Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 121

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

अन्योन्यैराहता स्सक्ता स्सस्वनुर्भीमनिस्स्वनाः ।ऊर्मयस्सिन्धुराजस्य महाभेर्य इवाहवे ।।।।

Transliteration

anyonyair āhatāḥ saktāḥ sasvanur bhīmanissvanāḥ |

ūrmayas sindhurājasya mahābherya ivāhave ||

Translation

海王之浪彼此撞击、相互纠缠，发出骇人的轰鸣，宛如战场上巨大的战鼓，仿佛在发出挑战。

Word by Word

• anyonyaḥ: by one another
• anyonyaḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana (instrumental used with āhatāḥ: 'by one another')

• āhatāḥ: struck
• āhatāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√han (धातु) + kta → āhata (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kta (PPP) agreeing with ūrmayaḥ (f.)

• saktāḥ: clinging/entangled
• saktāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sañj/√saj (धातु) + kta → sakta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kta (PPP)

• sasvanuḥ: sounded, made noise
• sasvanuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sa-√svan (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• bhīma-nissvanāḥ: having dreadful sound
• bhīma-nissvanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + nissvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya (bhīmaḥ nissvanaḥ yāsām)

• ūrmayaḥ: waves
• ūrmayaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūrmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• sindhu-rājasya: of the king of rivers (ocean)
• sindhu-rājasya: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sindhu (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (sindhūnām rājā)

• mahā-bheryaḥ: great war-drums
• mahā-bheryaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bherī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya (mahā bherī)

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

• āhave: in battle
• āhave: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

Context

"These hundreds and thousands of lion-like vanaras would walk in groups leading the army like the fierce tides of the ocean".

FAQs

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

Dharma in conflict requires readiness without rashness: the ‘battle-like’ ocean underscores that righteous aims still demand disciplined preparation.

What is the narrative situation?

At the shore, the sea’s waves crash loudly, sounding like instruments of war.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage under foreboding—maintaining resolve when surroundings seem to ‘challenge’ the mission.