Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 2

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

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

Devanagari script

वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः ।।6.21.2।।भुजैःपरमनारीणामभिमृष्टमनेकदा ।।6.21.3।।

Transliteration

varakāñcanakeyūramuktāpravarabhūṣaṇaiḥ |

bhujaiḥ paramanārīṇām abhimṛṣṭam anekadā ||6.21.2–6.21.3||

Translation

Ces épaules—ornées de superbes bracelets et de parures d’or pur et de perles—avaient été caressées maintes fois par de nobles femmes.

Word by Word

• वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः: with ornaments—fine gold armlets and excellent pearl adornments
• वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः: करण (Instrument/करणकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + केयूर (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग (collective instrumental), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (ornaments consisting of excellent gold armlets and pearls etc.)

• भुजैः: by arms
• भुजैः: करण (Instrument/करणकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• परमनारीणाम्: of noble women
• परमनारीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: 'supreme women'

• अभिमृष्टम्: touched/handled
• अभिमृष्टम्: विशेषण (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + √मृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; agrees with implied neuter 'भूषणम्/केयूरम्' etc.

• अनेकदा: many times
• अनेकदा: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Context

The shoulders that have been adorned with the best of gold, pearl and coral ornaments, were besmeared many times by supreme women.

FAQs

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

It presents royal decorum and dignity: a righteous king’s strength is framed not as brutality but as disciplined, culturally refined power.

What is the narrative situation?

A descriptive interlude highlighting Rāma’s majestic presence before the confrontation with the Ocean intensifies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Majesty with restraint—strength that is socially and ethically ordered (maryādā) rather than uncontrolled.