Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

अहंसेतुंकरिष्यामिविस्तीर्णेवरुणालये ।पितुस्सामर्थ्यमास्थायतत्त्वमहामहोदधिः ।।6.22.47।।

Transliteration

ahaṃ setuṃ kariṣyāmi vistīrṇe varuṇālaye | pituḥ sāmarthyam āsthāya tattvam āha mahodadhiḥ ||

Translation

„Ich werde die Brücke über diese weite Wohnstatt Varuṇas errichten, gestützt auf die Meisterschaft meines Vaters“, sprach Nala und offenbarte seine wahre Befähigung.

Word by Word

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता) (सागरः/महोदधिः इत्यस्य निर्देशः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन; English: pronoun nominative singular

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal); English: 'indeed/for'

• सागरः: the ocean
• सागरः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता) (ददौ इत्यस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; English: nominative singular

• भीमः: fearsome
• भीमः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता) (सागरः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; English: masculine nominative singular

• सेतु-कर्म: the work of building a bridge
• सेतु-कर्म: कर्म (Karma/कर्म) (दिदृक्षया इत्यस्य विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अर्थतः); तत्पुरुषः; English: 'bridge-work/building of a bridge' (object within purpose-phrase)

• दिदृक्षया: with the wish to witness
• दिदृक्षया: करण/हेतु (Karana/Hetu) (हेतौ तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिदृक्षा (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative noun from √दृश्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ तृतीया (instrumental of purpose); English: 'with the desire to see'

• ददौ: granted
• ददौ: क्रिया (Kriya/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) (ददाति)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; English: 'gave/granted'

• दण्ड-भयात्: from fear of punishment
• दण्ड-भयात्: अपादान (Apādāna/अपादान) (कारण-निर्देशः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; English: ablative singular 'from fear of punishment'

• गाधम्: a ford / passage (shallow way)
• गाधम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म) (ददौ इत्यस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; English: accusative singular

• राघवाय: to Raghava (Rama)
• राघवाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; English: dative singular

• महा-उदधिः: the great ocean
• महा-उदधिः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; English: nominative singular (apposition to सागरः)

Characters & Entities

• Nala
• Rāma
• Varuṇa
• Setu (bridge)

FAQs

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

Dharma is accountable commitment: one who has the skill must openly accept responsibility for the needed work in service of a righteous cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Nala formally declares he will construct the bridge over the sea, grounding his confidence in inherited mastery.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast resolve (dṛḍha-niścaya) combined with humility—confidence rooted in training and tradition, not arrogance.