Shloka 6.21.8
सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः (Rama’s Vigil at the Ocean and the Rise of Wrath)
असत्याचपुनस्सव्यंज्याघातविगतत्वचम् ।दक्षिणोदक्षिणंबाहुंमहापरिघसन्निभम् ।।6.21.7।।गोसहस्रप्रदारंमुपधायमहत्भुजम् ।अद्यमेमरणंवादतरणंसागरस्यवा ।।6.21.8।।तिरामोमतिंकृत्वामहाबाहुर्महोदधिम् ।अधिशिश्येचविधिवत्प्रयतोनियतोमुनिः ।।6.21.9।।
gosahasrapradāraṃm upadhāya mahat bhujam |
adya me maraṇaṃ vā daraṇaṃ sāgarasya vā ||6.21.8||
Bracing his great arm—wearied as though by the giving away of thousands of cows—Rāma resolved: “Let it be either my death today, or the crossing of the ocean.”
The mighty armed Rama's arms were hardened like that of iron bars by the large number of arrows received by the left arm and strained by giving thousands of cows as gifts by the right arm. Rama was determined now to cross over the great ocean or meet the sea with death and lay down subdued and restrained like a sage.
Dharma here is steadfast commitment to a righteous objective: Rāma frames the mission as non-negotiable—either he fulfills the necessary passage for the just war, or he accepts death rather than abandon duty.
Rāma stands at the seashore, needing passage to Laṅkā. After restraint and deliberation, he hardens into resolve: the ocean must be crossed, whatever the personal cost.
Dṛḍha-niścaya (firm resolve) and tyāga-oriented leadership: he accepts personal risk and frames success as service to duty, not comfort.