Valmiki Ramayana 6.4.116 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 116

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

मकरैर्नागभोगैश्च विगाढा वातलोलिताः ।उत्पेतुश्च निपेतुश्च प्रवृद्धा जलराशयः ।।।।

Transliteration

makarair nāgabhogaiś ca vigāḍhā vātalolitāḥ |

utpetuś ca nipetuś ca pravṛddhā jalarāśayaḥ ||

Translation

ਮਕਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਨਾਗ-ਭੋਗਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਘਣੇ, ਹਵਾ ਨਾਲ ਝੂਲਦੇ ਜਲ-ਰਾਸ਼ੀ ਗਹਿਰਾਈ ਵਿੱਚ ਧੱਕੇ ਗਏ; ਕਦੇ ਉੱਭਰਦੇ, ਕਦੇ ਮੁੜ ਡਿੱਗਦੇ—ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਵਧਦੇ ਗਏ।

Word by Word

• makaraiḥ: by makaras (sea-creatures)
• makaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• nāga-bhogaiḥ: by serpent-coils/hoods
• nāga-bhogaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक) + bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa (nāgasya bhogaḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• vigāḍhāḥ: deep/immersed
• vigāḍhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√gāh (धातु) + kta → vigāḍha (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kta (PPP)

• vāta-lolitāḥ: tossed by wind
• vāta-lolitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāta (प्रातिपदिक) + lolita (कृदन्त/क्त from √lul)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa (vātena lolitāḥ)

• utpetuḥ: leapt up
• utpetuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√pat (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• nipetuḥ: fell down
• nipetuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• pravṛddhāḥ: swollen, increased
• pravṛddhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√vṛdh (धातु) + kta → pravṛddha (कृदन्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kta (PPP)

• jala-rāśayaḥ: masses of water
• jala-rāśayaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa (jalasya rāśiḥ)

Context

Swarmed with sea animals like sharks and crocodiles and serpents were jumping with huge volumes of water rising and down with force by the stormy wind.

Characters & Entities

• Ocean
• Makara
• Nāga (serpents)
• Wind (Vāta)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores steadiness (dhṛti): when conditions rise and fall violently, dharmic effort continues without being destabilized by external turbulence.

What is the narrative situation?

The ocean is in violent motion, with creatures and waves surging, emphasizing the immediate danger of attempting a crossing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness—remaining committed when circumstances are unstable and intimidating.