Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 34

तृतीयः सर्गः (Bālakāṇḍa 3): Vālmīki’s Yogic Verification and the Epic Synopsis

Devanagari script

सङ्गमं च समुद्रेण नलसेतोश्च बन्धनम् ।प्रतारं च समुद्रस्य रात्रौ लङ्कावरोधनम् ।।।।

Transliteration

saṅgamaṃ ca samudreṇa nalasetoś ca bandhanam | pratāraṃ ca samudrasya rātrau laṅkāvarodhanam ||

Translation

（彼は語る）海の主との邂逅、ナラの橋の建立、海の渡航、そして夜にランカーを包囲したことを。

Word by Word

• सङ्गमम्: meeting
• सङ्गमम्: Karma (कर्म) / listed item
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• समुद्रेण: with the ocean
• समुद्रेण: Karana (करण) / Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular)

• नलसेतोः: of Nala’s bridge
• नलसेतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नल + सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नलस्य सेतुः)

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

• बन्धनम्: building/binding (construction)
• बन्धनम्: Karma (कर्म) / listed item
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक; √बन्ध् धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रतारम्: crossing
• प्रतारम्: Karma (कर्म) / listed item
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतार (प्रातिपदिक; √तॄ ‘to cross’ sense; ‘crossing’)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• समुद्रस्य: of the ocean
• समुद्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative of time)

• लङ्कावरोधनम्: siege of Laṅkā
• लङ्कावरोधनम्: Karma (कर्म) / listed item
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का + अवरोधन (प्रातिपदिक; √रुध् ‘to block’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लङ्कायाः अवरोधनम् = besieging/blockade)

Context

(He described) the meeting with the (lord of the) seas, the construction of bridge byNala, the crossing of the ocean and the seige of Lanka during night.

Characters & Entities

• Samudra (Lord of the Sea)
• Nala
• Setu (bridge)
• Ocean
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Dharma of disciplined action: obstacles are addressed through rightful negotiation (with Samudra) and cooperative labor (bridge-building) rather than reckless force.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s army reaches the sea, engages with the sea-deity, constructs a bridge under Nala, crosses, and begins the siege of Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s leadership and restraint, and Nala’s skillful competence in service of a righteous goal.