Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 1

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

Rama’s Vigil at the Ocean and the Rise of Wrath

Devanagari script

ततस्सागरवेलायांदर्भानास्तीर्यराघवः ।अञ्जलिंप्राङ्मुखःकृत्वाप्रतिशिश्येमहोदधेः ।।6.21.1।।बाहुंभुजगभोगाभमुपधायारिसूदनः ।

Transliteration

tatas sāgara-velāyāṃ darbhān āstīrya rāghavaḥ |

añjaliṃ prāṅ-mukhaḥ kṛtvā pratiśiśye mahodadheḥ ||

bāhuṃ bhujaga-bhogābham upadhāyāri-sūdanaḥ ||

Translation

Bấy giờ, nơi bờ biển, Rāghava trải cỏ darbha; hướng mặt về phương Đông, chắp tay cung kính, rồi nằm xuống bên đại dương, lấy cánh tay cuộn như mình rắn làm gối—bậc diệt trừ kẻ thù.

Word by Word

• वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः: with fine golden armlets and excellent pearl ornaments
• वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषण (प्रातिपदिक; वर+काञ्चन+केयूर+मुक्ता+प्रवर+भूषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (contextual; ‘ornaments’), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative): ‘with ornaments such as fine golden armlets and excellent pearl-ornaments’

• भुजैः: by arms
• भुजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• परमनारीणाम्: of the most excellent women
• परमनारीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमनारी (प्रातिपदिक; परम+नारी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अभिमृष्टम्: touched/caressed
• अभिमृष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√मृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘touched/caressed’

• अनेकदा: many times
• अनेकदा: Sambandha/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकदा (अव्यय; अनेक+दा)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/आवृत्ति-वाचक (adverb: many times)

Context

"Departing quickly, speak to the king Sugriva boldly without getting disturbed but in a gentle way and communicate this message."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

Dharma as disciplined humility: before decisive action, Rāma performs a reverent, restrained act—showing that power should be guided by ritual order and self-control.

What is the narrative situation?

After reaching the seashore, Rāma prepares a darbha bed, faces east in reverence, and rests by the ocean—setting the stage for the ensuing interaction with the sea.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and spiritual discipline: even as a warrior-leader, Rāma maintains reverence and restraint.