Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 24

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

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

Devanagari script

अद्याक्षोभ्यमपिक्रुद्धःक्षोभयिष्यामिसागरम् ।वेलासुकृतमर्यादंसहस्रोर्मिसमाकुलम् ।।6.21.23।।निर्मर्यादंकरिष्यामिसायायिकैर्वरुणालयम् ।महार्णवंक्षोभयिष्येमहादानवसङ्कुलम् ।।6.21.24।।

Transliteration

adyākṣobhyam api kruddhaḥ kṣobhayīṣyāmi sāgaram |

velāsu kṛtamaryādaṃ sahasrormisamākulam |

nirmaryādaṃ kariṣyāmi sāyakair varuṇālayam |

mahārṇavaṃ kṣobhayīṣye mahādānavasaṅkulam ||6.21.23–6.21.24||

Translation

今日、怒りに燃えて、揺るがぬと言われる海をも揺り動かそう。岸辺の定めた境を守り、幾千の波に満ちるその海を。わが矢もてヴァルナの住処を限りの外へ追いやり、強大なるものども満つる大海をかき乱してみせる。

Word by Word

• निर्मर्यादम्: boundary-less, without limits
• निर्मर्यादम्: कर्मविशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग) + मर्यादा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक विशेषण (without bounds/limitless)

• करिष्यामि: I will make
• करिष्यामि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सायकैः: with arrows
• सायकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• वरुणालयम्: Varuṇa's abode (the ocean)
• वरुणालयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वरुणस्य आलयः’ (abode of Varuṇa)

• महार्णवम्: the great ocean
• महार्णवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् अर्णवः’ (great ocean)

• क्षोभयिष्ये: I will agitate
• क्षोभयिष्ये: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षुभ् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (kṣobhay-iṣye)

• महादानवसङ्कुलम्: crowded with mighty demons
• महादानवसङ्कुलम्: कर्मविशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (पूर्वपद) + दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘महादानवैः सङ्कुलम्’ (crowded with great demons)

Context

"The ocean has not shown his own form to me. O Lakshmana Get the bow and venomous snake like arrows, I will dry up the ocean and the Vanaras can walk by foot and go."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sāgara (Ocean)
• Varuṇa
• Dānavas

FAQs

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

Maryādā (right order/limits) is central: when a power that should uphold order obstructs righteousness, Dharma authorizes corrective force to restore the path of duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma vows to violently agitate and even transgress the ocean’s boundaries using divine martial force if passage is not granted.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective severity—firmness used in service of a just cause, not personal gain.