Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 26
सागरप्रशमनम् / The Pacification of the Ocean and the Building of Nala’s Bridge
तत्स्वभावोममाप्येषयदगाधोऽहमप्लवः ।विकारस्तुभवेद्गाधएतत्तेप्रवदाम्यहम् ।।।।
tat svabhāvo mamāpy eṣa yad agādho ’ham aplavaḥ | vikāras tu bhaved gādha etat te pravadāmy aham ||
“Inilah juga sifat tetapku: aku tidak terduga dalamnya dan bukan untuk diseberangi dengan berenang. Jika aku menjadi cetek hingga boleh dilalui, itu menyalahi tertibku sendiri. Maka aku katakan kepadamu apa yang patut dilakukan.”
"I am fathomless and as such not capable of being swum across as it is my nature too. My fording will be a deviation. I proclaim to you (how you can cross)."
FAQs
Dharma here is ‘svabhāva-dharma’—each being has an ordained nature and duty. The Ocean claims that becoming fordable would be a ‘vikāra’ (a disorderly deviation) from its proper role.
After Rāma’s demand for a passage, the Ocean appears and explains why it cannot simply become shallow or easily crossable, while promising an alternative solution.
Truthfulness aligned with order (satya with maryādā): the Ocean speaks frankly about limits imposed by its nature and the world’s structure.