Valmiki Ramayana 6.3.2 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 2

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

तपसासेतुबन्धेनसागरोच्छोषणेनच ।सर्वथासुसमर्थोऽस्मिसागरस्यास्यलङ्घने ।।।।

Transliteration

tapasā setubandhena sāgarocchoṣaṇena ca | sarvathā susamartho 'smi sāgarasyāsya laṅghane ||

Translation

苦行の力によっても、橋を架けることによっても、あるいは大海を干上がらせることによってさえ——いかなる手段であれ——私はこの海を渡り越える力を十分に備えている。

Word by Word

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन

• सेतुबन्धेन: by building a bridge
• सेतुबन्धेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सेतोः बन्धः’), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• सागरोच्छोषणेन: by drying up the ocean
• सागरोच्छोषणेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर + उच्छोषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सागरस्य उच्छोषणम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

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

• सर्वथा: in every way
• सर्वथा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सुसमर्थः: fully capable
• सुसमर्थः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• सागरस्य: of the ocean
• सागरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक-समर्थ, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• लङ्घने: in crossing (it)
• लङ्घने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; भाववाचक (action-noun)

Context

"By austerity or by drying up the ocean or by any other means, I am capable of crossing the ocean."

Characters & Entities

• Sāgara (ocean)
• setu (bridge)
• tapas (austerity)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as unwavering commitment to a righteous objective (rescuing Sītā and confronting adharma). The verse models determined effort while remaining oriented to a just end.

What is the narrative situation?

Before reaching Laṅkā, the problem of crossing the ocean is faced; Rāma declares his capability to overcome the obstacle by multiple means.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Saṅkalpa (firm resolve) joined with competence—confidence grounded in responsibility rather than boastfulness.