Valmiki Ramayana 6.21.2-3: Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shlokas 2-3

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

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

Setting: Seashore camp before Laṅkā (contextual setting of Yuddhakāṇḍa 6.21)Places named: Laṅkā (implied), Samudra (implied)Pause before crossing; descriptive interlude

Devanagari script

वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः ॥२॥

भुजैःपरमनारीणामभिमृष्टमनेकदा ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 6.21.2-3

Transliteration

varakāñcanakeyūramuktāpravarabhūṣaṇaiḥ ||2||

bhujaiḥparamanārīṇāmabhimṛṣṭamanekadā ||3||

Translation

その肩は——妙なる腕輪と、上質の黄金と真珠の飾りに彩られ——高貴なる女たちに幾度も撫でられてきた。

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Word by Word

• वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः: with ornaments—fine gold armlets and excellent pearl adornments
• 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.)
• Role: करण (Instrument/करणकारक)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

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

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

• अभिमृष्टम्: touched/handled
• 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.
• Role: विशेषण (predicate adjective)

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

Sandhi Notes

• वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः is a long compound
• परमनारीणाम् = परम + नारीणाम्

Context

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

The teaching

Memory of love can deepen purpose, but dharma demands that pleasure yield to responsibility when justice is at stake.

Duties in tension

• Attachment to past comforts and intimacy vs. present duty of war for Sītā’s recovery
• Personal desire vs. public/royal responsibility

Ethical theme

Gṛhastha-dharma vs. rāja-dharma

How it resolves

Sublimation of śṛṅgāra into vīrya (resolve)

For your practice

Meditate on Rāma’s beauty as a support for bhakti while remembering the transience of ornament and touch.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Sensuous, nostalgic, poignant

Themes

• Itihasa
• Veerya (heroic presence)
• Śṛṅgāra (ornamental description)
• Dharma (royal decorum)

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

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.