Sloka & Translation

[When the ocean did not give way, Rama gets angry and resorts to stirring up the ocean with his arrows.]

tatassāgaravēlāyāṅdarbhānāstīryarāghavaḥ .

añjaliṅprāṅmukhaḥkṛtvāpratiśiśyēmahōdadhēḥ ।।6.21.1।।

bāhuṅbhujagabhōgābhamupadhāyārisūdanaḥ .

tataḥ then, arisūdanaḥ one who is a destroyer of his foes, rāghavaḥ Raghava, sāgaravēlāyām on the sea shore, darbhān on kusa grass, āstīrya spread, mahōdadhēḥ great ocean, añjalim obeisance, kṛtvā offering, prāṅmukhaḥ face turned towards east, bhujagabhōgām like serpent coiled and resting, bāhum shoulders, upadhāya resting upon, pratiśiśyē lay down.

Then Raghava the destroyer of foes, offered his obeisance turning his face towards east, spread the kusa grass mat on the seashore and lay down resting his head upon his shoulders like a coiled serpent.

varakāñcanakēyūramuktāpravarabhūṣaṇaiḥ ।।6.21.2।।

bhujaiḥparamanārīṇāmabhimṛṣṭamanēkadā ।।6.21.3।।

varakāñcanakēyūramuktāpravarabhūṣaṇaiḥ armlet adorned with best of gold, pearls and coral ornaments, paramanārīṇām by supreme women, bhujaiḥ shoulders, anēkāthā many times, abhimṛṣṭam besmeared.

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

candanāgurubhiścaivapurastādadhivāsitam .

bālasūryaprakāśaiścandanairupaśōbhitam ।।6.21.4।।

purastāt earlier, candanāgurubhiścaiva with sandal paste and Agaru, adhivāsitam emitting, bālasūryaprakāśaiḥ the brilliance of rising Sun, candhanaiḥ sandal, upaśōbhitam very charming.

The very charming shoulders, smeared with sandal paste and Agaru fragrance emitting the brilliance of the rising Sun.

śayanēcōttamāṅgēnasītāyāśśōbhitaṅpurā .

takṣakasyēvasambhōgagaṅgājalaniṣēcitam ।।6.21.5।।

purā earlier, śayanē while he slept, sītāyāḥ Sita's, uttamāṅgēna the best of women, śōbhitam graced, gaṅgājalaniṣēvitam given bath with waters of Ganga, takṣakasya Takshaka's, sambhōgamiva as if united in delight.

(The shoulders) which resembled the coils of Takshaka (in chubbiness) a principal serpent, was graced by Sita while in bed, was bathed by the best of women with waters of Ganga.

saṅyugēyugasaṅkāśaṅśatrūṇāṅśōkavardhanam .

suhṛdānandanaṅdīrghaṅsāgarāntavyapāśrayam ।।6.21.6।।

dīrgham long, yugasaṅkāśam like the union of Yuga, saṅyugē in war, śatrūṇām to the enemies, śōkavarthanam that which brings grief, suhṛdām to friends, nandanam delightful, sāgarāntavyapāśrayam like the earth bound by the ocean on all sides.

The shoulders were long like the union of Yugas, which brought grief to the enemies in war and delight to the friends, and like the earth bound by the ocean on all sides.

asatyācapunassavyaṅjyāghātavigatatvacam .

dakṣiṇōdakṣiṇaṅbāhuṅmahāparighasannibham ।।6.21.7।।

gōsahasrapradāraṅmupadhāyamahatbhujam .

adyamēmaraṇaṅvādataraṇaṅsāgarasyavā ।।6.21.8।।

tirāmōmatiṅkṛtvāmahābāhurmahōdadhim .

adhiśiśyēcavidhivatprayatōniyatōmuniḥ ।।6.21.9।।

mahābāhuḥ mighty armed, dakṣiṇaḥ to left, rāmaḥ Rama, asyatā released, jyāghātavigatatvacam hardened by the large number of arrows released, savyam by it, bāhum by the arm, mahāparighasannibham like the iron bar, gōsahasrapradātāram thousands of cows given as gift, mahat large, dakṣiṇam to the left, bhujam arm, upadhāya by strokes, adya now, mē my, sāgarasya of the ocean taraṇaṅvā or the crossing over, maraṇaṅvā or death, iti thus, dhṛtim determined, kṛtvā having resolved, atra and then, vidhivat accordingly, prayatō self restrained, muniḥ sage, niyataḥ one who is subdued, mahādadhim great ocean, adhiśiśyē lay down.

The mighty armed Rama's arms were hardened like that of iron bars by the large number of arrows received by the left arm and strained by giving thousands of cows as gifts by the right arm. Rama was determined now to cross over the great ocean or meet the sea with death and lay down subdued and restrained like a sage.

tasyarāmasyasuptasyakuśāstīrṇēmahītalē .

niyamādapramattasyaniśāstisrō.ticakramuḥ ।।6.21.10।।

niyamāt with vow, apramattasya kept himself alert, tasya his, rāmasya Rama's, kuśāstīrṇē on the kusa grass mat, mahītalē on the ground, suptasya lying down, tisraḥ three, niśāḥ nights, aticakramuḥ rolled fast.

As Rama kept himself alert with a vow and lay on the kusa grass m at spread on the ground, three nights rolled fast.

satrirātrōṣitastatranayajñōdharmavatsalaḥ .

upāsatatadārāmassāgaraṅsaritāṅpatim ।।6.21.11।।

tadā then, tatra there, nayajñaḥ one having political foresight, dharmavatsalaḥ lover of dharma, rāmaḥ Rama, trīrātrōṣitaḥ spent three nights, saritāṅpatim Lord of rivers, sāgaram the ocean, upāsata waiting upon.

Rama, a lover of dharma, who had political foresight, spent three nights waiting upon the ocean, the Lord of rivers.

nacadarśayatērūpaṅmandōrāmasyasāgaraḥ .

prayatēnāpirāmēṇayathārhamabhipūjitaḥ ।।6.21.12।।

prayatēna though self-restrained, rāmēṇa by Rama, yathārham according to propriety, abhipūjitaḥ well respected, api also, mandaḥ dull, sāgaraḥ the ocean, rāmasya to Rama, rūpam real form, nacadarśayatē did not show.

Though Rama remained self-restrained and respected the ocean well according to propriety, the ocean was dull and did not show its real form.

samudrasyatataḥkruddhōrāmōraktāntalōcanaḥ .

samīpasthamuvācēdaṅlakṣmaṇaṅśubhalakṣmaṇam ।।6.21.13।।

tataḥ then, samudrasya at the ocean, kruddha: enraged, raktāntalōcanaḥ eyes turned red, rāmaḥ Rama, samīpastham went near, śubhalakṣaṇam possessed of auspicious marks, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, idam thus, uvāca addressed.

Enraged at the ocean, Rama's eyes turned red. He went near Lakshmana who was endowed with auspicious marks and thus addressed.

avalēpassamudrasyanadarśayatiyatsvayam .

praśamaścakṣamācaivaārjavaṅpriyavāditā ।।6.21.14।।

asāmarthyaṅphalnātyētēnirguṇēṣusatāṅguṇāḥ .

yaḥ who is it, svayam by himself, nadarśayati does not show up, samudrasya ocean's, avalēpaḥ pride, praśamaścaiva calmness also, kṣamācaiva with forbearance, ārjavam straight forwardness, priyavāditā politeness of speech, ētē all these, satām virtues, guṇāḥ qualities, nirguṇēṣu without attributes, asāmarthyaphalāḥhi construed indeed as incapability.

"Why is it that the ocean does not show up to me? Indeed, calmness, forbearance, straightforwardness, politeness of speech are all attributes of virtuous qualities and one without these attributes are considered incapable."

ātmapraśaṅsinaṅdṛṣṭaṅdhṛṣṭaṅviparithāvakam .

sarvatrōtsṛṣṭadaṇḍaṅcalōkassatkurutēnaram ।।6.21.15।।

lōkaḥ the world, ātmapraśaṅsinam praising one's own self, duṣṭam wicked ones, dhṛṣṭam impudent, viparithāvakam an unchaste one, sarvatra all over utsṛṣṭadaṇḍaṅcanaram one who goes about with a rod of punishment, satkurutē treat with respect.

"Indeed, the world treats one with respect, who praises himself, as an impudent one, an unchaste one and one who goes about with a rod of punishment (not the one who is virtuous)."

nasāmnāśakyatēkīrtirnasāmnāśakyatēyaśaḥ .

prāptuṅlakṣmaṇa lōkē.smin ñjayōvāraṇamūrdhani ।।6.21.16।।

lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, asmin in this, lōkē world, sāmnā in front, kīrtiḥ popularity, prāptum is attained, naśakyatē not possible, yaśaḥ fame, na not, raṇamūrdhani in battlefront, jayōvā victorious, na not.

"O! Lakshmana! Neither fame nor popularity can win a battle front in this world."

adyamadbāṇanirbhagnairmakarairmakarānilayam .

niruddhatōyaṅsaumitrēplavabhadiḥpaśyasarvataḥ ।।6.21.17।।

saumitrē Saumithri, adya now, mahadbāṇanirbhagnaiḥ shattered by my ruthless arrows, plavabadiḥ jumping and floating, makaraiḥ crocodiles, sarvataḥ all over, niruddatōyam water splashed all sides, makarālayam abode of crocodiles, paśya witness.

"Saumithri! Witness the crocodiles shattered by my ruthless arrows jumping and floating in the ocean with water splashed on all sides."

mahābhōgānimatsyānāṅkariṇāṅcakarāha .

bhōgināṅpaśyanāgānāṅmayāchinnānilakṣmaṇa ।।6.21.18।।

lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, mayā by me, chinnāni cut into pieces, bhōginām serpents, nāgānāṅ serpents coiled, matsyānām fishes, mahābhōgāni huge snakes, kariṇām sea elephants, kārāha large, iha now here, paśya see.

"Lakshmana! See here the coils of serpents, huge snakes, fish and large sea elephants cut into pieces by me."

saśaṅkhaśuktijālaṅsamīnamakaraṅtathā .

adyayuddhēnamahatāsamudraṅpariśōṣayē ।।6.21.19।।

saśaṅkhaśuktikājālam water with its shells, conchs, tathā so also, samīnamakaram with fishes and crocodiles, samudram ocean, adya now, mahatā, great yuddhēna combat, pariśōṣayē will make it dry.

"I shall make the ocean dry up with its shells and conchs, fishes and crocodiles in this great combat."

kṣamayāhisamāyuktaṅmāmayaṅmakarālayaḥ .

asamarthaṅvijānātidhik kṣamāmīdṛśējanē ।।6.21.20।।

kṣamayā tolerance, samāyuktam remaining, mām me, āyam this, makarālayaḥ abode of fish, asamartham incapable, vijānāti do not know, īdṛśē endowed with such qualities, janē people, kṣamām forbearance, dhik show.

"By my being tolerant, this ocean treats me to be incapable. Endowed with such qualities of forbearance, I will show the people (ocean)."

nadarśayatisāmnāmēsāgarōrūpamātmanaḥ ।।6.21.21।।

cāpamānayasaumitrēśarāṅścāśīviṣōpamān .

sāgaraṅśōṣayiṣyāmipad bhyāṅyāntuplavaṅgamāḥ ।।6.21.22।।

sāgaraḥ ocean's, sāmnā to me, mē I, ātmānam its own form, nadarśayitī not shown, saumitrē O Saumithri, cāpam bow, āśīviṣōṣamān resembling venomous snake, śarāṅśca arrows, ānaya get, samudram ocean, śōṣayiṣyāmi will make it dry, plavaṅgamāḥ all the Vanaras, pad byām by foot, yāntu go.

"The ocean has not shown his own form to me. O! Lakshmana! Get the bow and venomous snake like arrows, I will dry up the ocean and the Vanaras can walk by foot and go."

adyākṣōbhyamapikruddhaḥkṣōbhayiṣyāmisāgaram .

vēlāsukṛtamaryādaṅsahasrōrmisamākulam ।।6.21.23।।

nirmaryādaṅkariṣyāmisāyāyikairvaruṇālayam .

mahārṇavaṅkṣōbhayiṣyēmahādānavasaṅkulam ।।6.21.24।।

kruddha: made to be angry, adya now, akṣōbhyamapi even though imperturbable, sāgaram ocean, kṣōbhayiṣyāmi will torment, vēlāsu thousands, kṛtamaryādam one who has limits, sahasrōrmisamākulam with thousands of waves, varuṇālayam the ocean, an abode of Lord Varuna, nirmaryādam cross its boundary, sāyakaiḥ with arrows, kariṣyāmi will make it, mahādānavasaṅkulam mighty demons, mahārṇavam great ocean, kṣōbhayiṣyē will torment.

"(The ocean) Having made me angry, now I will torment the ocean even though it is imperturbable and has its limits. I will torment the ocean with its thousands of waves and mighty demons by my arrows and make the ocean cross its boundary."

ēvamuktvādhanuṣpāṇiḥkrōdhavisphāritēkṣaṇaḥ .

babhūvarāmōdurdharṣōyugāntānagirivajvalan ।।6.21.25।।

ēvam in that manner, uktvā having spoken, dhanuṣpāṇiḥ bows etc. krōdhavisphāritēkṣaṇaḥ with flaming red eyes, rāmaḥ Rama, jvalan burning, yugāntānagiriva like the flame at the end of the universe, durdharṣaḥ unassailable, babhūva seemed.

Having spoken like that, Rama with his flaming red eyes seemed like the flame at the end of the universe and unassailable.

sampīḍyacadhanurghōraṅkampayitvāśarairjagat .

mumōcaviśikhānugrānvajrānivaśatakratuḥ ।।6.21.26।।

ghōram terrific, dhanuḥ bow, sampīḍyaca bending, śaraiḥ arrow, jagat universe, kampayitvā making to tremble, śatakratuḥ one who has performed a hundred sacrifices, vajrāniva like Indra, ugrān frightful, viśikhān arrows, mumōca released.

Bending the terrific bow, he released frightful arrows like Indra (who released thunderbolts) who performed a hundred sacrifices.

tējvalantōmahāvēgāstējasāsāyakōttamāḥ .

praviśantisamudrasyasalilaṅtrastapannagam ।।6.21.27।।

tējasā glowing in brilliance, jvalantaḥ flaming, vēgāḥ speedily, tē that, sāyakōttamāḥ best among the arrows, trastapannagam like the snakes, samudrasya into the ocean, salilam waters, praviśanti pierced.

Glowing in brilliance like flame, the arrows of the best among the arrows pierced like snakes into the water of the ocean.

tōyavēgassamudrasyasanakramakarōmahān .

sambabhūvamahāghōrassamārutaravastadā ।।6.21.28।।

samudrasya ocean's, samīnamakaraḥ with fishes and crocodiles, tadā similarly, samārutaravaḥ with wind, mahān powerful, saḥ that, tōyavēgaḥ rush of water, mahāghōraḥ terrible, babhūva seemed.

Then the ocean seemed terrible with the fish and crocodiles rushing out with the speed of water and powerful wind.

mahōrmikulāvitataśśaṅkhajālasamāvṛtaḥ .

sadhūmaḥparivṛttōrmissahasāsīnmahōdadhiḥ ।।6.21.29।।

sahasā all of a sudden, mahōdadhiḥ great ocean, mahōrmijālacalitaḥ with the movement of the water, śaṅkhajālasamāvṛtaḥ filled with conchs and shells, sadhūmaḥ terrific smoke, parivṛttōrmiḥ whirling round and rising up, āsīt played around.

With the movement of the sea water filled with the conchs and shells suddenly terrific smoke whirling round and rising played around.

vyathitāḥpannagāścāsadanīptāsyādīptalōcanāḥ .

dānavāścamahāvīryāḥpātāḷatalavāsinaḥ ।।6.21.30।।

dīptāsyāḥ those blazing, dīptalōcanāḥ ones with glowing eyes, pannagāḥ snakes, pātāḷatalavāsinaḥ those who reside in underworld, mahāvīryāḥ highly valiant ones, dānavāśca and the demons, vyathityāḥ oppressed āsan became.

Those snakes with blazing hoods and glowing eyes residing in the underworld and the demons became oppressed.

ūrmayassindhurājasyasanakramakarāstathā .

vindyamandarasaṅkāśāssamutpētussahasraśaḥ ।।6.21.31।।

tathā so also, sindurājasya king of rivers, sanakramakarāḥ which were like, vindyamandarasaṅkāśāḥ Vindhya and Mandara mountain peaks, ūrmayaḥ waves, sahasraśaḥ in thousands, samutpētuḥ rose up.

Thousands of waves of the ocean rose like the peaks of Vindhya and Mandara mountains.

āghūrṇitataraṅgaughassambhrāntōragarākṣasaḥ .

udvartitamahāgrāhassaṅvṛttassalilāśayaḥ ।।6.21.32।।

āghūrṇitataraṅgaughaḥ the waves tossing and whirling about, sambhrāntōragarākṣasaḥ the agitated Nagas and Rakshasas, udvartitamahāgrāhaḥ thrown up highly disturbed, salilāśayaḥ from the waters, saghōṣaḥ made great sound.

The waves rose up tossing and whirling about. The agitated Nagas and Rakshasas were thrown up by a highly disturbed ocean that produced a great sound.

tatastutaṅrāghavamugravēgaṅprakarṣamāṇaṅdhanurapramēyam .

saumitrirutpatyasamucchavasantaṅmāmēticōktvādanurālalambē ।।6.21.33।।

tataḥ then, saumitriḥ Saumithri, utpatya got up, ugravēgam at high speed, apramēyam immeasurably great, dhanuḥ bow, prakarṣamāṇam was stretching exceedingly, viniśśvanantam breathing hard in anger, rāghavam at Rama, māmāiti that is enough that is enough, uktvā saying, dhanuḥ bow, ālalambē seized.

Then Saumithri got up and rushed very fast to Rama who was stretching his bow exceedingly and breathing hard in anger and said, 'no more, no more' and seized the bow.
।।ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēēkaviṅśassargaḥ ।।
This is the end of the twenty first sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.