Shloka 101

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

अतः परमतीरोऽयं सागर स्सरितां पतिः ।न चायमनुपायेन शक्यस्तरितुमर्णवः ।।।।

Transliteration

ataḥ paramatīro 'yaṃ sāgaraḥ saritāṃ patiḥ |

na cāyam anupāyena śakyas taritum arṇavaḥ ||6.4.101||

Translation

この先には彼岸がある。河川の主である大海だ。そしてこの海は、手段なくして渡ることはできない。

Word by Word

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात् (therefore/from this)

• parama-tīraḥ: having the far shore
• parama-tīraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama-tīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमं तीरम् यस्य/परं तीरम्) = having the far shore

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (this)

• sāgaraḥ: ocean
• sāgaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saritām: of rivers
• saritām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• patiḥ: lord
• patiḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अन्वय (and)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• anupāyena: without a means
• anupāyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: an-upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समास (without means)

• śakyaḥ: possible
• śakyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शक्-धातोः यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्ययार्थक (able/possible)

• taritum: to cross
• taritum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/क्रियार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (Infinitive), अव्यय; ‘to cross’

• arṇavaḥ: the ocean
• arṇavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

There is only the ocean, the lord of rivers, and the shore is beyond this. We cannot cross the ocean without any mode.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva (by immediate context)
• ocean/sea (sāgara, arṇava)
• rivers (saritaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma integrates ideals with right means: even a righteous goal requires an appropriate method. The verse teaches ethical realism—truthful recognition of constraints and the duty to find a lawful, effective upāya (means).

What is the narrative situation?

Standing before the sea, Rāma states the obvious obstacle: the far shore is across the ocean, and crossing requires a concrete plan or method.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pragmatic wisdom (nīti) joined to satya: Rāma clearly names the problem and insists on proper means rather than rash effort.