Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 3

सागरप्रतीक्षा-क्रोधप्रादुर्भावः

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

Devanagari script

वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः ।।6.21.2।।भुजैःपरमनारीणामभिमृष्टमनेकदा ।।6.21.3।।

Transliteration

varakāñcanakeyūramuktāpravarabhūṣaṇaiḥ |

bhujaiḥ paramanārīṇām abhimṛṣṭam anekadā ||6.21.2–6.21.3||

Translation

那双肩——佩戴着上等金臂钏与珍贵的金珠宝饰——曾多次被高贵的女子温柔抚触。

Word by Word

• वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः: with ornaments—fine gold armlets and excellent pearl-jewels
• वरकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर + काञ्चन + केयूर + मुक्तā + प्रवर + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष-समाहार/समुच्चयार्थक-समाससमूहः) — ‘वरकाञ्चनकेयूर’ + ‘मुक्ताप्रवरभूषण’ इत्यादि-भूषणसमूहैः

• भुजैः: by arms/shoulders
• भुजैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• परमनारीणाम्: of the most excellent women
• परमनारीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘परमा नारी’

• अभिमृष्टम्: touched/caressed
• अभिमृष्टम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + मृश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘स्पृष्टम्/परिमृष्टम्’

• अनेकदा: many times
• अनेकदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (प्रत्ययार्थे अव्ययीभाव)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘many times’

Context

The shoulders that have been adorned with the best of gold, pearl and coral ornaments, were besmeared many times by supreme women.

FAQs

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

It presents royal decorum and dignity: a righteous king’s strength is framed not as brutality but as disciplined, culturally refined power.

What is the narrative situation?

A descriptive interlude highlighting Rāma’s majestic presence before the confrontation with the Ocean intensifies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Majesty with restraint—strength that is socially and ethically ordered (maryādā) rather than uncontrolled.