Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

अयंसौम्य: नलोनामतनयोविश्वकर्मणः ।पित्रादत्तवरशीमान्प्रतिमोविश्वकर्मणाः ।।।।

Transliteration

ayaṃ saumyaḥ nalo nāma tanayo viśvakarmaṇaḥ | pitrā dattavaraḥ śrīmān pratimo viśvakarmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

اے شریف راما! یہ سعادت مند نَل نامی، وشوکرما کا پتر ہے۔ پتا کے عطا کردہ ور سے سرفراز، عمارت سازی کے ہنر میں اپنے پتا وشوکرما کے مانند ہے۔

Word by Word

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता; subject of करोतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सेतुम्: a bridge
• सेतुम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महोत्साहः: of great zeal
• महोत्साहः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् उत्साहः यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण एषः/वानरः

• करोतु: let (him) make/build
• करोतु: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• मयि: upon me
• मयि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; locus: upon me)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• वानरः: the vanara
• वानरः: Karta (कर्ता; subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; एषः इत्यस्य विशेष्यः

• तम्: him / that (bridge-work/one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject of धारयिष्यामि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धारयिष्यामि: I will support/bear
• धारयिष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) -> धारय् (णिच् causative धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamāna (उपमान; comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative: as)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Prayojaka-nipāta (प्रयोजक-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• एषः: this one
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता; subject of implied comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पिता: father
• पिता: Upamāna (उपमान; standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Upameya-anvaya (उपमेय-अन्वय; correlative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तदनुरूप-प्रकारवाचक (correlative: so/likewise)

Context

"Noble Rama! This prosperous one named Nala is the son of Vishwakarma. Since he has obtained boons from his father, he is equal to his father in architecture."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Nala
• Viśvakarman

FAQs

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

Dharma here is right appointment and rightful reliance: leadership recognizes true competence and channels it for a righteous mission rather than acting from impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

The Ocean-deity identifies Nala to Rāma as the qualified builder for constructing the sea-bridge to Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competence joined with legitimacy—Nala’s skill is grounded in training/boons and is presented as trustworthy for the common good.