Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

दशयोजनविस्तीर्णंशतयोजनमायतम् ।ददृशुर्देवगन्धर्वानलसेतुंसुदुष्करम् ।।।।

Transliteration

daśayojanavistīrṇaṃ śatayojanam āyatam | dadṛśur devagandharvā nalasetuṃ suduṣkaram ||

Translation

Die Götter und Gandharvas erblickten Nalas Brücke—zehn Yojanas breit und hundert Yojanas lang—eine Tat, überaus schwer zu vollbringen.

Word by Word

• दशयोजनविस्तीर्णम्: ten-yojanas wide
• दशयोजनविस्तीर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + योजन + विस्तीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः: दश-योजन-विस्तीर्णम् = "ten-yojanas wide"; qualifies नलसेतुम्

• शतयोजनम्: a hundred yojanas
• शतयोजनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः: शत-योजनम् = "hundred-yojanas"; used with आयतम्

• आयतम्: long, extended
• आयतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; "long/extended"; qualifies नलसेतुम्

• ददृशुः: saw
• ददृशुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्

• देवगन्धर्वाः: gods and Gandharvas
• देवगन्धर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: देवाश्च गन्धर्वाश्च

• नलसेतुम्: Nala's bridge
• नलसेतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नल + सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: नलस्य सेतुः = "Nala's bridge"

• सुदुष्करम्: very difficult (to accomplish)
• सुदुष्करम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; उपसर्ग-युक्त विशेषणम्: सु-दुष्करम् = "very difficult"; qualifies नलसेतुम्

Context

Gods and Gandharvas witnessed the bridge built by Nala that was ten yojanas in width and hundred yojanas in length.

Characters & Entities

• Nala
• Setu (bridge)
• Devas
• Gandharvas
• Yojana (unit of measure)
• Sāgara (implied sea-crossing context)

FAQs

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

Dharma values perseverance in difficult duties—what is “suduṣkara” becomes possible when undertaken for truth and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

The epic underscores the bridge’s vast scale, highlighting the magnitude of preparation before confronting Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination and disciplined execution—measurable, organized effort in service of a righteous goal.