Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

सहाभूतैस्सतोयोर्मिस्सनागस्सहराक्षसः ।।6.22.14।।सहसाऽभूत्ततोवेगाबदीमवेगोमहोदधिः ।योजनंव्यतिचक्रामवेलामन्यत्रसम्ल्पवात् ।।6.22.15।।

Transliteration

sahābhūtaiḥ satoyormiḥ sanāgaḥ saharākṣasaḥ |

sahasā 'bhūt tato vegād bhīmavego mahodadhiḥ |

yojanaṃ vyaticakrāma velām anyatra samplavāt ||6.22.15||

Translation

عظیم سمندر اپنی موجوں اور تمام مخلوقات سمیت—سانپوں اور راکشسوں تک—اچانک ہیبت ناک اضطراب میں آ گیا؛ اور اس طغیانی میں ایک یوجن تک ساحل سے آگے بڑھ کر دوسرے مقامات کو بھی ڈبو گیا۔

Word by Word

सहसाsuddenly

अभूत्became / arose

ततःthen

वेगात्from/owing to speed

भीम-वेगःhaving terrific speed

महा-उदधिःthe great ocean

योजनम्a yojana (distance)

व्यतिचक्रामcrossed / overstepped

वेलाम्the shore / boundary (tide-line)

अन्यत्रelsewhere

सम्प्लवात्from the surge/overflow

Context

There after those waves of water with its creatures, serpents and demons were at once thrown off at terrific speed that was unprecedented. They were thrown beyond a yojana by the high tides.

Characters & Entities

Mahodadhi (the ocean)

Nāgas (serpents)

Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Maryādā (right limits) is central: the ocean’s breach of its boundary dramatizes why dharma requires order, measure, and restraint—even for immense powers.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrative reiterates the ocean’s violent overflow and boundary-crossing as the crisis intensifies around Rāma’s demand for passage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implied is the necessity of governance over force—preparing the scene for Rāma’s controlled response rather than reckless escalation.