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Shloka 20

पम्पा

तीर-वर्णनम् / Rama’s Lament at Pampa and the Approach to Rishyamuka

पुष्पसञ्छन्नशिखरा मारुतोत्क्षेपचञ्चलाः।अमी मधुकरोत्तंसाः प्रगीता इव पादपाः।।।।

puṣpasañchannaśikharā mārutōtkṣēpacañcalāḥ | amī madhukarōttaṃsāḥ pragītā iva pādapāḥ ||

Diese Bäume—deren Wipfel von Blüten verhüllt sind, die unter den Windstößen erzittern und von schwärmenden Bienen gekrönt werden—erscheinen wie vollendete Sänger.

पुष्प-सञ्छन्न-शिखराःwhose tops are covered with flowers
पुष्प-सञ्छन्न-शिखराः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootपुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + सञ्छन्न (क्त-कृदन्त, सम्+छद्/छन्न) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: पुष्पैः सञ्छन्नानि शिखराणि येषाम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies पादपाः)
मारुत-उत्क्षेप-चञ्चलाःrestless due to the wind's tossing
मारुत-उत्क्षेप-चञ्चलाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootमारुत (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्क्षेप (प्रातिपदिक) + चञ्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः: मारुतेन उत्क्षेपः तेन चञ्चलाः; विशेषणम्
अमीthese
अमी:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम
मधुकर-उत्तंसाःadorned with bees
मधुकर-उत्तंसाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootमधुकर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तंस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः: मधुकरैः उत्तंसाः (adorned with bees as ornaments); विशेषणम्
प्रगीताःsung / as if singing
प्रगीताः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्र+गै (धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)
इवlike
इव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formउपमा-अव्ययम्
पादपाःtrees
पादपाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपादप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

With the tops of trees covered with flowers, the black bees hovering (humming) over them, the trees, shaken by the restless wind look like singers. (The trees with the top decked with flowers, the bees like black hair on the head swaying in the wind look like dancing and singing)

P
pādapa (trees)
P
puṣpa (flowers)
M
māruta (wind)

FAQs

Dharma here is suggested through ‘right expression’: as trees ‘sing’ in harmony with nature, a person in dharma aligns speech and action with truth and the larger order, not with selfish impulse.

Rama continues his description of spring’s liveliness—flowers, wind, and bees—casting the forest as a musical performance.

Refined perception and steadiness: Rama’s mind can still articulate beauty, even as spring intensifies his longing.