Shloka 115

Devanagari script

दीप्तभोगैरिवाकीर्णं भुजङ्गैर्वरुणालयम् ।अवगाढं महासत्त्वैर्नानाशैलसमाकुलम् ।सुदुर्गं दुर्गमार्गं तमगाध मसुरालयम् ।।।।

Transliteration

dīptabhogair ivākīrṇaṃ bhujaṅgair varuṇālayam |

avagāḍhaṃ mahāsattvair nānāśailasamākulam |

sudurgaṃ durgamārgaṃ tam agādhaṃ masurālayam ||

Translation

Kediaman Varuṇa tampak seakan-akan dipenuhi ular, bagaikan lilitan yang menyala; ia menjunam dalam dengan makhluk perkasa di bawahnya, sesak oleh pelbagai gunung dasar laut—laluan amat sukar, tak terukur dalamnya, laksana alam bawah yang mengerikan.

Word by Word

• dīpta-bhogaiḥ: with (serpents) having shining hoods/coils
• dīpta-bhogaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta (कृदन्त/क्त from √dīp) + bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; samāsa: karmadhāraya (dīptāḥ bhogāḥ yeṣām)

• iva: as if/like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (particle of comparison)

• ākīrṇam: filled, crowded
• ākīrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√kṝ (धातु) + kta → ākīrṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Accusative (1st/2nd), Ekavacana; past passive participle (kta)

• bhujaṅgaiḥ: by serpents
• bhujaṅgaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhujaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• varuṇa-ālayam: the abode of Varuṇa (the ocean)
• varuṇa-ālayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (varuṇasya ālayaḥ)

• avagāḍham: deeply entered/submerged
• avagāḍham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-√gāh (धातु) + kta → avagāḍha (कृदन्त)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; kta (PPP)

• mahā-sattvaiḥ: by great creatures
• mahā-sattvaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya (mahāni sattvāni)

• nānā-śaila-samākulam: confused/filled with various mountains
• nānā-śaila-samākulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + śaila (प्रातिपदिक) + samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (śailaiḥ samākulam; nānā- as qualifier)

• su-durgam: very hard to access
• su-durgam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + durga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; su- intensifier

• durga-mārgam: having a difficult path/approach
• durga-mārgam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण as apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durga (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (durgaḥ mārgaḥ)

• tam: that (ocean)
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• agādham: unfathomable, very deep
• agādham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + gādha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; nañ-tat (negation)

• asura-ālayam: abode of asuras
• asura-ālayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (asurāṇām ālayaḥ)

Context

Filled with serpents glowing with flaming gems on hoods, the abode of Varuna (was like underworld) with huge snakes and different mountains under water is a difficult path inaccessible and a fathomless abode of rakshasas (vanaras thought).

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa
• Ocean

FAQs

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

Dharma can demand entering ‘durgama’ paths—difficult routes that test commitment. The verse frames hardship as an expected companion of righteous duty.

What is the narrative situation?

The ocean is described as deep, dangerous, and nearly impassable, intensifying the problem of how the army will reach Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and readiness for sacrifice—accepting that the righteous objective may require confronting terrifying, unknown depths.