Rama's Anger at the Ocean and the Ocean's Prayer
When the ocean does not yield a passage, Rama reveals his righteous anger. The ocean then appears in humility, seeks forgiveness, and offers guidance.
Sundar Kand · Episode 19 / 20
Episode Text
बिनय न मानत जलधि जड़ गए तीनि दिन बीति। बोले राम सकोप तब भय बिनु होइ न प्रीति॥ ५७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
binaya na mānata jaladhi jaḍa gae tīni dina bīti। bole rāma sakopa taba bhaya binu hoi na prīti॥ 57 ॥
Meaning:
Meanwhile three days passed, yet the obstinate ocean would not heed the appeal. Then Rama spoke in anger: ‘Without fear, love does not arise!’
लछिमन बान सरासन आनू। सोषौं बारिधि बिसिख कृसानू॥ सठ सन बिनय कुटिल सन प्रीती। सहज कृपन सन सुंदर नीती॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lachimana bāna sarāsana ānū। soṣauṃ bāridhi bisikha kṛsānū॥ saṭha sana binaya kuṭila sana prītī। sahaja kṛpana sana sundara nītī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O Lakshmana, bring the bow and arrows; I shall dry up the ocean with a fire-arrow. Courtesy toward the fool, affection toward the crooked, and fine advice about generosity toward the miser—
ममता रत सन ग्यान कहानी। अति लोभी सन बिरति बखानी॥ क्रोधिहि सम कामिहि हरिकथा। ऊसर बीज बएँ फल जथा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mamatā rata sana gyāna kahānī। ati lobhī sana birati bakhānī॥ krodhihi sama kāmihi harikathā। ūsara bīja baeṃ phala jathā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
To speak of knowledge to one trapped in attachment, to describe renunciation to one who is exceedingly greedy, to talk of peace to the angry, and to speak of God’s story to the lustful yields the same result as sowing seeds in barren land—that is, it all comes to nothing.
अस कहि रघुपति चाप चढ़ावा। यह मत लछिमन के मन भावा॥ संधानेउ प्रभु बिसिख कराला। उठी उदधि उर अंतर ज्वाला॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa kahi raghupati cāpa caḍhāvā। yaha mata lachimana ke mana bhāvā॥ saṃdhāneu prabhu bisikha karālā। uṭhī udadhi ura antara jvālā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Saying this, Shriraghunathji raised his bow. Lakshmana was greatly pleased with this resolve. The Lord then fitted the terrible fire-arrow, and flames rose within the ocean’s heart.
मकर उरग झष गन अकुलाने। जरत जंतु जलनिधि जब जाने॥ कनक थार भरि मनि गन नाना। बिप्र रूप आयउ तजि माना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
makara uraga jhaṣa gana akulāne। jarata jantu jalanidhi jaba jāne॥ kanaka thāra bhari mani gana nānā। bipra rūpa āyau taji mānā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Crocodiles, serpents, and shoals of fish became agitated. When the ocean saw creatures burning, it came in the form of a brahmin, abandoning pride and bringing a golden tray filled with many jewels.
काटेहिं पइ कदरी फरइ कोटि जतन कोउ सींच। बिनय न मान खगेस सुनु डाटेहिं पइ नव नीच॥ ५८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāṭehiṃ pai kadarī pharai koṭi jatan koau sīṃca। binaya na māna khagesa sunu dāṭehiṃ pai nava nīca॥ 58 ॥
Meaning:
[Kakabhushundi says—] Listen, Garudji: however many millions of ways one may try to water it, a banana tree bears fruit only when it is cut. The lowly do not heed gentleness; they bow only when scolded.
सभय सिंधु गहि पद प्रभु केरे। छमहु नाथ सब अवगुन मेरे॥ गगन समीर अनल जल धरनी। इन्ह कइ नाथ सहज जड़ करनी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sabhaya sindhu gahi pada prabhu kere। chamahu nātha saba avaguna mere॥ gagana samīra anala jala dharanī। inha kai nātha sahaja jaḍa karaṇī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The ocean, frightened, held the Lord’s feet and said: ‘O Lord, forgive all my faults. O Lord, the nature of sky, air, fire, water, and earth is inherently inert.’
तव प्रेरित मायाँ उपजाए। सृष्टि हेतु सब ग्रंथनि गाए॥ प्रभु आयसु जेहि कहँ जस अहई। सो तेहि भाँति रहें सुख लहई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tava prerita māyāṃ upajāe। sṛṣṭi hetu saba graṃthani gāe॥ prabhu āyasu jehi kahaṃ jasa ahāī। so tehi bhāṃti raheṃ sukha lahaī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
By your impulse, Maya produced these for the purpose of creation, and all the scriptures sing of this. Whatever is ordained by the Lord for whomsoever, that being gains happiness by remaining in that very way.
प्रभु भल कीन्ह मोहि सिख दीन्ही। मरजादा पुनि तुम्हरी कीन्ही॥ ढोल गवाँर सूद्र पसु नारी। सकल ताड़ना के अधिकारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu bhal kīnhī mohi sikh dīnhī। marajādā puni tumhārī kīnhī॥ ḍhola gavāra sūdra pasu nārī। sakala tāḍanā ke adhikārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The Lord did well to give me a lesson [a punishment]; yet the rule [the nature of beings] was also made by you alone. A drum, an ignorant man, a Shudra, an animal, and a woman—all are fit to be corrected.
प्रभु प्रताप मैं जाब सुखाई। उतरिहि कटकु न मोरि बड़ाई॥ प्रभु अग्या अपेल श्रुति गाई। करौं सो बेगि जो तुम्हहि सोहाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu pratāpa maiṃ jāba sukhāī। utarihī kaṭaku na mori baḍaī॥ prabhu agyā apel śruti gāī। karauṃ so begi jo tumhahi sohāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
By the Lord’s power I will dry up, and the army will cross over—there is no greatness of mine in that (my claim is nothing). Still, the Vedas sing that the Lord’s command is unassailable—that is, your order cannot be violated. Now I shall immediately do whatever pleases you.
सुनत बिनीत बचन अति कह कृपाल मुसुकाइ। जेहि बिधि उतरै कपि कटकु तात सो कहहु उपाइ॥ ५९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunata binitā bacana ati kaha kṛpāla musukāi। jehi bidhi utarai kapi kaṭaku tāta so kahahu upāi॥ 59 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing the ocean’s exceedingly humble words, merciful Rama smiled and said, ‘O dear one, tell me the means by which the monkey army may cross over.’
नाथ नील नल कपि द्वौ भाई। लरिकाईं रिषि आसिष पाई॥ तिन्ह कें परस किएँ गिरि भारे। तरिहहिं जलधि प्रताप तुम्हारे॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nātha nīla nala kapi dvau bhāī। larikāīṃ riṣi āsiṣa pāī॥ tinha keṃ parasa kieṃ giri bhāre। tarihahiṃ jaladhi pratāpa tumhāre॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
[The ocean said:] O Lord, Nila and Nala are two monkey brothers. In their childhood they received blessings from a sage. By their mere touch, even huge mountains will float across the sea through your power.
मैं पुनि उर धरि प्रभु प्रभुताई। करिहउँ बल अनुमान सहाई॥ एहि बिधि नाथ पयोधि बँधाइअ। जेहिं यह सुजसु लोक तिहुँ गाइअ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maiṃ puni ura dhari prabhu prabhutāī। karihauṃ bala anumāna sahāī॥ ehi bidhi nātha payodhi baṃdhāia। jehiṃ yaha sujasu loka tihuṃ gāia॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
I too shall keep the Lord’s majesty in my heart and help according to my strength. O Lord, bind the ocean in this way, so that this glorious fame may be sung in the three worlds.
एहिं सर मम उत्तर तट बासी। हतहु नाथ खल नर अघ रासी॥ सुनि कृपाल सागर मन पीरा। तुरतहिं हरी राम रनधीरा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehiṃ sara mama uttara taṭa bāsī। hatahu nātha khala nara agha rāsī॥ suni kṛpāla sāgara mana pīrā। turatahiṃ harī rāma ranadhīrā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
With this arrow, O Lord, slay the wicked host of sinful men dwelling on my northern shore. Hearing the ocean’s pain in its heart, the compassionate, valiant Rama at once removed it.
देखि राम बल पौरुष भारी। हरषि पयोनिधि भयउ सुखारी॥ सकल चरित कहि प्रभुहि सुनावा। चरन बंदि पाथोधि सिधावा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi rāma bala pauruṣa bhārī। haraṣi payonidhi bhayau sukhārī॥ sakala carita kahi prabhuhi sunāvā। carana bandi pāthodhi sidhāvā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing Rama’s immense strength and valor, the ocean became joyful and content. It told the Lord the whole story. Then, bowing at His feet, the ocean departed.