Shloka 26
सागरप्रशमनम् / The Pacification of the Ocean and the Building of Nala’s Bridge
तत्स्वभावोममाप्येषयदगाधोऽहमप्लवः ।विकारस्तुभवेद्गाधएतत्तेप्रवदाम्यहम् ।।।।
tat svabhāvo mamāpy eṣa yad agādho ’ham aplavaḥ | vikāras tu bhaved gādha etat te pravadāmy aham ||
Inilah pula kodratku yang tetap: aku tak terukur dalamnya dan bukan untuk diseberangi dengan berenang. Jika aku menjadi dangkal dan dapat dilalui, itu akan menyimpang dari tatananku sendiri; sebab itu kukatakan kepadamu apa yang patut dilakukan.
"I am fathomless and as such not capable of being swum across as it is my nature too. My fording will be a deviation. I proclaim to you (how you can cross)."
FAQs
Dharma here is ‘svabhāva-dharma’—each being has an ordained nature and duty. The Ocean claims that becoming fordable would be a ‘vikāra’ (a disorderly deviation) from its proper role.
After Rāma’s demand for a passage, the Ocean appears and explains why it cannot simply become shallow or easily crossable, while promising an alternative solution.
Truthfulness aligned with order (satya with maryādā): the Ocean speaks frankly about limits imposed by its nature and the world’s structure.