Shloka 24

लोकसमुत्पत्ति-वर्णनम् तथा इक्ष्वाकुवंश-प्रशंसा

Cosmogony and Ikshvaku Genealogy as Counsel to Rama

Devanagari script

स राजा सगरो नाम य: स‌मुद्रमखानयत्।इष्ट्वा पर्वणि वेगेन त्रासयन इमाः प्रजाः।।।

Transliteration

sa rājā sagaro nāma yaḥ samudram akhānayat |

iṣṭvā parvaṇi vegena trāsayan imāḥ prajāḥ |||

Translation

ఆ రాజు ‘సగరుడు’ అనే నామంతో ప్రసిద్ధుడు; అతడే సముద్రాన్ని తవ్వించెను. పర్వదిన పౌర్ణమినాడు యజ్ఞం చేసి, ఆ మహాకార్యపు వేగంతో ప్రజల్లో భయాన్ని కలిగించాడు॥

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सगरः: Sagara
• सगरः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Apposition to राजा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper noun)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Name-marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/नामार्थक (particle meaning 'by name')

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative pronoun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• समुद्रम्: the ocean
• समुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अखानयत्: dug out / caused to be excavated
• अखानयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; causative sense in usage (णिच्-अर्थ: 'caused to be dug/excavated')

• इष्ट्वा: having performed a sacrifice
• इष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); 'having sacrificed/performed worship'

• पर्वणि: on a festival/full-moon day
• पर्वणि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; 'on the parvan (festival day, e.g., full-moon)'

• वेगेन: swiftly / with speed
• वेगेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument-manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• त्रासयन्: frightening
• त्रासयन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent, participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'frightening'

• इमाः: these
• इमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of प्रजाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण (demonstrative adjective); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• प्रजाः: subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karma (कर्म/Object of त्रासयन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

Context

The king Sagara performed a sacrifice on the full-moon day. And swiftly dug the ocean that frightened the people.

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• samudra (ocean)

FAQs

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

Royal power must be tempered by concern for subjects: even great enterprises, if they terrify the people, raise questions about the dharmic measure (maryādā) of force.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration briefly characterizes King Sagara through a famed feat—excavating the ocean—linking it to ritual context and its societal impact.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Energy and capability (vīrya/vega) are highlighted, while also implying the need for restraint and welfare-oriented rule.