Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

अयंहिसागरोभीमस्सेतुकर्मदिदृक्ष्याः ।ददौदण्डभयाद्गाधंराघवायमहोदधिः ।।।।

Transliteration

ayaṃ hi sāgaro bhīmaḥ setu-karma didṛkṣayāḥ | dadau daṇḍa-bhayād gādhaṃ rāghavāya mahodadhiḥ ||

Translation

Dieser furchterregende Ozean, begierig, das Werk der Brücke zu schauen, gewährte Rāghava einen Durchgang — auch aus Furcht vor Strafe.

Word by Word

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: कर्ता (Agent/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative case, Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/अव्ययम् (particle; emphatic/causal nuance)

• सागरः: ocean
• सागरः: कर्ता (Agent/Subject) (apposition to अयम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• भीमः: fearsome
• भीमः: कर्ता-विशेषणम् (subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying सागरः/महोदधिः)

• सेतुकर्म: the work of building the bridge
• सेतुकर्म: कर्म (Object) (of दिदृक्ष्याः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative: 'सेतोः कर्म' = work of the bridge)

• दिदृक्ष्याः: wishing to see (it)
• दिदृक्ष्याः: हेतु/प्रयोजन-निर्देशक (purpose/intent qualifier; construed as 'for those wishing to see')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + सन् (इच्छार्थक) → दिदृक्ष् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः बहुवचनम् (Feminine, Nominative, Plural); सन्नन्त-इच्छार्थक-विशेषणम् (desiderative adjectival form: 'wishing to see'); अर्थतः 'दिदृक्षवः' इत्यस्य स्त्रीबहुवचनरूपम्

• ददौ: gave, granted, allowed
• ददौ: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परस्मैपदम्), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (Perfect, Active, 3rd person singular)

• दण्डभयात्: from/through fear of punishment
• दण्डभयात्: अपादानम् (Ablative: cause/source) (because of fear)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड + भय (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Ablative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative: 'दण्डस्य भयम्' = fear of punishment)

• गाधम्: a ford, passage, shallow crossing
• गाधम्: कर्म (Object) (of ददौ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• राघवाय: to Rāghava (Rama)
• राघवाय: सम्प्रदानम् (Recipient/Beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Dative, Singular)

• महोदधिः: the mighty ocean
• महोदधिः: कर्ता (Agent/Subject) (apposition to अयम्/सागरः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + उदधि (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); कर्मधारयः (descriptive: 'महान् उदधिः' = great ocean)

Context

This fearsome ocean of mighty Sagara (dug by Sagara) then allowed a passage for Rama, out of fear of punishment and also to witness the building of a bridge.

Characters & Entities

• Ocean (Sāgara/Mahodadhi)
• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Setu (bridge)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes moral order backed by consequences: when righteous authority is asserted, even obstructive powers yield, and order is restored.

What is the narrative situation?

The ocean provides a passable way for Rāma’s bridge-building, motivated by both reverence/fear and curiosity to witness the feat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s righteous firmness—his capacity to uphold justice compels cooperation without chaos.