्धनम्: increasing grief
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक + वर्धन (वृध् धातु, ल्युट्/णिच्-भाव) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘शोकं वर्धयति’
• Role: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• सुहृदाम्: of friends/to friends
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन
• Role: सम्प्रदान-सम्बन्ध (Genitive of beneficiary)

• नन्दनम्: delighting
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आनन्दकरम्’
• Role: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)

• दीर्घम्: long
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)

• सागरान्तव्यपाश्रयम्: bounded by the ocean on all sides
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सागर + अन्त + व्यपाश्रय (वि + अप + श्रि धातु, घञ्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘सागरान्तैः व्यपाश्रयः यस्य’ (having the ocean as boundary/support on all sides; earth-like)
• Role: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

Sandhi Notes

• संयुगेयुगसङ्काशम् = संयुगे + युगसङ्काशम्
• शत्रूणां शोकवर्धनम् (ं + श → ंश in continuous recitation)

Context

The shoulders were long like the union of Yugas, which brought grief to the enemies in war and delight to the friends, and like the earth bound by the ocean on all sides.

The teaching

The righteous hero’s power becomes protection and joy for allies while bringing rightful sorrow to aggressors.

Ethical theme

Kṣātra-dharma (protective valor)

For your practice

Contemplation of Rāma as dharma’s protector—cultivating courage and steadiness in adversity.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Majestic, invincible, uplifting

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as protective strength: the hero’s power is not for domination but for restoring moral order—bringing fear to wrongdoers and reassurance to allies.

What is the narrative situation?

A heightened description of Rāma’s battle-capacity as he stands before the ocean, ready to act when obstacles persist.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (heroic potency) aligned with righteousness—power that serves justice.