Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 15

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

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

Devanagari script

आत्मप्रशंसिनंदृष्टंधृष्टंविपरिथावकम् ।सर्वत्रोत्सृष्टदण्डंचलोकस्सत्कुरुतेनरम् ।।6.21.15।।

Transliteration

ātmapraśaṃsinaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ dhṛṣṭaṃ viparithāvakam | sarvatrotsṛṣṭadaṇḍaṃ ca lokaḥ satkurute naram ||6.21.15||

Translation

「世は、自らを称える者を敬うのを見よ。無礼に至るほど大胆で、道を外れた振る舞いをし、至る所で罰を振りかざす者を。」

Word by Word

• आत्मप्रशंसिनम्: self-praising
• आत्मप्रशंसिनम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रशंसिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आत्मानं प्रशंसति/one who praises himself), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दृष्टम्: seen/known as
• दृष्टम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• धृष्टम्: impudent
• धृष्टम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विपरिथावकम्: deviant/wayward
• विपरिथावकम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरि-थावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (दुश्चरित्र/विपथगामी अर्थे)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देश-वाचक (locative adverb)

• उत्सृष्टदण्डम्: unrestrained (having cast off discipline)
• उत्सृष्टदण्डम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्सृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उत्सृष्टः दण्डः यस्य/one who has cast off restraint/punishment), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• लोकः: the world/people
• लोकः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सत्कुरुते: honors/respects
• सत्कुरुते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: सत् (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरम्: a man
• नरम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

"Indeed, the world treats one with respect, who praises himself, as an impudent one, an unchaste one and one who goes about with a rod of punishment (not the one who is virtuous)."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma warns against confusing social approval with righteousness: society may reward arrogance and coercion, but ethical judgment must be anchored in dharma, not mere popularity.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma reflects to Lakṣmaṇa on how the world often responds more quickly to forceful posturing than to quiet virtue—framing his decision to compel the ocean.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Realism in leadership—clear-eyed understanding of human/social behavior without abandoning dharma.