Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

पन्नगैस्सहदीप्तास्यैस्समुद्रःप्रत्यदृश्यत ।स्निग्धवैढूर्यसङ्काशोजाम्बूनदविभूषणः ।।।।

Transliteration

pannagaiḥ saha dīptāsyaiḥ samudraḥ pratyadṛśyata |

snigdha-vaiḍūrya-saṅkāśo jāmbūnada-vibhūṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Der Ozeangott erschien, begleitet von Nāgas mit flammenden Antlitzen; er glänzte wie polierter Vaidūrya und war mit Schmuck aus reinem Gold geziert.

Word by Word

• पन्नगैः: with serpents
• पन्नगैः: सहकारक (Sahārtha/सहार्थ) (सह इत्यनेन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्नग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; English: instrumental plural

• सह: with
• सह: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध) (सहयोग-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय (preposition-like particle); English: 'with'

• दीप्त-आस्यैः: with blazing mouths
• दीप्त-आस्यैः: सहकारक (Sahārtha/सहार्थ) (सह इत्यनेन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप्त (कृदन्त/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; √दीप्) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः; English: instrumental plural 'with blazing mouths/faces'

• समुद्रः: the Ocean (god)
• समुद्रः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; English: nominative singular

• प्रति-अदृश्यत: appeared
• प्रति-अदृश्यत: क्रिया (Kriya/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + √दृश् (धातु) (पश्यति)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; English: 'appeared/was seen'

• स्निग्ध-वैढूर्य-सङ्काशः: gleaming like polished vaidurya gem
• स्निग्ध-वैढूर्य-सङ्काशः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता) (समुद्रः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + वैढूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वैढूर्य-सङ्काशः) with स्निग्ध as qualifier; English: masculine nominative singular 'shining like smooth vaidurya (cat's-eye) gem'

• जाम्बूनद-विभूषणः: adorned with pure-gold ornaments
• जाम्बूनद-विभूषणः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता) (समुद्रः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाम्बूनद (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; English: masculine nominative singular 'adorned with Jāmbūnada (pure gold) ornaments'

Context

Clad in red coloured robes, endowed with lotus petal like eyes having a wonderful wreath of diverse flowers on head, decked in shining ornaments of polished gold encrusted with precious gems from his own territory, he resembled the Himalayan Mountain with minerals. He had a hanging pearl necklace in the centre of his bosom shedding white lustre that resembled the Kausthuba of Lord Vishnu. With several tides moving near, and multitude of tides reaching the clouds threatening, surrounded by Goddesses of several forms and deities of important rivers like Ganga and Sindhu, the valiant Lord of the ocean greeted with folded palms and spoke these words to Rama who was wielding an arrow in his hand.

Characters & Entities

• Samudra/Sāgara (Ocean-god)
• Pannaga (serpents/nāgas)
• Vaidūrya (gem)
• Jāmbūnada (gold)

FAQs

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

Dharma is supported by higher powers, but it also demands proper recognition of authority: the Ocean-god manifests in a form that commands respect, preparing the ground for a principled resolution.

What is the narrative situation?

Sāgara’s epiphany is described in vivid, jewel-like imagery as he comes forth to meet Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sāgara’s accountability—he does not remain hidden after the threat, but presents himself openly.