Rama's Wrath at the Ocean

Shloka 1 (yuddha.21.1)

ततः सागरवेलायां दर्भानास्तीर्य राघवः । अञ्जलिं प्राङ्मुखः कृत्वा प्रतिशिश्ये महोदधेः ॥ 21.1 ॥

tataḥ sāgaravelāyāṃ darbhānāstīrya rāghavaḥ | añjaliṃ prāṅmukhaḥ kṛtvā pratiśiśye mahodadheḥ || 21.1 ||

Then Raghava, spreading sacred kusha grass on the seashore, folded his hands in salutation facing east, and lay down before the great ocean.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.21.2)

बाहुं भुजङ्गभोगाभमुपधायारिसूदनः । जातरूपमयैश्चैव भूषणैर्भूषितं पुरा ॥ 21.2 ॥

bāhuṃ bhujaṅgabhogābhamupadhāyārisūdanaḥ | jātarūpamayaiścaiva bhūṣaṇairbhūṣitaṃ purā || 21.2 ||

He, the slayer of foes, rested his head upon his arm, which resembled the coiled body of a serpent — an arm that in earlier days had been adorned with ornaments of pure gold.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.21.3)

मणिकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः । भुजैः परमनारीणामभिमृष्टमनेकधा ॥ 21.3 ॥

maṇikāñcanakeyūramuktāpravarabhūṣaṇaiḥ | bhujaiḥ paramanārīṇāmabhimṛṣṭamanekadhā || 21.3 ||

That arm, once touched again and again by the arms of beautiful women adorned with bracelets of gems, gold, pearls, and the finest jewels—

Shloka 4 (yuddha.21.4)

चन्दनागुरुभिश्चैव पुरस्तादभिसेवितम् । बालसूर्यप्रकाशैश्च चन्दनैरुपशोभितम् ॥ 21.4 ॥

candanāgurubhiścaiva purastādabhisevitam | bālasūryaprakāśaiśca candanairupaśobhitam || 21.4 ||

—had once been anointed with sandal paste and aloe, and made radiant with sandalwood as bright as the rising sun.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.21.5)

शयने चोत्तमाङ्गेन सीतायाः शोभितं पुरा । तक्षकस्येव सम्भोगं गङ्गाजलनिषेवितम् ॥ 21.5 ॥

śayane cottamāṅgena sītāyāḥ śobhitaṃ purā | takṣakasyeva sambhogaṃ gaṅgājalaniṣevitam || 21.5 ||

That arm, on which Sita's head had once rested upon the couch, gracing it as the coiled form of the serpent Takshaka graces the waters of the Ganga in which it rests—

Shloka 6 (yuddha.21.6)

संयुगे युगसंकाशं शत्रूणां शोकवर्धनम् । सुहृदां नन्दनं दीर्घं सागरान्तव्यपाश्रयम् ॥ 21.6 ॥

saṃyuge yugasaṃkāśaṃ śatrūṇāṃ śokavardhanam | suhṛdāṃ nandanaṃ dīrghaṃ sāgarāntavyapāśrayam || 21.6 ||

—that long arm, resembling a yoke in battle, which multiplied the grief of his foes and gladdened his friends, now lay resting at the ocean's edge.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.21.7)

अस्यता च पुनः सव्यं ज्याघातविहतत्वचम् । दक्षिणो दक्षिणं बाहुं महापरिघसंनिभम् ॥ 21.7 ॥

asyatā ca punaḥ savyaṃ jyāghātavihatatvacam | dakṣiṇo dakṣiṇaṃ bāhuṃ mahāparighasaṃnibham || 21.7 ||

And his left arm, its skin roughened by the constant strokes of the bowstring, and his mighty right arm, resembling a great iron bar—

Shloka 8 (yuddha.21.8)

गोसहस्रप्रदातारं ह्युपधाय भुजं महत् । अद्य मे तरणं वाथ मरणं सागरस्य वा ॥ 21.8 ॥

gosahasrapradātāraṃ hyupadhāya bhujaṃ mahat | adya me taraṇaṃ vātha maraṇaṃ sāgarasya vā || 21.8 ||

—resting his great arm, which had given away thousands of cows in charity, as his pillow, Rama resolved: "Today, either I shall cross this ocean, or death shall come to me."

Shloka 9 (yuddha.21.9)

इति रामो धृतिं कृत्वा महाबाहुर्महोदधिम् । अधिशिष्ये च विधिवत् प्रयतो नियतो मुनिः ॥ 21.9 ॥

iti rāmo dhṛtiṃ kṛtvā mahābāhurmahodadhim | adhiśiṣye ca vidhivat prayato niyato muniḥ || 21.9 ||

Having made this firm resolve, the mighty-armed Rama lay down beside the great ocean, self-restrained and disciplined like a sage, exactly according to the sacred rule.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.21.10)

तस्य रामस्य सुप्तस्य कुशास्तीर्णे महीतले । नियमादप्रमत्तस्य निशास्तिस्रोऽभिजग्मतुः ॥ 21.10 ॥

tasya rāmasya suptasya kuśāstīrṇe mahītale | niyamādapramattasya niśāstisro'bhijagmatuḥ || 21.10 ||

As Rama slept there upon the ground spread with kusha grass, faithfully observing his vow without any lapse, three nights passed by.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.21.11)

स त्रिरात्रोषितस्तत्र नयज्ञो धर्मवत्सलः । उपासत तदा रामः सागरं सरितां पतिम् ॥ 21.11 ॥

sa trirātroṣitastatra nayajño dharmavatsalaḥ | upāsata tadā rāmaḥ sāgaraṃ saritāṃ patim || 21.11 ||

There, having spent three nights, Rama — skilled in policy and devoted to righteousness — continued to reverently wait upon the ocean, the lord of rivers.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.21.12)

न च दर्शयते रूपं मन्दो रामस्य सागरः । प्रयतेनापि रामेण यथार्हमभिपूजितः ॥ 21.12 ॥

na ca darśayate rūpaṃ mando rāmasya sāgaraḥ | prayatenāpi rāmeṇa yathārhamabhipūjitaḥ || 21.12 ||

Yet, though duly and reverently honored by the self-disciplined Rama, the indifferent ocean did not show him its true form.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.21.13)

समुद्रस्य ततः क्रुद्धो रामो रक्तान्तलोचनः । समीपस्थमुवाचेदं लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम् ॥ 21.13 ॥

samudrasya tataḥ kruddho rāmo raktāntalocanaḥ | samīpasthamuvācedaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ śubhalakṣaṇam || 21.13 ||

Then Rama, growing angry at the ocean, his eyes reddened at the corners, spoke these words to Lakshmana of auspicious marks, who stood nearby.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.21.14)

अवलेपः समुद्रस्य न दर्शयति यः स्वयम् । प्रशमश्च क्षमा चैव आर्जवं प्रियवादिता ॥ 21.14 ॥

avalepaḥ samudrasya na darśayati yaḥ svayam | praśamaśca kṣamā caiva ārjavaṃ priyavāditā || 21.14 ||

"See the arrogance of the ocean, that it does not show itself before me! Truly, tranquility, forbearance, straightforwardness, and gentle speech—

Shloka 15 (yuddha.21.15)

असामर्थ्यफला ह्येते निर्गुणेषु सतां गुणाः । आत्मप्रशंसिनं दुष्टं धृष्टं विपरिधावकम् ॥ 21.15 ॥

asāmarthyaphalā hyete nirguṇeṣu satāṃ guṇāḥ | ātmapraśaṃsinaṃ duṣṭaṃ dhṛṣṭaṃ viparidhāvakam || 21.15 ||

—these virtues of the noble, when shown toward those without virtue, bear only the fruit of weakness. This world instead honors the man who praises himself, who is wicked, insolent, and rushes about everywhere—

Shloka 16 (yuddha.21.16)

सर्वत्रोत्सृष्टदण्डं च लोकः सत्कुरुते नरम् । न साम्ना शक्यते कीर्तिर्न साम्ना शक्यते यशः ॥ 21.16 ॥

sarvatrotsṛṣṭadaṇḍaṃ ca lokaḥ satkurute naram | na sāmnā śakyate kīrtirna sāmnā śakyate yaśaḥ || 21.16 ||

—and who has cast off all restraint. Neither fame nor glory can ever be won through mere conciliation, Lakshmana,

Shloka 17 (yuddha.21.17)

प्राप्तुं लक्ष्मण लोकेऽस्मिञ्जयो वा रणमूर्धनि । अद्य मद्बाणनिर्भग्नैर्मकरैर्मकरालयम् ॥ 21.17 ॥

prāptuṃ lakṣmaṇa loke'smiñjayo vā raṇamūrdhani | adya madbāṇanirbhagnairmakarairmakarālayam || 21.17 ||

nor victory at the height of battle, in this world. Today, behold this ocean, its crocodiles shattered and floating everywhere, broken by my arrows,

Shloka 18 (yuddha.21.18)

निरुद्धतोयं सौमित्रे प्लवद्भिः पश्य सर्वतः । भोगिनां पश्य भोगानि मया भिन्नानि लक्ष्मण ॥ 21.18 ॥

niruddhatoyaṃ saumitre plavadbhiḥ paśya sarvataḥ | bhogināṃ paśya bhogāni mayā bhinnāni lakṣmaṇa || 21.18 ||

its waters choked on every side, O Saumitri! See, O Lakshmana, the coils of the great serpents which I have torn apart—

Shloka 19 (yuddha.21.19)

महाभोगानि मत्स्यानां करिणां च करानिह । सशङ्खशुक्तिकाजालं समीनमकरं तथा ॥ 21.19 ॥

mahābhogāni matsyānāṃ kariṇāṃ ca karāniha | saśaṅkhaśuktikājālaṃ samīnamakaraṃ tathā || 21.19 ||

—the huge bodies of great fish and the trunks of sea-elephants here, together with its multitude of conches and oyster-shells, its fish and crocodiles.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.21.20)

अद्य युद्धेन महता समुद्रं परिशोषये । क्षमया हि समायुक्तं मामयं मकरालयः ॥ 21.20 ॥

adya yuddhena mahatā samudraṃ pariśoṣaye | kṣamayā hi samāyuktaṃ māmayaṃ makarālayaḥ || 21.20 ||

Today, in this great battle, I shall dry up the ocean utterly. For this abode of crocodiles, seeing me endowed with forbearance,

Shloka 21 (yuddha.21.21)

असमर्थं विजानाति धिक् क्षमामीदृशे जने । न दर्शयति साम्ना मे सागरो रूपमात्मनः ॥ 21.21 ॥

asamarthaṃ vijānāti dhik kṣamāmīdṛśe jane | na darśayati sāmnā me sāgaro rūpamātmanaḥ || 21.21 ||

takes me to be incapable. Shame on forbearance shown to such a being! The ocean does not, for all my gentle words, show me its own form.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.21.22)

चापमानय सौमित्रे शरांश्चाशीविषोपमान् । समुद्रं शोषयिष्यामि पद्भ्यां यान्तु प्लवंगमाः ॥ 21.22 ॥

cāpamānaya saumitre śarāṃścāśīviṣopamān | samudraṃ śoṣayiṣyāmi padbhyāṃ yāntu plavaṃgamāḥ || 21.22 ||

Bring me my bow, O Saumitri, and arrows resembling venomous serpents. I shall dry up this ocean, so that the vanaras may cross it on foot.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.21.23)

अद्याक्षोभ्यमपि क्रुद्धः क्षोभयिष्यामि सागरम् । वेलासु कृतमर्यादं सहस्रोर्मिसमाकुलम् ॥ 21.23 ॥

adyākṣobhyamapi kruddhaḥ kṣobhayiṣyāmi sāgaram | velāsu kṛtamaryādaṃ sahasrormisamākulam || 21.23 ||

Today, enraged, I shall stir up the ocean even though it is unshakeable — the ocean bound within its shores, agitated with a thousand waves.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.21.24)

निर्मर्यादं करिष्यामि सायकैर्वरुणालयम् । महार्णवं क्षोभयिष्ये महादानवसंकुलम् ॥ 21.24 ॥

nirmaryādaṃ kariṣyāmi sāyakairvaruṇālayam | mahārṇavaṃ kṣobhayiṣye mahādānavasaṃkulam || 21.24 ||

With my arrows I shall strip Varuna's abode of all its bounds; I shall churn up the great ocean, thronged with mighty demons."

Shloka 25 (yuddha.21.25)

एवमुक्त्वा धनुष्पाणिः क्रोधविस्फारितेक्षणः । बभूव रामो दुर्धर्षो युगान्ताग्निरिव ज्वलन् ॥ 21.25 ॥

evamuktvā dhanuṣpāṇiḥ krodhavisphāritekṣaṇaḥ | babhūva rāmo durdharṣo yugāntāgniriva jvalan || 21.25 ||

Having spoken thus, bow in hand, his eyes wide with fury, Rama became terrifying to behold, blazing like the fire that consumes the world at the end of an age.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.21.26)

सम्पीड्य च धनुर्घोरं कम्पयित्वा शरैर्जगत् । मुमोच विशिखानुग्रान् वज्रानिव शतक्रतुः ॥ 21.26 ॥

sampīḍya ca dhanurghoraṃ kampayitvā śarairjagat | mumoca viśikhānugrān vajrāniva śatakratuḥ || 21.26 ||

Drawing his terrible bow taut, making the world tremble with the force of his arrows, he loosed fierce shafts, like Indra of a hundred sacrifices hurling his thunderbolts.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.21.27)

ते ज्वलन्तो महावेगास्तेजसा सायकोत्तमाः । प्रविशन्ति समुद्रस्य जलं वित्रस्तपन्नगम् ॥ 21.27 ॥

te jvalanto mahāvegāstejasā sāyakottamāḥ | praviśanti samudrasya jalaṃ vitrastapannagam || 21.27 ||

Those blazing, swift, splendorous shafts plunged into the waters of the ocean, terrifying its serpents.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.21.28)

तोयवेगः समुद्रस्य समीनमकरो महान् । स बभूव महाघोरः समारुतरवस्तथा ॥ 21.28 ॥

toyavegaḥ samudrasya samīnamakaro mahān | sa babhūva mahāghoraḥ samārutaravastathā || 21.28 ||

The great surge of the ocean's waters, with its fish and crocodiles, together with the roar of the wind, became terrifying beyond measure.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.21.29)

महोर्मिमालाविततः शङ्खशुक्तिसमावृतः । सधूमः परिवृत्तोर्मिः सहसासीन्महोदधिः ॥ 21.29 ॥

mahormimālāvitataḥ śaṅkhaśuktisamāvṛtaḥ | sadhūmaḥ parivṛttormiḥ sahasāsīnmahodadhiḥ || 21.29 ||

In an instant the great ocean was spread with garlands of towering waves, strewn with conches and oyster-shells, its whirling waves trailing smoke.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.21.30)

व्यथिताः पन्नगाश्चासन् दीप्तास्या दीप्तलोचनाः । दानवाश्च महावीर्याः पातालतलवासिनः ॥ 21.30 ॥

vyathitāḥ pannagāścāsan dīptāsyā dīptalocanāḥ | dānavāśca mahāvīryāḥ pātālatalavāsinaḥ || 21.30 ||

The serpents, their mouths and eyes ablaze, grew agitated, as did the mighty demons who dwelt in the depths of the netherworld.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.21.31)

ऊर्मयः सिन्धुराजस्य सनक्रमकरास्तथा । विन्ध्यमन्दरसंकाशाः समुत्पेतुः सहस्रशः ॥ 21.31 ॥

ūrmayaḥ sindhurājasya sanakramakarāstathā | vindhyamandarasaṃkāśāḥ samutpetuḥ sahasraśaḥ || 21.31 ||

Thousands of waves, together with crocodiles and sea-monsters, rose up from the lord of rivers, resembling the Vindhya and Mandara mountains.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.21.32)

आघूर्णिततरङ्गौघः सम्भ्रान्तोरगराक्षसः । उद्वर्तितमहाग्राहः सघोषो वरुणालयः ॥ 21.32 ॥

āghūrṇitataraṅgaughaḥ sambhrāntoragarākṣasaḥ | udvartitamahāgrāhaḥ saghoṣo varuṇālayaḥ || 21.32 ||

Varuna's abode, its floods of waves surging and reeling, its serpents and demons thrown into panic, its huge crocodiles hurled up, filled with a tumultuous roar.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.21.33)

ततस्तु तं राघवमुग्रवेगं प्रकर्षमाणं धनुरप्रमेयम् । सौमित्रिरुत्पत्य विनिःश्वसन्तं मामेति चोक्त्वा धनुराललम्बे ॥ 21.33 ॥

tatastu taṃ rāghavamugravegaṃ prakarṣamāṇaṃ dhanuraprameyam | saumitrirutpatya viniḥśvasantaṃ māmeti coktvā dhanurālalambe || 21.33 ||

Then Saumitri sprang up and, crying "No further!" caught hold of the bow, as Raghava, sighing heavily, drew his incomparable bow with terrible force.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.21.34)

एतद्विनापि ह्युदधेस्तवाद्य सम्पत्स्यते वीरतमस्य कार्यम् । भवद्विधाः क्रोधवशं न यान्ति दीर्घं भवान् पश्यतु साधुवृत्तम् ॥ 21.34 ॥

etadvināpi hyudadhestavādya sampatsyate vīratamasya kāryam | bhavadvidhāḥ krodhavaśaṃ na yānti dīrghaṃ bhavān paśyatu sādhuvṛttam || 21.34 ||

"Even without destroying the ocean, your purpose, O greatest of heroes, will surely be accomplished today. Men of your stature do not fall under the sway of anger — consider, my lord, a nobler and more lasting course."

Shloka 35 (yuddha.21.35)

अन्तर्हितैश्चापि तथान्तरिक्षे ब्रह्मर्षिभिश्चैव सुरर्षिभिश्च । शब्दः कृतः कष्टमिति ब्रुवद्भिर्मामेति चोक्त्वा महता स्वरेण ॥ 21.35 ॥

antarhitaiścāpi tathāntarikṣe brahmarṣibhiścaiva surarṣibhiśca | śabdaḥ kṛtaḥ kaṣṭamiti bruvadbhirmāmeti coktvā mahatā svareṇa || 21.35 ||

And from the unseen heights of the sky, the brahmarshis and the celestial sages, hidden from view, cried out together in loud voices, "Alas! No further, no further!"