Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 117

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

अग्निचूर्णमिवाविद्धं भास्वराम्बुमहोरगम् ।सुरारिविषयं घोरं पाताळविषमं सदा ।।।।

Transliteration

agnicūrṇam ivāviddhaṃ bhāsvarāmbumahoragam |

surāriviṣayaṃ ghoraṃ pātāḷaviṣamaṃ sadā ||

Translation

大海仿佛被火星刺穿，水光灿然而充满巨蛇；其势骇人，如诸天之敌的境域，恒常呈现出怖畏的波陀罗之崎岖。

Word by Word

• agni-cūrṇam: fire-powder/sparks
• agni-cūrṇam: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + cūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (agner cūrṇam)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya

• āviddham: pierced/shot through, struck
• āviddham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√vidh (धातु) + kta → āviddha (कृदन्त)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; kta (PPP)

• bhāsvara-ambu-mahā-uragam: the great serpent with shining waters (ocean)
• bhāsvara-ambu-mahā-uragam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāsvara (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + uraga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; multi-member tatpuruṣa (bhāsvaram ambu yasya; mahān uragaḥ) used as epithet of ocean

• sura-ari-viṣayam: domain of the enemies of the gods
• sura-ari-viṣayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + ari (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (surāṇām ariṇām viṣayaḥ)

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• pātāla-viṣamam: uneven/awful like Pātāla
• pātāla-viṣamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pātāla (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (pātāle iva viṣamam / pātālasadṛśa-viṣamam)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (adverb of time)

Context

The sea that was the domain of snakes was shining as though sparks of fire from the sky penetrated the drops of sea water.

Characters & Entities

• Ocean
• Pātāla
• Mahoraga (great serpents)

FAQs

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

Dharma is not naïve optimism; it recognizes darkness and danger. The verse models truthful seeing (satya-darśana) as the basis for right action.

What is the narrative situation?

The ocean’s surface appears to glitter like fire-sparks while also suggesting an underworld full of serpents and terror.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness and realism—acknowledging the severity of the challenge without denial.