HomeRamayanaYuddha KandaSarga 21Shloka 6.21.32
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Shloka 6.21.32

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः (Rama’s Vigil at the Ocean and the Rise of Wrath)

आघूर्णिततरङ्गौघस्सम्भ्रान्तोरगराक्षसः ।उद्वर्तितमहाग्राहस्संवृत्तस्सलिलाशयः ।।6.21.32।।

asyatā ca punas savyaṃ jyāghātavigatatvacam |

dakṣiṇo dakṣiṇaṃ bāhuṃ mahāparighasannibham ||6.21.7||

gosahasrapradāraṃm upadhāya mahat bhujam |

adya me maraṇaṃ vā taraṇaṃ sāgarasya vā ||6.21.8||

iti rāmo matiṃ kṛtvā mahābāhur mahodadhim |

adhiśiśye ca vidhivat prayato niyato muniḥ ||6.21.9||

His left arm had grown calloused by the repeated snap of the bowstring, and his right arm—like a massive iron bar—had been worn by the giving of thousands of cows. Resolving, “Today let there be either my death or the crossing of the ocean,” the mighty-armed Rāma lay down before the great sea, in due rite—self-restrained and disciplined like a sage.

The waves rose up tossing and whirling about. The agitated Nagas and Rakshasas were thrown up by a highly disturbed ocean that produced a great sound.

R
Rāma
O
Ocean (Mahodadhi/Sāgara)

Dharma is steadfast resolve joined to disciplined method: Rāma does not act from mere rage; he undertakes a vow-like, rule-bound posture, committing himself to truthful determination (satya-saṅkalpa) for a righteous end.

At the seashore, facing the obstacle of the ocean before reaching Laṅkā, Rāma forms a decisive resolve—either to cross or to die—and assumes a restrained, ascetic stance.

Dhairya and saṅkalpa (fortitude and resolve), tempered by niyama (self-restraint).