Shloka 14

सागरप्रशमनम् / The Pacification of the Ocean and the Building of Nala’s Bridge

Devanagari script

सहाभूतैस्सतोयोर्मिस्सनागस्सहराक्षसः ।।।।सहसाऽभूत्ततोवेगाबदीमवेगोमहोदधिः ।योजनंव्यतिचक्रामवेलामन्यत्रसम्ल्पवात् ।।।।

Transliteration

sahābhūtaiḥ satoyormiḥ sanāgaḥ saharākṣasaḥ |

sahasā 'bhūt tato vegād bhīmavego mahodadhiḥ |

yojanaṃ vyaticakrāma velām anyatra samplavāt ||6.22.14||

Translation

Da wurde der große Ozean—mit seinen Wogen und Wesen, mit Schlangen und Rākṣasas—jäh in eine schreckliche, nie gekannte Bewegung geschleudert; in seinem Ansturm überschritt er die Küstenlinie um eine Yojana und trat anderswo über.

Word by Word

• सह-अभूतैः: together with (its) creatures
• सह-अभूतैः: सहकारक (Sahārtha/सहार्थ) (समावेश/association)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (अव्यय/उपपद) + अभूत (प्रातिपदिक; a-bhūta)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; English: instrumental plural 'together with beings/creatures'

• स-तोय-ऊर्मिः: the water-waves (surge)
• स-तोय-ऊर्मिः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता) (समुद्रस्य/समुद्र-सम्बद्धस्य वर्णनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्मि (प्रातिपदिक) with स- (prefix 'with')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (तोय-ऊर्मिः = जल-तरङ्गः) with स-; English: nominative singular 'water-wave(s)' (collective)

• स-नागः: with serpents
• स-नागः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता) (समुद्रस्य/ऊर्मेः विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक) with स- (prefix 'with')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; English: masculine nominative singular 'with serpents'

• सह-राक्षसः: together with demons
• सह-राक्षसः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता) (समुद्रस्य/ऊर्मेः विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (अव्यय/उपपद) + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; English: masculine nominative singular 'together with demons'

Context

There after those waves of water with its creatures, serpents and demons were at once thrown off at terrific speed that was unprecedented. They were thrown beyond a yojana by the high tides.

Characters & Entities

• Mahodadhi (the ocean)
• Nāgas (serpents)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to boundaries (maryādā): when the ocean transgresses its limits, it symbolizes disorder—prompting the need for rightful re-establishment of order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s confrontation triggers a massive upheaval: the ocean surges violently, carrying its inhabitants and breaching its coastline.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse sets up the need for measured control—suggesting that power (even natural power) must be governed by maryādā.