Shloka 16
Śrī Rāmacandra-avatāra — Vow, Exile, Laṅkā-vijaya, and Rāma-rājya
Concise Bhāgavata Account
बद्ध्वोदधौ रघुपतिर्विविधाद्रिकूटै: सेतुं कपीन्द्रकरकम्पितभूरुहाङ्गै: । सुग्रीवनीलहनुमत्प्रमुखैरनीकै- र्लङ्कां विभीषणदृशाविशदग्रदग्धाम् ॥ १६ ॥
baddhvodadhau raghu-patir vividhādri-kūṭaiḥ setuṁ kapīndra-kara-kampita-bhūruhāṅgaiḥ sugrīva-nīla-hanumat-pramukhair anīkair laṅkāṁ vibhīṣaṇa-dṛśāviśad agra-dagdhām
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After Raghupati built a bridge across the ocean by casting into the waters mountain peaks whose trees were shaken by the hands of mighty monkeys, the Lord marched to Laṅkā to free Sītādevī from Rāvaṇa. Guided and aided by Vibhīṣaṇa, He entered Rāvaṇa’s Laṅkā—previously burned by Hanumān—together with the monkey host led by Sugrīva, Nīla, and Hanumān.
Great mountain peaks covered with trees and plants were thrown into the sea by the monkey soldiers and began to float by the supreme will of the Lord. By the supreme will of the Lord, many great planets float weightlessly in space like swabs of cotton. If this is possible, why should great mountain peaks not be able to float on water? This is the omnipotence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He can do anything and everything He likes, because He is not under the control of the material nature; indeed, material nature is controlled by Him. Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sacarācaram: only under His direction does prakṛti, or material nature, work. Similar information is given in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.52) :
FAQs
This verse states that Lord Rāmacandra built a bridge across the ocean using mountain peaks and trees moved by the powerful monkey leaders, enabling His army to reach Laṅkā.
The verse highlights Vibhīṣaṇa’s clear foresight—Laṅkā’s burning was something he could already “see,” underscoring that Rāma’s victory was inevitable and divinely ordained.
Rāma’s mission succeeds through disciplined leadership and devoted teamwork—an example of aligning strength, planning, and service to dharma for a righteous outcome.