Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 8

सागरप्रशमनम् / The Pacification of the Ocean and the Building of Nala’s Bridge

Devanagari script

तिर्यक्चसहानेक्षत्रैस्सङ्गतौचन्द्रभास्करौ ।भास्करांशुभिरादीप्तंतमसाचसमावृतम् ।।।।चकाशेतदाकाशमुल्काशतविदीपितम् ।अन्तरिक्षाच्चनिर्घातानिर्जग्मुरतुलस्वनाः ।।।।

Transliteration

tiryak ca sahānekṣatraiḥ saṅgatau candrabhāskarau | bhāskarāṃśubhir ādīptaṃ tamasā ca samāvṛtam || cakāśe tad ākāśam ulkāśatavidīpitam | antarikṣāc ca nirghātā nirjagmur atulasvanāḥ ||

Translation

Ang araw at ang buwan, kasama ang maraming bituin, ay lumihis ang landas; kumapal ang dilim kaya’t hindi nagningas ang mga sinag ng araw. Gayunman, nagliwanag ang langit na tila sinindihan ng daan-daang bulalakaw, at mula sa kalangitan ay sumabog ang mga dagundong na walang kapantay ang tinig.

Word by Word

• tiryak: obliquely
• tiryak: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tiryak (अव्यय/विशेषण)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb 'obliquely'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• saha: with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; preposition 'with' (takes instrumental)

• nakṣatraiḥ: with stars
• nakṣatraiḥ: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saṅgatau: came together/moved together
• saṅgatau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + gam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); qualifying candrabhāskarau

• candrabhāskarau: the moon and the sun
• candrabhāskarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāskara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); द्वन्द्व: 'candraś ca bhāskaraś ca'

• bhāskarāṃśubhiḥ: by the sun's rays
• bhāskarāṃśubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāskara (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'bhāskarasya aṃśavaḥ'

• ādīptam: lit up, shining
• ādīptam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + dīp (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; predicative with implied 'ākāśam/lokam'

• tamasā: by darkness
• tamasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• samāvṛtam: completely covered
• samāvṛtam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + ā + vṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; predicative 'covered all over'

Context

There upon Vibheeshana holding the mace stood on the other side of the ocean along with his friends to slay the enemies.

Characters & Entities

• Candra (moon)
• Nakṣatra (stars)
• Ulkā (meteors)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed against a cosmic backdrop: when great moral conflict approaches, nature itself is described as reacting—urging discernment and steadfastness to truth.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse describes ominous celestial and atmospheric signs—darkness, meteors, thunder—foreshadowing the gravity of the coming confrontation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vigilance and moral clarity: recognizing signs and proceeding with resolve in a dharmic course despite fear or uncertainty.