Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

मत्कार्मुकविसृष्टेवशरवर्षेणसागर ।पारंतेऽद्यगमिष्यन्तिपदभिरेवप्लवङ्गमाः ।।।।

Transliteration

mat-kārmuka-visṛṣṭena va śaravarṣeṇa sāgara | pāraṃ te ’dya gamiṣyanti padbhir eva plavaṅgamāḥ ||

Translation

„O Ozean, durch den Pfeilregen, den mein Bogen entsendet, werde ich dich austrocknen; und noch heute werden die Vānaras zu Fuß ans jenseitige Ufer gelangen.“

Word by Word

• mat-kārmuka-visṛṣṭena: released from my bow
• mat-kārmuka-visṛṣṭena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (प्रातिपदिक) + kārmuka (प्रातिपदिक) + visṛṣṭa (sṛj-धातु + क्त)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'mat-kārmukāt visṛṣṭena' qualifying śara-varṣeṇa

• iva: as if, like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; simile particle

• śara-varṣeṇa: by a rain of arrows
• śara-varṣeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'śarāṇāṃ varṣaḥ'

• sāgara: O ocean
• sāgara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• pāram: the far shore
• pāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• te: of you/your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; 'of you'

• adya: today/now
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time

• gamiṣyanti: will go
• gamiṣyanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Simple future (लृट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada

• padabhiḥ: by (their) feet
• padabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); idiomatically 'on foot'

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• plavaṅgamāḥ: monkeys
• plavaṅgamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

"O Ocean, now the monkeys will go to the other side of the shore on your drying up with all the creatures inhabiting you by the rain of arrows showered by me."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sāgara (Ocean)
• kārmuka (bow)
• śara (arrows)
• plavaṅgama (vānaras)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes the king’s duty to remove obstacles to a righteous cause; however, the verse also frames the danger of wrath—power must later be brought back under moral control.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, angered by the Ocean’s non-response, threatens to dry it up with an arrow-storm so the army can cross to Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolve and command: Rāma’s unwavering commitment to the mission (rescuing Sītā and confronting adharma) is highlighted, even as the scene sets up the need for restraint.