Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 16

Śrī Rāmacandra-avatāra — Vow, Exile, Laṅkā-vijaya, and Rāma-rājya

Concise Bhāgavata Account

Devanagari script

बद्ध्वोदधौ रघुपतिर्विविधाद्रिकूटै: सेतुं कपीन्द्रकरकम्पितभूरुहाङ्गै: । सुग्रीवनीलहनुमत्प्रमुखैरनीकै- र्लङ्कां विभीषणद‍ृशाविशदग्रदग्धाम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

baddhvodadhau raghu-patir vividhādri-kūṭaiḥ setuṁ kapīndra-kara-kampita-bhūruhāṅgaiḥ sugrīva-nīla-hanumat-pramukhair anīkair laṅkāṁ vibhīṣaṇa-dṛśāviśad agra-dagdhām

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī nói: Sau khi dựng cây cầu vượt biển bằng cách ném xuống nước những đỉnh núi với cây cối rung chuyển bởi tay các đại vượn, đức Raghupati (Rāmacandra) tiến đến Laṅkā để giải cứu Sītādevī khỏi tay Rāvaṇa. Nhờ sự chỉ dẫn và trợ giúp của Vibhīṣaṇa, cùng đạo quân khỉ do Sugrīva, Nīla và Hanumān dẫn đầu, Ngài tiến vào vương đô Laṅkā vốn đã từng bị Hanumān thiêu cháy trước đó.

Synonyms

• बद्ध्वा: having built
• बद्ध्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), 'having bound/built'

• उदधौ: in the ocean
• उदधौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• रघु-पतिः: Raghu’s lord (Rāma)
• रघु-पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघु (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी: 'of Raghu'); प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• विविध-अद्रि-कूटैः: with various mountain-peaks
• विविध-अद्रि-कूटैः: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + कूट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (विविध+अद्रि-कूट); तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कूट)

• सेतुम्: the bridge
• सेतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• कपीन्द्र-कर-कम्पित-भूरुह-अङ्गैः: with (peaks) whose limbs were shaken by the hands of monkey-lords
• कपीन्द्र-कर-कम्पित-भूरुह-अङ्गैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक) + कम्पित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + भूरुह (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः; तृतीया, बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अङ्ग); विशेषणम् (qualifying the peaks)

• सुग्रीव-नील-हनुमत्-प्रमुखैः: with troops led by Sugrīva, Nīla, and Hanumān
• सुग्रीव-नील-हनुमत्-प्रमुखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक) + नील (प्रातिपदिक) + हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (प्रमुख = 'led by'); तृतीया, बहुवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (of anīkaiḥ)

• अनीकैः: with armies; with forces
• अनीकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• लङ्काम्: Laṅkā
• लङ्काम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• विभीषण-दृशा: by (the guidance/sight) of Vibhīṣaṇa
• विभीषण-दृशा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक) + दृश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी: 'of Vibhīṣaṇa'); तृतीया, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (दृश्)

• अविशद्: entered
• अविशद्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु) + अव (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अग्र-दग्धाम्: already burnt (beforehand)
• अग्र-दग्धाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः ('previously/beforehand burnt'); द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (of laṅkām)

Purport

Great mountain peaks covered with trees and plants were thrown into the sea by the monkey soldiers and began to float by the supreme will of the Lord. By the supreme will of the Lord, many great planets float weightlessly in space like swabs of cotton. If this is possible, why should great mountain peaks not be able to float on water? This is the omnipotence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He can do anything and everything He likes, because He is not under the control of the material nature; indeed, material nature is controlled by Him. Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sacarācaram: only under His direction does prakṛti, or material nature, work. Similar information is given in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.52) :

Characters & Entities

• Lord Rāmacandra (Raghupati)
• Sugrīva
• Nīla
• Hanumān
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Monkey leaders (Vānara chiefs)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the building of Rama’s bridge to Lanka?

This verse states that Lord Rāmacandra built a bridge across the ocean using mountain peaks and trees moved by the powerful monkey leaders, enabling His army to reach Laṅkā.

Why is Vibhishana mentioned in this verse about Lanka being burned?

The verse highlights Vibhīṣaṇa’s clear foresight—Laṅkā’s burning was something he could already “see,” underscoring that Rāma’s victory was inevitable and divinely ordained.

Practical application of Rama Leela in modern life?

Rāma’s mission succeeds through disciplined leadership and devoted teamwork—an example of aligning strength, planning, and service to dharma for a righteous outcome.