Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

दण्डानन्येप्रगृह्णन्तिविचिन्वन्तितथापरे ।।6.22.62।।वानरैश्शतशस्तत्ररामस्याज्ञापुरस्सराः ।मेघाभैःपर्वताग्रैश्चतृणैःकाष्ठैर्बबन्धिरे ।।6.22.63।।

Transliteration

daṇḍān anye pragṛhṇanti vicinvanti tathāpare | vānaraiḥ śataśas tatra rāmasyājñāpurassarāḥ | meghābhaiḥ parvatāgraiś ca tṛṇaiḥ kāṣṭhair babandhire ||

Translation

Einige nahmen Pfähle auf, andere sammelten Vorrat; dort befestigten die Vānaras zu Hunderten—Rāmas Weisung als höchste Richtschnur—die Brücke mit Schilf und Holz, ragend wie Wolken und Bergkämme.

Word by Word

• meghābhaiḥ: with cloud-like (masses)
• meghābhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: megha + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमान-निर्देश: ‘मेघ-आभ’ = cloud-like); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• parvatāgraiḥ: with mountain-peaks
• parvatāgraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘पर्वतस्य अग्रं’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tṛṇaiḥ: with grass/reeds
• tṛṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural)

• kāṣṭhaiḥ: with logs/wood
• kāṣṭhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural)

• babandhire: they bound/constructed
• babandhire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bandh (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन (Perfect, Atmanepada, 3rd person, Plural)

Context

Others held sticks and some held logs of wood and reeds following the command of Rama, hundreds of Vanaras who looked like clouds and mountain tops built the bridge.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vānara
• Setu (bridge)

FAQs

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

Dharma is fulfilled through orderly cooperation: righteous aims require coordinated labor, where individual strength is directed by ethical authority.

What is the narrative situation?

The vānaras execute Rāma’s plan for the ocean-crossing by gathering materials and binding them into a passable bridge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty expressed as prompt, organized action in service of a just mission.