Shloka 44

सागरप्रशमनम् / The Pacification of the Ocean and the Building of Nala’s Bridge

Devanagari script

अयंसौम्य: नलोनामतनयोविश्वकर्मणः ।पित्रादत्तवरशीमान्प्रतिमोविश्वकर्मणाः ।।।।

Transliteration

ayaṃ saumyaḥ nalo nāma tanayo viśvakarmaṇaḥ | pitrā dattavaraḥ śrīmān pratimo viśvakarmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

おお高貴なるラーマよ、この吉祥なる者、名をナラという。彼はヴィシュヴァカルマンの子であり、父より授かった恩寵の賜物によって、造営の技において父に比肩する。

Word by Word

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता; subject of करोतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सेतुम्: a bridge
• सेतुम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महोत्साहः: of great zeal
• महोत्साहः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् उत्साहः यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण एषः/वानरः

• करोतु: let (him) make/build
• करोतु: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• मयि: upon me
• मयि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; locus: upon me)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• वानरः: the vanara
• वानरः: Karta (कर्ता; subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; एषः इत्यस्य विशेष्यः

• तम्: him / that (bridge-work/one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject of धारयिष्यामि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धारयिष्यामि: I will support/bear
• धारयिष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) -> धारय् (णिच् causative धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamāna (उपमान; comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative: as)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Prayojaka-nipāta (प्रयोजक-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• एषः: this one
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता; subject of implied comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पिता: father
• पिता: Upamāna (उपमान; standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Upameya-anvaya (उपमेय-अन्वय; correlative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तदनुरूप-प्रकारवाचक (correlative: so/likewise)

Context

"Noble Rama! This prosperous one named Nala is the son of Vishwakarma. Since he has obtained boons from his father, he is equal to his father in architecture."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Nala
• Viśvakarman

FAQs

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

Dharma here is right appointment and rightful reliance: leadership recognizes true competence and channels it for a righteous mission rather than acting from impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

The Ocean-deity identifies Nala to Rāma as the qualified builder for constructing the sea-bridge to Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competence joined with legitimacy—Nala’s skill is grounded in training/boons and is presented as trustworthy for the common good.