Shloka 45

Devanagari script

नलसेतुरिति ख्यातो योडद्यापि प्रथितो भुवि | रामस्थाज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य निर्यातो गिरिसंनिभ:,वह आज भी भूमण्डलमें “नलसेतु” के नामसे विख्यात है। श्रीरामजीकी आज्ञा मानकर समुद्रने उस पर्वताकार पुलको अपने ऊपर धारण किया

Transliteration

nalasetur iti khyāto yo ’dya api prathito bhuvi | rāmasthājñāṃ puraskṛtya niryāto girisaṃnibhaḥ ||

Translation

That bridge is famed as “Nala’s Causeway” and is renowned on the earth even today. Honouring Rāma’s command, the ocean bore upon itself that mountain-like bridge.

Word by Word

नलसेतुःthe bridge (built by) Nala; Nala-setu

इतिthus; as

ख्यातःrenowned; well-known

यःwhich; who

अद्यापिeven today; still

प्रथितःcelebrated; famous

भुविon earth; in the world

रामस्यof Rama

आज्ञाम्command; order

पुरस्कृत्यhaving placed in front; having honored/kept foremost

निर्यातःwent forth; proceeded

गिरिसंनिभःmountain-like; resembling a mountain

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Markaṇḍeya

Nala

Rāma

Samudra (the Ocean)

Nalasetu (Nala’s bridge)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as respectful compliance with a righteous authority: the ocean itself is portrayed as upholding Rāma’s command, suggesting that cosmic order supports rightful intent and disciplined action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Markaṇḍeya recalls the famed ‘Nala’s Bridge,’ stating it remains celebrated even now; the ocean, in deference to Rāma’s order, supports the massive, mountain-like causeway.