thumb|एकविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः ॥६-
Listen to the twenty-first chapter.
ततः सागरवेलायां दर्भानास्तीर्य राघवः। अञ्जलिं प्राङ्मुखः कृत्वा प्रतिशिश्ये महोदधेः
Then, on the shore of the ocean, Raghava spread darbha grass, faced east, joined his palms, and lay down before the great ocean.
बाहुं भुजङ्गभोगाभमुपधायारिसूदनः। जातरूपमयैश्चैव भूषणैर्भूषितं पुरा
The destroyer of enemies, resting his arm resembling a serpent's coil, adorned with ornaments of pure gold,
मणिकाञ्चनकेयूरमुक्ताप्रवरभूषणैः। भुजैः परमनारीणामभिमृष्टमनेकधा
With arms decorated by bracelets of jewels and gold, and the finest pearl ornaments, repeatedly touched by the hands of noble women,
चन्दनागुरुभिश्चैव पुरस्तादभिसेवितम्। बालसूर्यप्रकाशैश्च चन्दनैरुपशोभितम्
Served in the past with sandalwood and aloe, and beautified with sandalwood shining like the rays of the rising sun,
शयने चोत्तमाङ्गेन सीतायाः शोभितं पुरा। तक्षकस्येव सम्भोगं गङ्गाजलनिषेवितम्
Once graced by Sita's presence on the bed with her noble form, enjoyed like Takshaka, and sprinkled with Ganga water,
संयुगे युगसंकाशं शत्रूणां शोकवर्धनम्। सुहृदां नन्दनं दीर्घं सागरान्तव्यपाश्रयम्
In battle, resembling the end of an age, increasing the sorrow of enemies, bringing joy to friends, long, and resting at the edge of the ocean,
अस्यता च पुनः सव्यं ज्याघातविहतत्वचम्। दक्षिणो दक्षिणं बाहुं महापरिघसंनिभम्
Again, his left arm, with skin marked by the bowstring, and his right arm, resembling a great iron bar,
गोसहस्रप्रदातारं ह्युपधाय भुजं महत्। अद्य मे तरणं वाथ मरणं सागरस्य वा
Resting his mighty arm, the giver of a thousand cows, he said: 'Today, either I will cross the ocean or meet death.'
इति रामो धृतिं कृत्वा महाबाहुर्महोदधिम्। अधिशिष्ये च विधिवत् प्रयतो नियतो मुनिः
Thus, Rama, resolute and broad-armed, lay down before the great ocean, properly, with discipline and devotion, like a sage.
तस्य रामस्य सुप्तस्य कुशास्तीर्णे महीतले। नियमादप्रमत्तस्य निशास्तिस्रोऽभिजग्मतुः
As Rama slept on the earth covered with kusa grass, vigilant and disciplined, three nights passed.
स त्रिरात्रोषितस्तत्र नयज्ञो धर्मवत्सलः। उपासत तदा रामः सागरं सरितां पतिम्
There, the righteous Rama, devoted to duty, spent three nights performing austerities, worshipping the ocean, lord of rivers.
न च दर्शयते रूपं मन्दो रामस्य सागरः। प्रयतेनापि रामेण यथार्हमभिपूजितः
Yet the sluggish ocean did not reveal his form to Rama, even though Rama had worshipped him with all due honor and effort.
समुद्रस्य ततः क्रुद्धो रामो रक्तान्तलोचनः। समीपस्थमुवाचेदं लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम्
Then Rama, his eyes reddened with anger, spoke to the auspicious Lakshmana, who stood nearby.
अवलेपः समुद्रस्य न दर्शयति यः स्वयम्। प्रशमश्च क्षमा चैव आर्जवं प्रियवादिता
Arrogance prevents the ocean from appearing of his own accord; for calmness, patience, straightforwardness, and gentle speech—
असामर्थ्यफला ह्येते निर्गुणेषु सतां गुणाः। आत्मप्रशंसिनं दुष्टं धृष्टं विपरिधावकम्
—these virtues of the good bear fruit only with the worthy, not with the unworthy; for one who praises himself, is wicked, insolent, and unruly—
सर्वत्रोत्सृष्टदण्डं च लोकः सत्कुरुते नरम्। न साम्ना शक्यते कीर्तिर्न साम्ना शक्यते यशः
—the world respects only the man who wields punishment everywhere; neither fame nor glory can be attained by conciliation alone.
प्राप्तुं लक्ष्मण लोकेऽस्मिञ्जयो वा रणमूर्धनि। अद्य मद्बाणनिर्भग्नैर्मकरैर्मकरालयम्
In this world, O Lakshmana, victory in battle is achieved not by gentleness; today, with my arrows, I will shatter the abode of makaras and its denizens.
निरुद्धतोयं सौमित्रे प्लवद्भिः पश्य सर्वतः। भोगिनां पश्य भोगानि मया भिन्नानि लक्ष्मण
See, O gentle one, how the waters will be restrained everywhere by the leaping creatures; see, Lakshmana, the bodies of serpents broken by me.
महाभोगानि मत्स्यानां करिणां च करानिह। सशङ्खशुक्तिकाजालं समीनमकरं तथा
Here are the great bodies of fish and the trunks of elephants, along with clusters of conch shells and oysters, and also various kinds of fish and makaras.
अद्य युद्धेन महता समुद्रं परिशोषये। क्षमया हि समायुक्तं मामयं मकरालयः
Today, by a great battle, I will dry up the ocean; for this abode of makaras has taken my patience for weakness.
चापमानय सौमित्रे शरांश्चाशीविषोपमान्। समुद्रं शोषयिष्यामि पद्भ्यां यान्तु प्लवंगमाः
Bring me my bow, O gentle one, and arrows like venomous serpents; I will dry up the ocean—let the vanaras cross on foot.
अद्याक्षोभ्यमपि क्रुद्धः क्षोभयिष्यामि सागरम्। वेलासु कृतमर्यादं सहस्रोर्मिसमाकुलम्
Today, though the ocean is unshakable, in my wrath I will agitate it, with its boundaries marked by the shore and crowded with a thousand waves.
निर्मर्यादं करिष्यामि सायकैर्वरुणालयम्। महार्णवं क्षोभयिष्ये महादानवसंकुलम्
With my arrows I will destroy its limits and disturb the abode of Varuna, the great ocean teeming with mighty demons.
एवमुक्त्वा धनुष्पाणिः क्रोधविस्फारितेक्षणः। बभूव रामो दुर्धर्षो युगान्ताग्निरिव ज्वलन्
Having spoken thus, Rama, bow in hand and eyes blazing with anger, became unassailable, like the fire at the end of an age.
सम्पीड्य च धनुर्घोरं कम्पयित्वा शरैर्जगत्। मुमोच विशिखानुग्रान् वज्रानिव शतक्रतुः
He drew his terrible bow, shook the world with his arrows, and released fierce shafts like Indra hurling his thunderbolts.
ते ज्वलन्तो महावेगास्तेजसा सायकोत्तमाः। प्रविशन्ति समुद्रस्य जलं वित्रस्तपन्नगम्
Those blazing, swift, and powerful arrows entered the ocean's waters, terrifying the serpents within.
तोयवेगः समुद्रस्य समीनमकरो महान्। स बभूव महाघोरः समारुतरवस्तथा
The mighty ocean, filled with fish and makaras, surged violently, becoming dreadful, roaring with the sound of winds.
महोर्मिमालाविततः शङ्खशुक्तिसमावृतः। सधूमः परिवृत्तोर्मिः सहसासीन्महोदधिः
The great ocean, covered with rows of huge waves and conch shells, with smoky, swirling waters, suddenly became tumultuous.
व्यथिताः पन्नगाश्चासन् दीप्तास्या दीप्तलोचनाः। दानवाश्च महावीर्याः पातालतलवासिनः
The serpents, with blazing mouths and fiery eyes, were agitated, as were the mighty Daityas dwelling in the depths of the netherworld.