Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 18

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

Rama’s Vigil at the Ocean and the Rise of Wrath

Devanagari script

महाभोगानिमत्स्यानांकरिणांचकराह ।भोगिनांपश्यनागानांमयाछिन्नानिलक्ष्मण ।।6.21.18।।

Transliteration

mahābhogāni matsyānāṃ kariṇāṃ ca karāha | bhogināṃ paśya nāgānāṃ mayā chinnāni lakṣmaṇa ||6.21.18||

Translation

« Lakṣmaṇa, vois : de grands poissons, des éléphants de mer et de puissants serpents aux vastes anneaux—tranchés par moi—gisent épars ici. »

Word by Word

• महाभोगानि: huge-coiled/large-bodied
• महाभोगानि: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान्ति भोगानि/very large coils/bodies), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मत्स्यानाम्: of fishes
• मत्स्यानाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• करिणाम्: of elephants (sea-elephants)
• करिणाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: करिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• कराह: sharks/large fish (karāha)
• कराह: कर्म (Object; in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-बहुवचन (पाठभेद/irregular form; here as object-list)

• भोगिनाम्: of serpents
• भोगिनाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पश्य: see
• पश्य: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नागानाम्: of nāgas/serpents
• नागानाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: करण/कर्ता (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• छिन्नानि: cut to pieces
• छिन्नानि: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मण: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Context

"Lakshmana! See here the coils of serpents, huge snakes, fish and large sea elephants cut into pieces by me."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• matsya (fish)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse underscores consequential ethics in governance: when dialogue fails, power may be used to compel attention—though the collateral suffering also highlights the gravity of such decisions.

What is the narrative situation?

The effects of Rāma’s arrow-assault on the sea become visible as sea-creatures are struck down.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Unyielding resolve—Rāma signals he will not abandon the mission to Laṅkā.