Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 26

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

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

Devanagari script

सम्पीड्यचधनुर्घोरंकम्पयित्वाशरैर्जगत् ।मुमोचविशिखानुग्रान्वज्रानिवशतक्रतुः ।।6.21.26।।

Transliteration

sampīḍya ca dhanur ghoraṃ kampayitvā śarair jagat |

mumoca viśikhān ugrān vajrān iva śatakratuḥ ||6.21.26||

Translation

恐るべき弓を強く引き絞り、その矢勢で世界を震わせつつ、彼は猛き矢を放った。まるでシャタクラトゥ（インドラ）が金剛の雷を投げ放つかのように。

Word by Word

• सम्पीड्य: having pressed/bent
• सम्पीड्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग) + पीड् (धातु) + ल्यप्/य (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having pressed/bent)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Conjunctive particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• धनुः: the bow
• धनुः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (accusative singular)

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: कर्मविशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying धनुः)

• कम्पयित्वा: having made (it) tremble
• कम्पयित्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कम्प् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive), णिजन्त; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having made tremble)

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

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (accusative singular)

• मुमोच: released/shot
• मुमोच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विशिखान्: arrows
• विशिखान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशिख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (accusative plural)

• उग्रान्: fierce
• उग्रान्: कर्मविशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying विशिखान्)

• वज्रान्: thunderbolts
• वज्रान्: उपमान (Upamāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपमानपद (object of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमासूचक (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक निपात (comparative particle)

• शतक्रतुः: Indra (the hundred-sacrificer)
• शतक्रतुः: उपमेय-कर्ता (Agent compared/Upamā-adhikara)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतक्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-नाम (epithet of Indra: ‘शतं क्रतवो यस्य’) used as उपमान (comparator)

Context

"(The ocean) Having made me angry, now I will torment the ocean even though it is imperturbable and has its limits. I will torment the ocean with its thousands of waves and mighty demons by my arrows and make the ocean cross its boundary."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Indra (Śatakratu)
• Vajra (thunderbolt)

FAQs

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

When peaceful approaches fail, Dharma can sanction measured force to remove a blockade to a righteous end—force as instrument, not as desire.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma begins the act of coercion by shooting powerful arrows toward the Ocean.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial competence under moral intent—skill aligned with duty.