Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 22
सागरप्रशमनम् / The Pacification of the Ocean and the Building of Nala’s Bridge
रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरःपद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः ।सर्वपुष्पमयींदिव्यांशिरसाधारयन् स्रजम् ।।6.22.19।।जातरूपमयैश्चैवतपनीयविभूषितैः ।आत्मजानांचरत्नानांभूषितोभूषणोत्तमैः ।।6.22.20।।धातुभिर्मण्डितश्शैलोविविधैर्हिमवानिव ।एकावलीमध्यगतंतरलंपाटलप्रभम् ।।6.22.21।।विपुलेनोरसा बिभ्रत्कौस्तुभस्य सहोदरम् ।अघूर्णिततरङ्गौघःकालिकानिलसङ्गुलः ।।6.22.22।।गङ्गासिन्दुप्रधाननाभिरापगाभिस्समावृतः ।देवतानांसरूपाभिर्नानारूपाभिरीश्वरः ।।6.22.23।।सागरस्समुपक्रम्यपूर्वमाम्नत्यरवीर्यवान् ।अब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यंराघवंशरपाणिनम् ।।6.22.24।।
vipulenorasā bibhrat kaustubhasya sahodaram |
aghūrṇita-taraṅgaughaḥ kālikānila-saṅgulaḥ ||6.22.22||
विपुलेनोरसा कौस्तुभस्य सहोदरं मणिं बिभ्रत्; अघूर्णिततरङ्गौघः कालिकानिलसङ्गुलः सागरः समुपागमत्।
Clad in red coloured robes, endowed with lotus petal like eyes having a wonderful wreath of diverse flowers on head, decked in shining ornaments of polished gold encrusted with precious gems from his own territory, he resembled the Himalayan Mountain with minerals. He had a hanging pearl necklace in the centre of his bosom shedding white lustre that resembled the Kausthuba of Lord Vishnu. With several tides moving near, and multitude of tides reaching the clouds threatening, surrounded by Goddesses of several forms and deities of important rivers like Ganga and Sindhu, the valiant Lord of the ocean greeted with folded palms and spoke these words to Rama who was wielding an arrow in his hand.
FAQs
The Ocean’s majestic yet restrained depiction frames his later submission to Rāma’s righteous resolve: when Dharma is upheld with firmness, even mighty powers acknowledge it and respond appropriately.
By likening the Ocean’s jewel to Kaustubha—associated with divine order—the verse signals that cosmic forces are aligned with truth (satya) and rightful authority, preparing the reader for the Ocean’s truthful, respectful approach to Rāma.