Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 115
समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः
March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore
दीप्तभोगैरिवाकीर्णं भुजङ्गैर्वरुणालयम् ।अवगाढं महासत्त्वैर्नानाशैलसमाकुलम् ।सुदुर्गं दुर्गमार्गं तमगाध मसुरालयम् ।।।।
dīptabhogair ivākīrṇaṃ bhujaṅgair varuṇālayam |
avagāḍhaṃ mahāsattvair nānāśailasamākulam |
sudurgaṃ durgamārgaṃ tam agādhaṃ masurālayam ||
That abode of Varuṇa looked strewn with serpents, as though with blazing coils; it plunged into the deep with mighty beings below, crowded with many submarine mountains—an exceedingly hard passage, unfathomable, like a dreadful underworld.
Filled with serpents glowing with flaming gems on hoods, the abode of Varuna (was like underworld) with huge snakes and different mountains under water is a difficult path inaccessible and a fathomless abode of rakshasas (vanaras thought).
FAQs
Dharma can demand entering ‘durgama’ paths—difficult routes that test commitment. The verse frames hardship as an expected companion of righteous duty.
The ocean is described as deep, dangerous, and nearly impassable, intensifying the problem of how the army will reach Laṅkā.
Endurance and readiness for sacrifice—accepting that the righteous objective may require confronting terrifying, unknown depths.
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